One of the most common questions we get from our weight loss surgery (WLS) patients prior to surgery is “What am I going to do with all my loose skin?” First, let me say that the 1st goal of WLS is to regain your life land your health. Second, not every patient gets loose skin after WLS. Third, not every patient is bothered by it if they do because they feel so much better after getting their lives back. Fourth, if you do get loose skin, pat yourself on the back because that means you have lost lots of weight. Last, if the loose skin is a problem, and it can be for some patients, there are options.
Loose skin never killed anybody philosophy
During the first 9 years of my career, I was of the philosophy that loose skin never killed anybody and losing weight to regain your health was (and still is) more important. However, that changed a couple of years ago when I did WLS on someone very close to our family that I see daily. She did great with her weight loss, but after the 1st 6 months, it was clear that the loose skin around her neck, arms and abdomen was really starting to bother her. It wasn’t until then that I realized the psychological impact loose skin can have on our bariatric surgery patients. It serves as a constant reminder as to where they have been, how far they have come, and where they NEVER want to return. It also is preventing our patients from completing their journey.
Reality sets in
I sent my patient to a plastic/cosmetic surgeon and she came back devastated from the visit after getting a quote for $29,000! It was at this point I fully grasped the importance of the question I had been getting my entire career as a Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgeon, “What am I going to do with my loose skin after surgery?” In this case, 29k was too much for my friend and patient to ever consider. Further, the type of surgery that was proposed was Maximally invasive surgery – large scars, long downtimes, major pain, and extreme cost.
Time for a change
At this point, I decided there had to be a better way. I mean, I pride myself in delivering the most advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques for Weight Loss Surgery. Why couldn’t this be done for loose skin after WLS? Or even just from aging or having babies? I began doing extensive research and that was when I found “Bodytite” by Inmode. This is a machine/procedure that is able to cause skin tightening. What??? Yes, skin tightening! I was skeptical at first, but as I continued to meet with the company and have discussions with experts in the field, I became convinced that this could work for my patients. I began to realize that I could help my help patients complete their weight loss journey.
It seemed to offer everything I was looking and was definitely consistent with how we practice WLS – minimally invasive and the most advanced techniques available. Even better, it could be used for all parts of the body. Better than that, it could be used for all the places that WLS patients can get loose skin – face, neck, arms, breasts, abdomen, flanks, bra rolls, inner & outer thighs and knees. The Bodytite technology uses radiofrequency energy to cause skin contraction by producing more collagen – something we lose as we get older. It also melts stubborn fat, which is then removed by gentle liposuction. The result – stubborn areas of fat are removed and the skin tightens! This is all done with just a couple of tiny (2mm) incisions with little to no downtime!
Here are the advantages
- It’s done in the office
- no general anesthesia required
- minimally invasive with a few tiny incisions
- no downtime
- minimal discomfort
The best part – it doesn’t have the expensive price tag, scars, downtime, and pain associated with plastic surgery. I knew that this was an option that my patients needed.
I have now been doing the Bodytite & Facetite procedures for a year now and the results have been incredible. I have even become a National Instructor for Inmode teaching these procedures to Surgeons from across the Country. Better yet, we now have options for our WLS patients who want to do something about their loose skin. I still firmly believe that loose skin should never deter anyone from weight loss surgery and regaining their health. Yet, I also know that loose skin can be a real obstacle for my patients and deserves some attention. Just know this, if loose skin is a concern for you after WLS, it doesn’t need to be! We now have minimally invasive options to take care of that loose skin. Now we know that this can be done by a Bariatric Surgeon for Bariatric patients and you no longer are at the mercy of Plastic/Cosmetic Surgeons.
Don’t let the worry of loose skin stop you from bariatric surgery that will change your life. Connect with Roller Weight Loss to discuss your options.
