The quest to shed off extra kilos of flesh is on the increase. The number of bariatric surgeries performed all over the world is a clue to this. Despite the fact that the procedure is viable, patients often seek alternate services to complete their new looks. Sometimes, plastic surgery is the next option.
While this is not entirely a bad idea, there are certain considerations to make before seeking this strategy.
If you really want to lose weight, then bariatric surgery is the best option. However, there are times when thoughts of the body contouring process (plastic surgery) filter into the mind. This is not wrong but there are differences between the two. For some obese individuals, passing through the knife is the best way to lose weight. For some others, bariatric surgery is just a tool – the major step to losing weight. In this light, cosmetic surgery becomes the final destination to the weight loss goals.
Choosing Gastric Sleeve
There are many procedures to choose. Sleeve gastrectomy is getting more patronage. It is a truism that none of these surgeries is safer, but the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass are always the best picks.
Patients often cite the speedy delivery and purported fewer risks as the upsides. Now, after undergoing the surgery, the next crossroad is whether to proceed with plastic surgery or not. Hundreds of obese individuals that would buy the idea but it is worth noting that certain factors should be in consideration.
Gastric sleeve is popular for the impressive weight-loss success rates. In addition, there are fewer risks and patients can lead a healthy lifestyle afterward. It becomes a good option when diets and exercise do not pay off. On the other hand, you might have the need to undergo cosmetic surgery. This becomes the case after a patient loses a lot of weight. Hence, you may need to consider plastic surgery if you underwent massive weight loss. Before proceeding, it is pertinent to throw more light on the difference between the two procedures. This will avail patients the necessary details that will help them make an informed decision.
One of the main concerns after having a gastric sleeve or any other form of bariatric surgery is the excess skin or cosmetic enhancements that should be made. At Cosmetic Surgery Riga all of your cosmetic needs are met with expertise by an incredible, English-speaking, professional staff.
Breaking down the Complexities – What the Plastic and Bariatric Surgeries imply
If you are at a loss on what differentiates the two, you are not alone. Many- patients often thick both to have the same value approach. There is also the erroneous belief that cosmetic surgery is more effective than weight loss surgery. It is important to note that one of these is the harbinger while the other consolidates.
Bariatric surgery is the core procedure for losing weight. Even though it might not be effective at the onset, with regular adaptation to the post-operation guidelines, patients tend to witness massive weight loss.
On the contrary, plastic surgery “finishes the job” started by weight loss surgery. The aim of every surgery is to improve the appearance of the body (or parts of the body that require surgical corrections). While these two procedures offer the service, their job descriptions are different. Plastic surgery is never a weight loss method. Rather, it serves as a medium to enhance the shape and body structure of patients that passed through the knife. To this end, it is just there as a final resort to getting a definite shape after bariatric surgery.
Their Differences
Contrary to popular opinion, the cosmetic and bariatric surgeries have different goals. Hence, they operate in different capacities. It is important to understand these differences before undergoing plastic surgery.
First, cosmetic surgery is the next option for patients that lost weight through surgery diets and exercises. Second, it is there to help patients maximize their weight loss and not to lose weight. On its part, bariatric surgery activates weight loss but plastic surgery does not.
In addition, weight loss surgery makes use of different procedures to shrink the size of the stomach and help patients control appetite. There is no medical proof that cosmetic surgery has any positive effect on the appetite and digestion of food.
The good aspect to plastic surgery is the ability to remove excess skin that is present in the body after weight loss surgery. Finally, bariatric surgery is a medical procedure to lose weight and limit appetite. The goal of the cosmetic procedure is to help patients improve their physical appearance after passing through the knife.
The Necessity of Plastic Surgery
A thick line differentiates this from the weight loss surgery. From another perception, there is a quest for the procedure. Apart from the fact that patients lose weight faster with bariatric surgery, and are able to sustain it with strict compliance with the post-op guidelines, it is also important to consider plastic surgery.
Also known as “body contouring surgery” and “cosmetic surgery”, plastic surgery is a nice approach to the long-term sustainability of lost weight. Sometimes, patients tend to spot sagging skin around the neck, upper arms, and the face after bariatric surgery. There are also cases of these sags in the buttocks, breasts, abdomen, and thighs. These create an unpleasant feeling for the patient and necessitate the quest for a “corrective measure” – a gap cosmetic surgery fills. It is a common fact that despite the surgeon’s expertise and effort to hide the spots of the surgery, patients have some visible scars at the end. The quest to hide them for good and get the sagging skin back necessitates the need for plastic surgery. To this end, the surgery is not a bad idea but would be better if the patient qualifies for it.
Use Cases
There are many perceptions surrounding the procedure. In the bariatric world, it is the best way to get rid of excess and sagging skin after bariatric surgery. However, the major conception is to repair and reconstruct the tissues and skin to a better shape. It also helps in the improvement of the body parts. There are many areas of use for the surgery.
First, it repairs extensive burns or other serious injuries. Second, it fixes abnormalities in the body. This can come in forms of birthmarks ad webbed fingers. Third, it repairs parts of the body damaged after the removal of cancerous tissue. For bariatric patients, it helps in the improvement of their physical appearance and boosts their self-esteem after bariatric surgery.
Qualifying for the Surgery
Just like bariatric surgery, there are pre-qualification phases to plastic surgery. A patient does not just decide to have it. If you fulfill the following rudiments, then it is time to consider plastic surgery as the next option (and probably final option) to your weight loss goals.
- The stability of the weight is the first on the list. Usually, after 18 months following weight loss surgery, a patient’s weight gets stable. The stability is because of the consistency to the diets and exercises after the procedure.
- Second, a dramatic (fast) weight loss is the next prompter. After a patient loses extra kilos of flesh within a short timeframe, it is time to look towards cosmetic surgery.
- Finally is the high rate of sags in the skin. When a patient has sagging skin in multiple parts of the body (such as arms, face, upper arm, neck, and thighs), it is better to undergo the body contouring surgery.
Is Plastic Surgery good for Gastric Sleeve Patient?
The procedure is open to everyone but there are limitations. It is viable for patients that have sagging skin after bariatric surgery. In addition, patients that wish to improve their physical appearance are open to undergoing the procedure. Moreover, it is important to seek the advice and directive of a doctor before making headway with the surgery.
Getting Ready for Plastic Surgery
The next step is to prepare for the procedure. If you meet the qualification requirements, there are other hurdles to scale before you get the final nod. There may come a time after bariatric surgery when your skin starts sagging. At this point, there are characteristics to meet to become a full-fledged candidate for plastic surgery.
- Good Health: It is important to be in a good state of health before choosing cosmetic surgery. The idea behind this is to reduce the chances of risks that come with the procedure. Chronic medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes are not good for an individual that wants to undergo this procedure. It is pertinent to get medical clearance from a doctor because this is an assurance that you are hale, hearty, and ready for the surgery.
- No Smoking: Staying away from smoking is a prerequisite to undergo the surgery. Smoking increases the chances of complications and can reduce the healing process. It is pertinent to quit smoking at least 2 months before the surgery. The doctor can also offer helpful tips to this regard.
- Weight Stability: Avoid the procedure for the first year after bariatric surgery. The idea is to help the body adapt to the new weight. Patients ought to maintain a stable weight loss for at least two years. The duration helps in facilitating factors that will trigger recovery.
Types of Plastic Surgeries
Cosmetic procedures have different types and each of these has unique features. There are surgeries for the face, body and some other parts of the body. It is important to choose the option that suits your needs. Patients can make multiple selections. However, this should comply with the doctor’s directives. Each of these procedures has different use cases. Combining different perceptive might not turn out well because each of them has an impact on the next. Therefore, it demands careful planning. Out of the different types, the tummy tuck, breast reduction surgery, breast augmentation, arm lift, body lift, and thighplasty (thigh lift) are the most popular. We’ll be looking at the functions of each.
Tummy Tuck
The tummy tuck surgery is a procedure that helps in the removal of excess skin in the belly. It also tightens the abdominal muscles. Also called “abdominoplasty”, it also helps in the removal of stretch marks. Despite the fact that the scar is visible, putting on a cloth can help you take it off the public eye.
Mastopexy (Breast Lift)
Sometimes, older women that underwent bariatric surgery might have the need to lift their breasts. The breast lift surgery helps in the treating uneven and saggy breasts. It also serves as an effective breast augmentation procedure that not only returns youthful look to that part of the body but also offers women the perfect shape they desire.
Lipectomy (Lower Body Lift)
The procedure is for patients that have loose skin at the lower part of the body. Popular locations are the front of the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, inner thighs, hips, side and back of the thighs. It also helps in reshaping the waist, buttocks, and thighs for better appearance.
Brachioplasty (Upper Arm Lift)
This is not limited to older adults. After a dramatic weight loss (in addition to aging), patients tend to gather more fat (and loose skin) in the upper arm. The surgery helps in the removal of excess skin at these places and gives the patient a youthful look.
The Role of the NHS
The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom is making impacts in the healthcare sector. However, the services are few and for patients that choose plastic surgery, they might foot the bills. According to the service, cosmetic surgery is not “routinely provided on the NHS”. It went further to stipulate that patients would fund the surgery if they choose to get one.
In the same light, Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary is of the opinion that NHS should not fund plastic surgery. The perceptions are that funds available to the NHS should be for “clinical needs” and not improving the physical appearance of patients.
On the other hand, the NHS offered to make cosmetic surgery available to patients on psychological and health grounds. Patients that wish to undergo nose reshaping (because of breathing problems), breast implants (because of psychological distress), and tummy tuck (because of excess skin after weight loss or pregnancy) may get funding from the NHS.
In addition, the NHS offers reconstructive surgeries (such as repairing a cleft clip and rebuilding breasts after a mastectomy) to patients. The aim is to restore their normal appearance after a birth defect, illness, or accident.
Risks of Plastic Surgery
As with every surgery, the procedure has some risks. The degree of the risks depends on the patient’s health, the surgeon’s experience, and the size of the operated area. Some common complications that come with the procedure are:
- Changes in sensation
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Damage to the underlying structures in the skin
- Infection
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Allergic reactions
Cosmetic Surgery is Effective
Apart from bariatric surgery, plastic surgery is possible for bariatric patients. If you are not satisfied with your body structure after gastric sleeve, you may consider cosmetic surgery as a corrective measure to get the perfect body. Weight loss surgeries remain a leader in long-term weight loss. We recommend Weight Loss Riga as the best clinic in Europe to pass through the knife in a safe environment and with assurances of sustained weight loss. Engage with real patients by joining Weight Loss Riga's exclusive Facebook Patient Community.
