Body lift surgery after weight loss poses challenge for UAE's plastic surgeons

Abu Dhabi, UAE: The UAE is known for having a high obesity rates and many individuals have opted for bariatric surgery to assist with the weight loss process. One of the main challenges with bariatric surgeries is that massive weight loss leaves behind a lot of excess skin. At one Dubai-based cosmetic surgery centre, bariatric surgeons perform an average of 20 to 25 surgeries a month that include gastric balloon, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and mini gastric bypass surgeries.

Plastic surgeons at Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation perform an average of 15 body lifts per month in post weight loss patients. These surgeries include upper body, lower body, arm, breast, and thigh lift etc. The average age range for bariatric surgery and post-bariatric plastic surgery is performed on patients between 25 and 40 years.

According to Dr Parashar, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation, Dubai, UAE, “Planning a body lift is very challenging in bariatric patients, as the skin laxity can involve many parts of the body such as arms, breasts, abdomen, back, buttock, bra rolls, thighs etc. As a result of massive weight gain and loss, the elasticity of skin deteriorates and poorly drapes over the body, and unfortunately the aging process will further increase skin laxity. ”

Dr Parashar will discuss bariatric surgery challenges for patients and plastic surgeons at the Dermatology Conference during the Arab Health Recruitment & Training Fair organised by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions from 18-20 October 2014 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

“The main questions facing plastic surgeons today that highly affect the patient are; what parts of the body can be dealt in single sessions, how to minimize and reduce the number of scars, how to deal with both vertical and circumferential laxity. Additionally, a patient’s nutritional status may be compromised due to massive weight loss and may interfere with body healing and recovering from surgery,” commented Dr Parashar.

Another challenge that plastic surgeons face is how far they chase the skin, and if they could manage to prevent further skin laxity.

“When comparing genders, male patients have certain advantages over female patients as they can replace some of their fat volume with muscle volume by bulking up. This is evident in the chest, arms, and thighs. The abdomen, however, always remains a challenge. Women on the other hand face a disadvantage as they cannot easily replace fat volume by muscle mass in most places as their bodies are not built to do so,” says Dr Parashar