Exercise that includes increasing muscle town

can tighten connective tissue. For patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are recommended to add a regular exercise regimen that is helpful to maintain ones weight and can also serve to tighten loose skin to some extent.Body Contouring Procedures: For those that are losing 80 lbs. to over 100 lbs. surgical procedures, known as post-bariatric surgery, are available to tighten skin and remove the extra pockets of skin that inhibit your body from being as toned and tight as the individual would like. Below are the most common procedures for massive weight loss patients.

AbdomenThighs and Buttocks 

The abdomen is usually one of the greatest concerns for individuals following massive weight loss. In both men and women, excess fat is stored both in the abdomen and beneath the skin of the abdominal wall. Consequently following weight loss in those areas, extra skin appears. Large amounts of hanging skin can lead to the collection of moisture between the skin folds resulting in a condition called intertriginous dermatitis, which leads to irritation, redness and pain. Occasionally, the skin may even breakdown, bleed and become infected. With proper documentation, many insurance companies recognize this problem and provide full coverage from surgical removal through a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. The abdominoplasty will solely remove the excess skin from your stomach which is ideal for women following pregnancy. However, for those who have undergone weight loss surgery or a massive weight loss, excess skin is not limited to the stomach but also results in the buttocks and thighs. Because of this, surgeons will perform a procedure specifically for weight-loss patients called a body lift. This involves an abdominoplasty, thigh and buttock lift all at one time. This addresses and removes loose skin and cellulite along the thighs and buttocks as well as the abdomen. Although the resulting scar is lengthy, it is confined to the waistline and is hidden by underwear, panties, or a bikini.

Breasts- Following a great weight loss,

breast size and shape often change significantly in both men and women. Everyone worries about sagging breasts as we age but few know that massive weight loss greatly accelerates the process. As women advance from girls to teens to twenties and into their later years, the glandular portion of breasts is replaced by fat. The original glandular tissue is significantly more firm than fat and consequently the skin becomes unable to retract completely and produces severely ptotic or sagging breasts. This is called breast involution. There are many treatment options for women following weight loss. If a woman desires less sagging and wants to be larger, a breast lift or mastopexy is needed. Again, surgeons will tell you your options and also remind you to be realistic with or breast augmentation may be satisfactory. The problems in men are similar however treatment is slightly different. Men tend to have larger breasts when over-weight. Depending on a man's age, degree of weight loss, and a few other factors he may result in large breasts, large and/or sagging breasts, or satisfactory breasts following weight loss. Large and/or sagging breasts in men is called gynecomastia. Here liposuction alone may be satisfactory, however this is not typical. Most men with both sagging and large breasts go through a two-staged procedure. The first stage is liposuction and is performed to remove excess fat and some glandular tissue. Over the next few months, the breast skin will retract slightly. Three to six months later, the patient will return to evaluate the situation and determine if the outcome is satisfactory. Delaying the second stage allows for significant skin retraction and if a skin tightening procedure is desired it is likely to require smaller incisions.

Being healthy has far greater importance than excess skin. 

Although, having excess skin can lead to some serious issues there are non-surgical ways of preventing infections such as keeping your excess skin dry. For those who are able and want to remove the excess skin, post-bariatric surgery is for you. It is important to remember that these procedures should only be considered after ones weight has stabilized; especially after weight loss surgery. This can range from 7-18 months after weight loss. The most important factor in finding a plastic surgeon who can perform these procedures is that they must be board certified. If your plastic surgeon's website or office does not advertise that they are board certified you must RUN! For everyone who has heard horror plastic surgery stories, this is probably where it started, having a surgical procedure done without a board certified surgeon. Use ASPS (The American Society of Plastic Surgery) to find a board certified surgeon near you.

Luna Plastic Surgery in Atlanta provides expert knowledge and information for their patients. Directed towards patient care, Luna Plastic Surgery specializes in post-bariatric surgery and tummy tucks. They are committed to compassionate care, excellent results and patient safety. Luna Plastic Surgery aims to provide the best aesthetic and functional results under a warm personal interaction. We are proud to offer our patients the kind of changes that will improve patients' self-esteem without ever compromising their natural appearance.