After experiencing a dramatic amount of weight loss, it's entirely possible for a person to still not feel thin. One cause of this is excess skin that's left over after the weight loss can still hang around as an ugly reminder of the previous condition. This can be a fairly common occurrence after losing a lot of weight quickly through bariatric surgery. All the excess flab can leave a person feeling just as depressed and insecure as when they were overweight. However, it is possible for a person to receive plastic surgery after weight loss to help curb this problem.

The cause of this problem is that skin doesn't always shrink as we lose weight. The end result is that all this skin that was once held taut by fat is now free to just hang loosely about, resulting in a very unattractive look. There are a few different cosmetic surgeries procedures that can help bring this excess skin in line with a new physique.

Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgery

One of the most common plastic surgery after weight loss procedures is the tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty. The purpose of this procedure is to kick you remove excess fat from the abdominal area and tighten the abdominal muscles. Tummy tuck procedures can take from 1 to 5 hours, depending on the amount of fat that needs to removed. Recovery time for the procedure is around three or four weeks before a patient can return to normal activity, and several months before a full recovery. The end result is much more shapely stomach area.

Lower Body Lift Plastic Surgery

An alternative to the basic tummy tuck is the lower body lift. This is a good plastic surgery after weight loss, as it extends the basic abdominoplasty all the way around the lower body. Since sagging fat can happen all around the lower body, this is an excellent option, as standard tummy tucks can still leave fat on your thighs and other places.

It's worth noting that this procedure is more extensive than a tummy tuck, and carries with it additional risks of complication. Some surgeons opt to divide the surgery into smaller sections done over many sessions to help limit the chance of problems. If performed all in one sitting, the procedure can take as long as eight hours, and the recovery time is also longer than a standard tummy tuck.