Post-Weight Loss Surgery
You Can Achieve
The Shape You Want To See
Body contouring procedures at Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, serving the Baltimore area and beyond, can help to complete your personal transformation after significant weight loss by removing loose skin. If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, either through surgery such as a gastric bypass or by making lifestyle changes, excess skin may prevent you from having confidence in your appearance.
Our experienced plastic surgeons specialize in combining body contouring treatments to give your body the toned look you deserve after making the commitment to lose weight.
Men and women seeking plastic surgery after weight loss come from throughout the Baltimore-Washington corridor to our practice. Save $50 on your consultation (regularly $150), or call us at (410) 740-9330. Please note, this discount cannot be applied to procedures covered by insurance, only applies to cosmetic consults and is valid for new patients only. For existing patients, please contact us online or call the office for an appointment.
“I was impressed by the time you take to understand the patient’s expectations, to educate patients about what they need to do to ensure the best outcome post-op, and your patience in answering my questions and concerns.”
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Before & After Gallery
See some of our many happy patients who have achieved excellent results through cosmetic surgery.
Good Candidates for Post-Weight Loss Surgery
The best candidates for plastic surgery after significant weight loss are in good physical and mental health and able to maintain a healthy stable weight for at least six months before moving forward with surgery. For many patients, this is not a concern because they have already been making healthy choices and lifestyle adjustments in order to lose weight.
In addition to maintaining a stable weight, a good post-weight loss surgery candidate:
- Is satisfied with his or her current weight and doesn’t want to lose more weight.
- Is not being treated for chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.
- Has a healthy diet without protein deficiencies that can impair healing after surgery.
- Does not smoke.
- Is mentally prepared for the recovery following what may be multiple surgeries.
- Has realistic expectations about the results of body contouring surgery.
- Are cleared for plastic surgery by a primary care doctor.
Your Personalized Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Chang or Dr. Wang will determine if post-weight loss surgery could be right for you. Your plastic surgeon will carefully listen to your goals, review your medical history and assess the areas that are most bothersome to you. Based on this information, your surgeon will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that may include one or more surgeries in order to safely and effectively achieve your aesthetic goals.
Types of Body Contouring Procedures
Plastic surgery after weight loss encompasses a range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, which can tighten, lift and contour different areas of the body and face. The first step is talking to your surgeon about what you want to achieve through plastic surgery. Then your surgeon will create a detailed surgical plan that may be completed all at once or in stages, depending on your goals and the extent of surgery needed.
Body contouring procedures that are typically part of a post-weight loss surgical plan include abdominoplasty, a lower body lift, arm lift, breast lift, buttock lift, thigh lift and/or face and neck lifts.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
A tummy tuck is among the most popular procedures after weight loss, since it can remove excess skin and fat and repair bulging, separated abdominal muscles at the same time. In some cases, a tummy tuck can also remove stretch marks if they are located in areas of loose skin that will be removed during this procedure.
Lower Body Lift
A lower body lift, also called a belt lipectomy, is an extended tummy tuck procedure that involves incisions that stretch around the sides of the body in order to improve the midsection, buttocks and legs. Men and women with significant amounts of loose skin hanging throughout their midsections and lower bodies can be good candidates for this procedure.
Arm Lift
Post-weight loss patients often have excess skin on their upper arms that is sometimes referred to as “bat wings.” An arm lift, also called brachioplasty, is an effective solution for removing the excess skin via an incision along the inside of the upper arm.
Breast Lift
Women who lose a lot of weight are often left with drooping breasts. A breast lift can remove loose skin and tighten and reposition remaining skin and breast tissue to create a “perkier” and more youthful-looking appearance. Some women choose to combine a breast lift with implants to achieve a more voluminous look after losing weight.
Buttock Lift
A buttock lift after weight is not the same as a Brazilian butt lift, or BBL. While a BBL augments the buttocks by adding fat, a buttock lift removes and tightens sagging skin to give the butt a more elevated and firmer appearance following weight loss.
Thigh Lift
A thigh lift can be included in post-weight loss surgery to remove excess skin in the thighs, a common trouble area after significant weight loss. Our plastic surgeons perform inner thigh lifts, which involve creating incisions in the fold of the groin in order to remove excess skin and reposition remaining tissue to tighten the area.
Facelift & Neck Lift
For many men and women, massive weight loss can create loose skin in the face and neck areas, resulting in jowls, “turkey neck” and pronounced wrinkles. A facelift with or without a neck lift, depending on your unique situation, can improve the appearance of these common cosmetic concerns after weight loss.
Even younger patients who have lost a significant amount of weight can benefit from a facelift and neck lift, which our doctors typically perform during a single operation.
Dr. Eric Chang
A Stanford-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Chang combines refined surgical techniques with compassionate patient care in performing cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
Dr. Jessica Wang
A graduate of Duke and University of Virginia, Dr. Wang is a board-certified plastic surgeon with advanced training in facial aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. She is devoted to excellent results.
DR. ERIC CHANG
A Stanford-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Chang combines refined surgical techniques with compassionate patient care in performing cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
DR. JESSICA WANG
A graduate of Duke and University of Virginia, Dr. Wang is a board-certified plastic surgeon with advanced training in facial aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. She is devoted to excellent results.
Your After-Weight Loss Surgery Procedure
The details of your post-weight loss plastic surgery procedure will greatly depend on which specific procedures are included, and your surgeon will discuss your individual surgical plan with you prior to your procedure. The length of time that a surgery like this will take also depends on the exact type and number of procedures you want to include. Your plastic surgeon will determine if all of the procedures that you would like can be performed in a single surgery or if it is best to split them up into multiple surgeries to optimize safety and results.
You will also be provided with a detailed list of pre-surgery preparation guidelines before your procedure. A few general preparation tips for the day of your surgery include:
- Do not eat or drink anything besides water after midnight the night before your surgery.
- Shower with antimicrobial soap the morning of your surgery.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your procedure.
- Wear or bring slip-on shoes so you do not need to bend over to put shoes on after your procedure.
- Remove all jewelry and piercings and do not wear perfume.
- Make sure you have a responsible adult to drive you to and from your procedure and stay with you for at least 24 hours after you get home.
Safety of Post-Weight Loss Surgery
Combining two or more plastic surgery procedures is common and safe, but it requires an experienced plastic surgeon who understands the unique circumstances presented by performing multiple procedures during a single operation. Patient safety is our top priority, and our doctors generally limit surgery to 6 or 7 hours. A typical procedure may combine a tummy tuck with an arm lift or lower body lift. Additional procedures, such as a facelift or breast lift, may be scheduled after you are completely healed from the first surgery.
Recovery
The recovery from post-weight loss surgery varies from patient to patient, depending on the procedures performed and your age and overall health. However, no matter which procedures you get, you can anticipate a recovery period of at least 4 weeks and up to 8 weeks. As a general rule, the more procedures you have done at once, the longer your recovery period will be.
The first few days following surgery are typically the most difficult, and it is important to get up and walk around. Walking helps to promote circulation, which enhances the healing process and reduces the risk of complications such as blood clots. Swelling and bruising gradually fade but can take months to fully dissipate.
The benefit of combining procedures is reducing the number of recoveries, but it is important to take the time necessary to heal before resuming any strenuous exercising or other physical activities. For the first 2 to 4 weeks, you will be limited in your movement and lifting. By about 6 weeks, most patients are back to their usual routines.
We provide detailed postoperative instructions to all patients and encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns along your road to recovery. Plastic surgery patients who get body contouring after weight loss tend to be among the most satisfied because of the transformative power of the treatments, restoring confidence after a long journey of self-improvement.
Results
You will see and feel a noticeable improvement in loose and sagging skin immediately after your body contouring surgery. However, swelling and bruising can camouflage your final results for quite some time, so be patient as your body continues to heal and recover. Over the next weeks and months, you will start to see gradual improvements in the way your new contours look and feel.
Note that it can take 12 months or more to see your final result after post-weight loss surgery. By around 18 months, scars may be fully matured and will begin to face and become less visible.
Skin removal and body contouring results after weight loss are typically long-lasting, provided you are able to maintain a healthy, stable weight. Gaining a significant amount of weight after skin removal surgery can create complications and undo your results, so it is vital that you are able to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits prior skin removal surgery and then keep up with those same healthy habits afterward.
Post Weight-Loss Surgery FAQ
How much does after-weight loss surgery cost in Baltimore?
The cost of skin removal and body contouring surgery after weight loss in Baltimore will depend on several factors. First, the price depends on the surgeries you get. For example, a total body lift will cost more than a partial one, and adding a tummy tuck and implants will further raise the price. Secondly, insurance may cover some elements of your procedure if they are deemed medically necessary, which can lower your total out-of-pocket cost. Finally, if your procedures are able to be performed as a single surgery, this will cost less than if those procedures need to be split into multiple surgeries for safety and optimal results.
We are happy to discuss insurance and/or financing options with you at the time of your consultation to help you better understand the exact cost and affordability of your procedure.
Is after-weight loss plastic surgery covered by insurance?
Plastic surgery after weight loss is sometimes covered by health insurance, but it depends on a number of factors, including your specific policy. While most post-weight loss surgery is considered elective and is therefore not covered, there are some exceptions that might warrant partial coverage. For example, sagging skin that causes chronic infections or other health concerns may be considered a covered medical concern. Additionally, a tummy tuck may be covered in part if it is used to repair the abdominal muscles.
In these cases, you may be able to obtain insurance coverage from your provider by working with your primary doctor. We are happy to work with your medical team and discuss these issues during your consultation.
How soon after weight loss can you get plastic surgery?
Our plastic surgeons generally recommend waiting anywhere from 6 to 12 months after weight loss before getting skin removal surgery after weight loss. For patients who have had bariatric surgery, we generally recommend waiting a bit longer to get body contouring surgery to give your body plenty of time to heal and to ensure you are as close as possible to your target weight before moving forward with skin removal.
How do I find the best doctor for post-weight loss surgery near me?
Skin removal is a specialized form of plastic surgery and you want to be certain that the doctor you choose is highly experienced with it. This is especially true if you are getting a total body lift. Because of this, we suggest that you narrow your search to only those with a lot of experience in these surgeries, which might mean expanding your geographical radius. It could be that you will get better results if you are willing to travel a little.
Is post-weight loss surgery just about skin removal?
While eliminating excess skin is often what drives patients to seek this procedure, it isn’t the only thing that post-weight loss surgery can accomplish. Typically, patients also want to include other procedures that help them to better embrace and even celebrate their new body. These include tummy tucks, liposuction, face and neck contouring and breast lifts.
Why won’t exercise treat sagging skin?
When the skin becomes stretched due to weight gain or pregnancy, it often cannot “snap back” into place once the weight is gone or the pregnancy is over. The elasticity of your skin, meaning how well it can recover after being stretched, depends on factors like your age, genetics and the extent to which it was stretched. While exercise can help to tone and tighten underlying muscle tissue, it cannot tighten loose skin once it has been stretched. For this reason, many people seek skin removal surgery following massive weight loss or multiple pregnancies.
Is post-weight loss surgery painful?
After any surgical procedure, you should anticipate some pain and discomfort. How you experience this pain is highly individualized. Keep in mind that you are not on your own with this – we will prescribe the appropriate medications and work with you if you find that the pain is still more than you are comfortable with.
Will I have scars after the procedure?
Yes, scars are an inevitable result of most surgical procedures, including skin removal surgery. The placement and length of your scars will depend on the specific procedures you’ve had. Our surgeons take great care to place incisions in the most discreet locations possible, and scars will fade and become less visible over time. The vast majority of people who get post-weight loss surgery say that the resulting scars are well worth the improved mobility, comfort and self-confidence that come along with skin removal surgery.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Keep in touch! Sign up for the Columbia Aesthetic newsletter and be among the first to know about events, specials, and more.
Written By: Dr. Eric Chang
Few plastic surgeons offer Dr. Eric Chang’s rare blend of impressive credentials and genuine compassion. After becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, he returned to his home state and established Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, one of the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery practices between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
More about Dr. Eric Chang | Last Reviewed: December 19th, 2025
