Anger, frustration and disbelief is often heard in the voices of those who inquire about corrective surgery after bypass surgery. After their surgery with its quick and dramatic weight loss, individuals are often left with loose, sagging skin in their breasts, upper arms, thighs, abdomen, and flanks. Just when they are feeling more confident and good about themselves, they look in the mirror and see extra skin hanging off multiple parts of their bodies. Unfortunately, they are often under the assumption that because their health insurance paid for the gastric bypass surgery, it will pay for the cosmetic surgery needed afterwards. Their disappointment and frustration arises when they find out—-

A. Health insurance will not cover these procedures as they are considered “cosmetic” and not medically necessary.

B. Most patients need several corrective procedures to get the results they desire.

For example an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is often needed but with the addition (and added expense) of a circumferential (that is–recontouring around the entire waist/abdominal area)technique is needed. Breast surgery such as breast augmentation or mastopexy (breast lift)is often needed and in many cases, both procedures are required. Body contouring procedures such as thigh lift, body lift and liposuction of various areas are often also necessary to achieve the look the patient desires.

C. And most importantly, the patient often finds that these procedures are costly as they should be performed only by board-certified plastic surgeons with expertise in these areas.

These procedures take years of training and experience to master and should always be performed by accomplished plastic surgeons under general anesthesia in a certified facility.

See before and after pictures