An area of practice that particularly interests Northern Virginia plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Michaels is body contouring after weight loss. After weight loss through either bariatric surgery or lifestyle modification, many individuals discover that their skin has lost its elasticity and sags or pools around their trunk and limbs. Procedures such as lower body lift, arm lift, thigh lift and breast lift are performed to remove the loose skin and tissue and to produce more attractive body contours.
Recently, Dr. Michaels worked with a young Northern Virginia woman that lost 200 pounds and needed the Maryland/Northern Virginia plastic surgeon’s help to complete her weight loss journey.
Meet Caitlyn Carroll
Up until two years ago, Caitlyn Carroll, a 29-year-old from Warrenton, Virginia, struggled with morbid obesity and the related health risks. Because of her body weight, Caitlyn was at a high risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and even cancer.
In January 2014, Caitlyn decided to seek the help of Dr. Amir Moazzez, the Weight Loss Surgery Medical Director at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. Dr. Moazzez performed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, which reduced the capacity of her stomach to limit her caloric intake and prompt massive weight loss. Thanks to surgery and the post-operative resources offered by Inova — including access to registered dieticians, exercise specialists and specialized counselors — Caitlyn lost an astounding 200 pounds.
However, Caitlyn’s weight loss journey did not end when she got to a lower weight. In order to help complete her body transformation, she asked Dr. Michaels to perform a series of plastic surgery procedures to remove excess skin. “These procedures represent the final steps in completing the weight loss journey,” Dr. Michaels said. By removing excess skin, body contouring procedures can help to erase the mental reminders of obesity and related struggles. Plastic surgery can help to heal psychological wounds and provide closure.
More about Plastic Surgery after Weight Loss
Depending on the needs of the individual patient, the following procedures may be helpful after significant weight loss:
- Tummy Tuck
- Panniculectomy
- Lower Body Lift
- Upper Body LiftBreast Lift
- Arm Lift
- Thigh Lift
- Mons Rejuvenation (i.e., Pubic Lift)
- Male Breast Reduction
Speak to Our Plastic Surgeon Today
To learn more about how Dr. Michaels can help weight loss surgery patients look and feel their best, please contact our practice today. You can call Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at (301) 468-5991 or (703) 957-8610, or fill out our email contact form.
