Massive Weight Loss Fuels Surge In Plastic Surgery

After losing significant weight, more patients are opting for plastic surgery to trim excess skin and reshape their bodies.

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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., June 1, 2015 – An increase in the number of weight loss surgeries in the U.S. is beginning to have a ripple effect in plastic surgery, according to new data released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Procedures specifically associated with massive weight loss, including tummy tucks, thigh lifts, breast lifts and upper arm lifts, grew at their fastest rate in four years in 2014, according to the report. That follows a similar increase in the growth of weight loss surgeries.

“We think there is a correlation between the two types of procedures, and we expect that trend to continue,” said ASPS President Scot Glasberg, MD, and private-practice plastic surgeon based in Manhattan, New York. “Post-massive weight loss patients are the number one growth area I have seen in my practice, and I’m sure that’s the case in many doctor’s offices across the country.”

In 2013, 179,000 Americans underwent weight loss surgery, averaging nearly 500 procedures every day. According to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, it’s the most since 2009 and the third highest number on record. Since then, plastic surgeries related to weight loss are up across the board, as well.

Thigh lifts and upper arm lifts had their biggest single-year increase in five years in 2014, both up nine percent. Tummy tucks inched up four percent and breast lift procedures posted a ten percent increase, the largest single-year gain since 2009, when the ASPS began tracking procedures performed specifically on massive weight loss patients.

“You can’t attribute that to anything other than the fact that there are more massive weight loss patients out there looking to take care of the problems that they now have after their weight loss surgery,” said Dr. Glasberg. “On the one hand they are thrilled to have lost so much weight, but they are trading one dilemma for another.”

Those who experience massive weight loss are often left with excessive amounts of sagging skin, particularly in the thighs, under the arms, around the abdomen and in the breasts. The excess skin can not only be unsightly and uncomfortable, in many cases it can be painful.

“It was hard for me to exercise. I couldn’t do aerobics or even run because the excess skin was so bad, and no amount of compression would change that,” said Jan O’Daniel of Pickerington, Ohio. Six years ago O’Daniel underwent bariatric surgery and dropped more than 130 pounds, but no matter how much weight she lost, she still didn’t like what she saw. “I carried a lot of weight in my abdomen and felt like my stomach was just as big. Even though I knew it wasn’t, even though I knew my clothing size had gone down six sizes, I still focused on my belly and it absolutely drove me nuts.”

“That’s not uncommon,” said O’Daniel’s plastic surgeon Jason Lichten, MD, of Lancaster, Ohio. “These patients have the tremendous psychological burden of looking into the mirror and seeing all of this extra skin that’s hanging off of them, and no matter how much weight they lose, a lot of them still see themselves as heavy because of it.”

In 2014, nearly 45,000 patients who experienced massive weight loss also opted to undergo plastic surgery to reshape their bodies. While those numbers represent the biggest single-year increase in nearly a half decade, it’s still only a fraction of patients who may benefit from it.

“Going forward, we’d like to be a part of the process from the outset, when patients are first starting to consider weight loss surgery,” said Dr. Glasberg. “A lot of times patients think weight loss surgery is the answer to their issues, when in reality it may only be one step in the process.”

Dr. Lichten agrees. “If plastic surgeons can get involved with patients earlier, we can not only give them a more realistic idea of what to expect from a physical standpoint, but we can help them devise a plan for any follow up procedures after their weight loss,” he said.

That’s something O’Daniel wishes she’d done. She was so focused on losing the weight, she didn’t realize there could be follow up surgeries. “I didn’t realize plastic surgery was an option,” she said. “I thought it was out of reach for me from an affordability standpoint, but it wasn’t. I’m glad I did it, because it changed my life.”

About ASPS

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world’s largest organization of board- certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at PlasticSurgery.orgor Facebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS or Twitter.com/ASPS_News.

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New data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that an increase in weight loss surgeries may be having a ripple effect in plastic surgery. In 2013 there were an average of 500 weight loss surgeries a day and a year later there`s been a surge in associated plastic surgeries as well. Many patients who experience massive weight loss due to bariatric surgery are left with large amounts of sagging skin, and a growing number are turning to plastic surgery to have it removed. Details here: bit.ly/1K2B9nN bit.ly/1K2B9nN

Jan O`Daniel consults with plastic surgeon, Dr. Jason Lichten at his office in Lancaster, OH. After undergoing weight loss surgery, O`Daniel dropped more than 130 pounds, but still wasn`t satisfied. Like a growing number of weight loss patients, she opted for plastic surgery to trim excess skin and reshape her body, and new data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows thousands of others are doing the same. See how weight loss patients are driving up plastic surgery procedures by clicking here: bit.ly/1K2B9nN

Dr. Jason Lichten reviews before and after photos with Jan O`Daniel, of Pickerington, OH. After losing 130 pound from weight loss surgery, O`Daniel underwent plastic surgery and new data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that patients like her are driving up the number of certain procedures like tummy tucks and thigh, breast and upper arm lifts. Details here: bit.ly/1K2B9nN

Jan O`Daniel prepares a salad in her home in Pickerington, OH. O`Daniel lost 130 pounds after undergoing weight loss surgery, but was discouraged by the excess skin that remained. Like a growing number of Americans, Jan then opted for plastic surgery to tone and tighten her body. New data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that weight loss patients are helping to fuel an increase in procedures like tummy tucks, breast lifts and upper arm lifts after massive weight loss. Details: bit.ly/1K2B9n

Jan O`Daniel prepares to run a 5k race in Pickerington, OH. After losing more than 130 pounds from weight loss surgery, O`Daniel says the excess skin that was left behind used to make exercising difficult and often painful. O`Daniel opted to undergo plastic surgery to remove the excess skin and reshape her body. New data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows it`s a growing trend. Procedures performed on massive weight loss patients like thigh lifts and upper arm lifts had their biggest single-year increase in nearly a half decade, and tummy tucks and breast lifts increased as well. Details: bit.ly/1K2B9nN

Scot Glasberg, MD, President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons consults with a patient at his office in Manhattan. New data from ASPS shows that massive weight loss patients are helping to fuel a surge in plastic surgery. A record 179,000 patients underwent weight loss surgery in 2013, and now weight loss-related plastic surgeries are up across the board. After extreme weight loss most patients are left with loose, hanging skin, which has helped to drive up the numbers of procedures like tummy tucks, breast, thigh and upper arm lifts. Details here: bit.ly/1K2B9nN

After undergoing weight loss surgery, a growing number of patients are discovering their battle isn`t over. Jan O`Daniel shared her before and after photos from a recent procedure. O`Daniel dropped more than 130 pounds after weight loss surgery, but was left with a large amount of sagging, uncomfortable skin. She had a tummy tuck to address the problem, and new data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons shows that weight loss patients like her are fueling an increase in weight loss-related plastic surgery procedures. Details: bit.ly/1K2B9nN



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