After Weight Loss Surgery in Allentown, PA

Dr. Guarino has worked with countless patients throughout Allentown to help them complete their weight loss journey. Individuals who lose a significant amount of weight are often left with loose and hanging skin. Many will consider after weight loss surgery to complete their transformation. Using a combination of procedures that remove loose skin while tightening the underlying tissue and muscles, Dr. Guarino creates a smoother, more toned appearance. This is a common surgery for individuals who lose 100 pounds or more and is especially common among bariatric weight loss patients. Dr. Guarino will create a surgical plan for his weight loss patients, but requires them to be near their goal weight prior to surgery. It is also important that the weight loss is stabilized to ensure the safety and health of each patient.

Weight loss patients will consider after weight loss surgery to correct or enhance one or more of the following conditions:

• Deflated and sagging breasts with nipples that point downward
• Loose and hanging skin on the abdomen
• Excess skin and pockets of fat on the hips
• Excess and deflated skin on and under the buttocks
• Loose and hanging skin around the knees and inner thighs
• Hanging skin on the underside of the arms (“bat wings”)

Loose and hanging skin on the neck (“turkey neck”)

The goal of after weight loss surgery is to reduce the amount of loose skin that collects and hangs on the body and to lift the body part so it appears tighter. Multiple areas of the body may need to be addressed, depending on the needs of each patient. Most surgeons will group body parts together, and stage them into multiple surgeries. Doing so helps reduce the risk of complications, such as blood loss and infection. Examples of this grouping include:

• Upper body (Liposuction, breast lift, tummy tuck, arm lift)
• Lower body (Liposuction, butt lift, thigh lift, lower body lift)

After weight loss surgery is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility. Patients are usually required to spend the night in the hospital so they can be monitored. The recovery following this surgery can be a slow process. While the post-surgical results can be life-changing for many weight loss patients, scarring is an unfortunate part of this process. Every attempt is made during surgery to minimize scarring as much as possible. Patients should adhere to a healthy lifestyle so that the results achieved through surgery are not compromised.

The cost for a combination surgery to remove skin following a massive weight loss will vary. Certain factors, such as the number of procedures performed (abdominoplasty, liposuction, thigh lift, etc.), combined with the number of surgical settings, hospital stay, anesthesia, etc., will play a role in determining the final cost. On average, patients can expect to pay at least $10,000-$15,000 or higher.

Common body parts that may need skin reduction surgery include the abdomen, buttocks, upper thighs, breasts, arms and neck. The breasts and abdomen are among two of the most popular areas addressed. A large majority of individuals will address the breasts (with a breast lift), and the tummy (with a tummy tuck) in a single surgery. As you lose weight, you will notice which areas are most concerning, and you can begin discussing cosmetic surgery with your plastic surgeon.

Most plastic surgeons require patients to be at or near their goal weight before moving forward with this surgery. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, removing the loose skin is all it takes to accelerate the loss of the final pounds—especially if the loose skin is getting in the way of exercise and mobility.

In most cases, no. Insurance companies consider this surgery to be cosmetic, and they usually do not cover any of the surgical expenses. However, each surgical case is different, and may have a special circumstance. Our billing coordinator works to provide accurate estimates, and thoroughly checks the benefits of each provider.