Post-Weight Loss

Weight loss is a difficult but rewarding journey that many people experience throughout their lives. Successful weight loss can be very beneficial for your health, and you should be proud of how far you’ve come!

Today, many patients are able to achieve their health goals with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and metabolism. These medications include semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro). There are also bariatric surgeries that can help patients lose weight by making the stomach smaller. Other patients find that exercise and diet alone helps them achieve their goals–it’s really about finding what works best for you!

Regardless of whether or not you commit to a medically assisted weight loss plan, or if you opt for more traditional methods, losing weight is a huge accomplishment. Significant weight loss is tied to reducing various health risks, making for long-term improvements to your quality of life. In the midst of all of these benefits, however, many patients find that they are left with excess skin around the stomach, arms, and elsewhere. There is also the emerging issue of “Ozempic body”–and “Ozempic face”–resulting from significant volume loss.

Thankfully, post-weight loss body contouring surgeries at The Peer Group in New Jersey are ideal for anyone who has successfully shed a large amount of fat and wants their leaner physique to be visible instead of hidden beneath excess tissue! For issues like Ozempic face, we offer volumizing filler treatments like Juvéderm that can help effectively rejuvenate your appearance, or facelifts for a more permanent result.

If you are looking to contour your body or enhance your appearance to conclude a successful weight loss journey, then take the first step today by scheduling a consultation with one of the professionals at The Peer Group. You have worked hard to lose weight and sculpt a body you can be proud of, so let us help you complete your weight loss journey.

Call The Peer Group at (973) 822-3000.today to learn more about weight loss surgery and to see if you are a candidate.

Before and After Photos

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About Weight Loss

As fat cells grow and expand, the skin stretches out to make room for them. If those same fat cells later shrink, the skin may be unable to return to a snug fit around the body. Post-weight-loss body surgery addresses this sagging skin by removing it and revealing a smoother, more toned appearance. Some of the most common post-weight-loss body contouring surgeries include tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), arm lift (brachioplasty), thigh lift, body lift, upper and lower back fat removal, breast lift (mastopexy) and more. Some post-weight loss body contouring procedures can be combined for optimal results.

Weight loss can be a complicated journey, but recent advancements in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications have helped countless individuals lose weight. These medications, semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro), mimic the natural hormones that send signals to our body when we should stop eating. By augmenting the release of these hormones, these individuals eat less, resulting in weight loss.

These medications also help to give the metabolism a boost. As these have exploded in popularity, post-weight-loss body contouring and rejuvenation treatments have as well. The various post-weight-loss procedures we offer at The Peer Group help these individuals and all weight-loss patients reach the finish line and achieve the ideal body image they have been working toward.

Benefits of Post-Weight Loss Treatments

Weight loss is a complicated process, and we understand that you may be frustrated with the presence of excess skin after so much progress has been made with weight reduction. When patients come to The Peer Group to enhance their image after weight loss, patients can experience:

Candidates

Patients with excess, drooping skin can receive a tailored treatment plan from the expert doctors at The Peer Group. Our team can create a customized plan to help you achieve your goals.

It is recommended that patients be at or near a stable goal weight. Significant fluctuations in weight or additional weight loss can impact the results of the procedure. Patients should be willing to practice healthy activity and diet habits. Patients should also be in good overall health, not smoke or consume nicotine, and have realistic expectations for their results.

Personal Consultation

If you are experiencing discomfort or dissatisfaction because of excess, drooping skin, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of The Peer Group’s expert surgeons. At this appointment, you will discuss your motivations behind seeking post-weight-loss procedures and your outcome goals.

You will also discuss your medical history and weight loss history. With all of this information collected, your surgeon will create a customized plan that creates optimal, natural-looking results.

Preparation

Post-weight-loss surgery is intended for women and men who have achieved a stable weight and do not foresee any significant future gains or drastic fluctuations. Given the opportunity, growing fat cells can “undo” the results of successful post-weight-loss surgery, so patients must plan healthy lifestyles and dieting habits to ensure long-lasting results.

It is often recommended that patients also:

Procedures

Tummy Tuck

Also known as an abdominoplasty, this procedure involves removing excess belly skin that can hang from your midsection like an apron. ⁽¹⁾ This component of post-weight-loss body surgery can also involve removing isolated pockets of stubborn fat cells with liposuction. In a tummy tuck procedure, your doctor will make an incision below your belly button along the bikini line.

Once access to the underlying tissue is created, your surgeon will carefully remove some of the excess skin and fat.

Your surgeon can also address muscle-related issues like diastasis recti by bringing the muscles back together if they had come apart during weight gain. ⁽¹⁾

Arm Lift

Post-weight loss body surgery can also remove drooping skin on the upper arms. Often referred to as an arm lift, this procedure is officially known as a brachioplasty. This procedure may be performed on its own or as part of a larger body surgery combination. Excess skin treated in this procedure typically hangs from the arms, from the shoulder to the elbow, but skin along the armpit and upper rib cage can also be treated. ⁽²⁾

Once completed, you will be left with smoother, slimmer arms.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift is post-weight-loss body surgery to address sagging skin on the thighs. Although this procedure can be performed on its own, it can also be combined with other body surgeries. When patients lose weight, their thighs can be left with unsightly excess skin that can cause bothersome chafing.

An incision will be made along the thighs. By removing excess skin, your surgeon can sculpt your thighs for a more flattering contour.

Body Lift

A body lift can focus on a specific area or more general region, depending on your specific needs. A body lift can effectively treat either the upper or lower body. A lower body lift sculpts the legs, hips, buttocks, and abdomen so that the result appears natural and proportional. An upper body lift focuses on the breasts, arms, and upper back. Body lifts incorporate methods and techniques from various tucks and lifts that are performed in all areas of the body to effectively treat the ventral and dorsal sides of a patient’s body.

Liposuction

Liposuction can be incorporated into post-weight-loss procedures to further enhance the results of your treatments. Liposuction is an effective body-sculpting tool that helps patients reduce stubborn pockets of fat that do not respond to dieting or exercise. It is important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss tool, rather it is a helpful option for customizable body sculpting. Many patients of The Peer Group will incorporate a liposuction treatment to accentuate their bodies’ natural contours and create a more defined silhouette.

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation procedures are available for both men and women in post-weight loss treatments. For men, a gynecomastia treatment (which often incorporates liposuction and a male-specific breast lift) can help to reduce bulging chest tissue and sculpt a more masculine chest.

For women, many breast augmentation procedures are available to help them rejuvenate their breasts after weight loss. When weight is lost, breasts can be left sagging and deflated. With the help of either implants or fat transfers, breasts can regain their volume and be sculpted to have a perkier appearance. Additionally, a breast lift, also known as mastopexy, can bring the breasts higher on the chest wall into a more youthful position.

Facial Volumization

The volume loss caused by significant weight loss can become evident in one’s facial features. If you experience this issue, you may feel as though there are areas of your face that appear more hollow than before your weight loss. If you are looking to restore some of that volume to your face, we offer Juvéderm and RHA Revance as hydrating facial fillers that can give you a more refreshed, youthful look.

Recovery

Since each patient’s post-weight loss body surgery is unique, the steps taken toward a full recovery will vary for each case. You will receive specific recovery instructions from your surgeon during your post-op appointment and after your procedure. Generally, the more involved the procedure, the more significant the recovery will be. Each patient’s downtime for healing will depend on the surgery specifics, but it is normal to experience initial bruising, swelling, tenderness, and discomfort in the treated areas.

Complete recovery can take weeks, although patients can usually resume some non-strenuous activities a few days after the procedure. Light walks are even encouraged in the days after the surgery to stimulate healthy blood flow. Activity can slowly increase as healing progresses, as long as your surgeon says it is okay to do so. Heavy exertion and activities that require lifting heavy objects should typically be avoided for at least six weeks.

Results

Once you have healed from your treatments, you will be able to better visualize the results of your weight loss journey. Areas that were once obscured by excess skin will now be smoother, more-toned, and effectively contoured. You may be able to feel more comfortable in certain types of clothing and find that your quality of life and confidence has improved overall.

Cost of Post-Weight Loss Treatments in New Jersey

The total cost of each patient’s post-weight-loss treatments depends on which surgeries are included in the procedure. This will all be discussed at the consultation, where we can help you determine the details of your post-weight loss body contouring plan. The Peer Group also offers various financing plans.

If you have any questions about pricing, please do not hesitate to contact one of our New Jersey offices at (973) 822-3000 to get the information you need.

Post-Weight-Loss Treatments Covered by Insurance

Some procedures may be covered by insurance. Patients may receive full or partial insurance coverage, but this depends on whether or not these procedures are medically necessary or purely cosmetic. Insurance coverage also varies between company and policy. If you are receiving tummy tucks and other post-weight-loss procedures to enhance your appearance, then it is not likely that you will receive coverage.

If you have a medical issue that is related to your excess skin or if it is significantly hindering your comfort and movement, then you may be eligible for insurance coverage. The Peer Group office staff are experts at navigating the confusing world of insurance policies, so we are more than happy to help you explore your options!

References

1. Regan JP, Casaubon JT. Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431058/
2. Nagrath N, Winters R. Brachioplasty. PubMed. Published 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585115/