Body Contouring Surgery was the next step in Maria’s journey after life-saving bariatric surgery.
As soon as she was medically cleared to exercise following her weight-loss surgery, the 46-year-old single parent hit the gym hard. She started four to five days a week, for up to three hours each session. Eventually, she increased her workouts to six days a week.
As a full-time esthetician student with three children, Maria’s life was busy, but she made time for herself. As she lost weight post-surgery, her goal was to tone up her body.
However, she eventually realized that no amount of toning or time in the gym would get rid of the extra skin she had on her abdomen and her body from losing nearly 100 pounds.
Maria’s Weight-Loss Surgery
Before gastric sleeve surgery, Maria was taking two blood pressure medications, had diabetes and high cholesterol. As the mother of a special needs child, Maria knew she needed to improve her health to care for her children. In her family of six children, she was the only one who was heavy.
“I tried diets on my own and different products, but nothing worked,” she said. “I needed to do something about my health.”
After her weight-loss surgery, she was able to get off her blood pressure medicine. Her bloodwork is now normal.
“Everything in my whole life changed completely,” she said. “My mood, my stress, my energy. I am ready to do things. I can go on carnival rides with my children.”
Maria’s Body Contouring Surgery
Maria was pleased with the positive results of her weight loss on how she felt. However, she still did not like what she saw in the mirror.
“My body didn’t seem to match how I felt inside,” she said. “Gravity and a lot of lost mass come into play. I wanted to complete my transformation.”
She decided to pursue post-bariatric body contouring surgery, starting with liposuction. Over time, she had liposuction, a tummy tuck, a breast lift, and implants.
“Life rewards you when you put in the work,” she said. “That’s a true statement. This process truly has saved me. I found myself, and it was very much worth it. I feel completely transformed.”
The Benefits of Body Contouring Surgery at Surgical Healing Arts
Weight loss surgery sets you on your way to a personal transformation. However, some patients’ excess skin may remain stretched and loose, even as they lose fat depending on your weight journey. This can result in baggy, excess skin that may make movement difficult and affect the quality of life. Beyond how it looks, excess, loose skin can cause other problems, including discomfort, problems with hygiene, trouble with functions like walking and sex, and swelling, rashes, or ulcers that can lead to infections.
Body contouring, also called body sculpting or body shaping, reshapes the contour of the body. One or a combination of contouring procedures may be appropriate for your unique body.
Body contouring may include an abdominoplasty/panniculectomy, breast reduction, or breast, thigh, and buttocks lifts. In addition, removal of skin and fat from the back and hips and an arm or face-lift may be part of the treatment.
Bariatric surgery or weight loss can save your life and improve your health. Additionally, removing excess skin with body contouring can reduce the trace of your former weight while improving your body functions and quality of life.
Sometimes the removal of excess skin may be determined to be medically necessary, so some procedures, frequently the removal of the abdominal pannus, may be covered by your medical insurance.
For information on how our skilled surgeons can help you complete your transformation with body contouring, click here.