With a rise in weight loss injections like Ozempic and Wegovy, bariatric surgery procedures, and other ways of dropping weight, more people are achieving a slimmer shape. However, with such a quick and significant weight loss, many are finding they’re left with unwanted loose skin and pockets of excess fat that can only be removed with the help of plastic surgery.
As soon as you hit your goal weight, is it time to go under the knife? Not quite. It is often a good idea to wait several months after your weight has stabilized before moving forward with body contouring surgery. While you might be anxious to schedule your skin removal surgery soon after seeing significant weight loss results, consider these important reasons not to rush into plastic surgery right after weight loss surgery.
Your Body Needs Time to Adjust
Directly after bariatric surgery or starting weight loss injections, you can expect to rapidly lose weight. While your body is in this state of rapid weight loss, it is not going to be optimized to efficiently heal from another procedure like skin removal surgery. Give your body the time it needs to adjust and rebalance after your resulting weight loss achievement.
Your Weight May Fluctuate
To get the most out of your body contouring surgery, you want to be at a stable weight and as close to your ideal weight as you can be. While you are in the process of losing weight, your weight will very likely fluctuate as your body acclimates and you develop new eating and exercise habits. Very few people shed pounds consistently week after week.
Reaching your ideal weight takes time, even when having bariatric surgery. It may take 12 months or longer after bariatric surgery to see a stable weight. Once your weight has been stable for at least 3 months, you could then be a great candidate for body contouring surgery.
Risks of Complications Decrease with Lower BMIs
As you continue to lose weight after bariatric surgery or through other means, you will be setting yourself up for even fewer risks of complications during skin removal surgery and likely a smoother and potentially quicker recovery process.
While it can take some time for your body to be ready for post-weight loss plastic surgery, the benefits of waiting will be well worth the extra time in the long run.
If you are ready to start planning your post-weight loss plastic surgery timeline or have additional questions, give our Sacramento office a call at 916-983-9895 or request a consultation online.
