Those who lose weight with diet or obesity surgery may experience sagging problems. Yeditepe University Hospitals Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist shared information about body contouring, pointing out that sagging in certain areas sometimes cannot be eliminated despite regular sports activities.

After rapid weight loss, sagging may occur as the skin loses its elasticity, depending on factors such as the amount of weight loss and the age of the patient. Stating that body contouring operations can be applied to people who have sagging in various parts of their body such as breasts, abdomen, arms, back, waist, thighs, face, and neck and have reached the target weight, Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery

Specialist said, “We plan these surgeries mostly in stages. It is beneficial to perform surgery on a maximum of two different regions at once. Of course, the duration varies according to the region and surgical technique. However, I recommend that the operation last for a maximum of 6 hours in each session and the interval between sessions be at least 3 months.”

“Some Men Have Surgery to Look Muscular”

Stating that most of the procedures in body contouring surgeries are performed in the abdomen, hip, breast, face, and neck region, Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist said, “Apart from these, arm, back, and thigh lift procedures are also performed very frequently. Recently, men also apply with the request of making abdominal and chest muscles. People who come to us with this request usually have normal body mass indexes or are overweight. In these people, with new liposuction techniques, abdominal and chest muscle shape can be given without the need to lose weight beforehand.”

Appropriate Time for Surgery Should Be Chosen Meticulously

Also pointing out that sagging skin that occurs with excess weight after stomach surgeries can cause psychological problems in some patients, Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist said, “The surgeries we perform for sagging in the body should be performed under appropriate conditions and at an appropriate time. It is also important not to be late for surgeries, considering the patient's psychology.”

Body contouring surgery can be performed after an average of 15-18 months if the patient has undergone weight loss surgery and if the patient stays at the target weight for at least 3 months. Emphasizing that these surgeries can be applied to adults, Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist continued to state that if the patient is of advanced age, after evaluating the presence of additional diseases, risk factors, and the general condition of the patient, it is decided whether to perform the surgery.

Long Rest After Surgery Is Essential

Stating that if the body contouring surgery is to be performed in more than one region at the same time, the patient will stay in the hospital longer after the surgery, Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist noted, “Acceptable healing of postoperative scars may take up to a year. A corset is worn for 4-6 weeks to resolve edema, support tissues, and accelerate healing.”

Choosing the Correct Patient for Obesity Surgery is Important

Yeditepe University Hospital General Surgery Specialist underlined that obesity surgery, which is one of the methods preferred by people who need to lose excess weight in recent years, is a proven treatment method in the treatment of obesity and obesity-related diseases. Saying, “Compared to non-surgical methods, this method has more gains compared to non-surgical methods in terms of weight loss and preservation of the recovery obtained afterward, but there are some criteria to determine the patient suitable for surgical treatment”, our specialist gave the following information: “A widely used calculation method is body mass index (BMI), and if this value in kg/m2 is over 40, we can say that the person has a weight that can be considered a disease. However, using this value alone may not be appropriate for everyone. For example, an athlete with a high muscle ratio may have a high BMI even if the fat ratio is not high. In addition, if the BMI value is over 35 and they have additional weight-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea, these patients are also classified as morbidly obese. On the other hand, it should be examined whether other underlying diseases cause obesity. As a result of the evaluations, the suitability of the patient for surgery is decided.”

The Patient Has Important Duties in the Postoperative Period

Stating that it should not be thought that obesity will be overcome by surgery alone, our general surgery specialist stated, “Surgery will get things back on track for patients, but it's up to the patient to maintain it.” Our general surgery specialist made the following explanations about what needs to be considered in order to achieve and maintain the desired result after surgery: “Patients should accept the lifestyle change they will make after the surgery. Since the surgeries are performed laparoscopically, in other words, by the closed method, the return to daily life will be quick. However, it is not right to go back to our former life completely. Some responsibilities fall on the patient. Chief among these are our expectations regarding nutrition and activity. We expect patients to comply with nutrition programs under the control of specialist dietitians, and to make physical activity a part of their lives on the other hand. Sleep patterns and healthy social life will also help in maintaining success.”