Significant weight loss through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery can enhance your life, leading to a more active lifestyle and a healthier you. However, after losing a lot of weight, it's common to have sagging, excess skin. Loose skin can be uncomfortable and may cause you to feel insecure.
Penn Medicine's Body Contouring After Weight Loss Program helps alleviate conditions caused by loose skin so you can live a more comfortable and confident lifestyle. For many people, body contouring surgery for excess skin removal is the final step in their weight loss journey.
What Is Body Sculpting/Body Contouring?
Gaining a significant amount of weight can affect your skin. Over time, the skin slowly stretches to accommodate the accumulation of fat tissue. If you lose a lot of weight, that excess skin might not spring back into place. Weight loss can cause stretch marks and extra skin folds on your lower stomach, thighs, arms, chin and breasts.
Body contouring, also known as body sculpting, is a surgical procedure that removes the loose skin that is left after weight loss and improves the shape and tone of your body's tissue.
Read about Franny McEneaney's body contouring surgery experience and how she has embraced and maintained her healthier lifestyle.
What Are the Different Types of Body Contouring?
Our board-certified plastic surgeons offer all body sculpting surgery options, including:
- Arm lift (brachioplasty)
- Breast lift
- Facelift
- Lower abdomen lift (panniculectomy)
- Thigh lift (thighplasty)
- Upper body lift
You may be considering just one of these body sculpting surgery types or a combination. We'll work with you to identify your goals, determine a plan tailored to your specific needs, and ensure the safest possible outcome.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Body Contouring?
If you lost a large amount of weight through bariatric surgery or diet and exercise, you might be a good candidate for body contouring surgery. Body contouring works best when you've been at a stable weight for several months. Patients who have this procedure are usually mentally and physically healthy, but excess skin hampers their overall well-being.
To qualify for body contouring surgery, you should have:
- Completed bariatric surgery at least 18 months ago, if that was your weight loss method
- Lost 100 pounds or more, a body mass index (BMI) less than or equal to 30, or weight loss less than or equal to 40 percent
- Stable weight for at least six months
- A documented history of chronic, recurring symptoms due to excess skin for at least three months
How Much Does Body Sculpting Cost?
Insurance providers typically cover costs of body contouring surgery for patients who had bariatric surgery and lost weight. Insurance can also cover patients with medical issues, wounds or excessive skin that interferes with their daily lives.
Your Penn surgeon will discuss the costs and body contouring surgery process with you during your body contouring consultation.
Body Contouring After Weight Loss: The Penn Medicine Advantage
You can trust the Penn Body Contouring After Weight Loss Program to deliver:
- Comprehensive, compassionate care: We are with you at each stage of your body contouring journey. Working together, we determine your goals, create a plan and ensure the safest possible outcome. Our patients in Penn’s bariatric surgery program have access to leading registered dietitians, weight management experts and resources to help sustain a healthy lifestyle.
- Expertise and experience: Penn's Body Contouring After Weight Loss Program consists of board-certified and fellowship-trained plastic surgeons. They are experts in all types of body sculpting surgery to remove loose, sagging skin after weight loss.
- Numerous locations for accessible care: You can access Penn's expertise in body contouring at a location near you. Our facilities are throughout the Philadelphia region.
Request an Appointment
Call 215-662-7300 or request an appointment online.