What's a Lipectomy and Who Needs One?

Similar to a tummy tuck, a lipectomy is surgery to remove fat and loose skin around your “belt line” or waist. The procedure can also remove excess skin from your lower back, arms, and thighs so you get a more contoured look following a major weight loss.

Jan Garcia, Jr., MD of Plastic Surgery Arts expertly performs this surgery on people who have lost a great deal of weight but still have excess skin that makes them feel self-conscious and unattractive.

If you live in the area of Webster, Texas, and are bothered by your body’s appearance, despite being of relatively normal weight, read on to learn if this procedure can help you.

All about lipectomy

Lipectomy is a solution for stretched-out skin that remains after dramatic weight loss. When you gain weight – and a lot of it – your skin stretches out to accommodate the extra fat. When you lose this weight, your skin doesn’t automatically shrink back. As a result, you’ve achieved a more normal weight but still look overweight with extra folds of skin and tissue around your belly, thighs, or arms.

A lipectomy is a relatively simple procedure. Dr. Garcia makes an incision around your lower abdomen and love handles, removes the excess tissue, and stitches the remaining skin back together. He performs similar steps if you opt for a lipectomy in other areas, such as your arms or thighs.

You’re placed under general anesthesia for this procedure. Recovery may involve some discomfort, but the doctor provides antibiotics to prevent infection and pain medications to help you stay as comfortable as possible. Depending on the extent of your surgery, you may spend one night in the hospital.

You may go home with tubes underneath your skin to drain any fluid that builds up around the incision sites. The staff at Plastic Surgery Arts Center provides you with a complete after-care plan that includes movement modifications until you’ve fully healed.

Candidates for a lipectomy

People who’ve lost a lot of weight, often with bariatric surgery, are the best candidates for lipectomy. Oftentimes, they find that excess skin keeps them from looking the way they’d hoped, because the extra folds of skin are anything but slimming.

In addition to being unattractive, the excess skin can cause discomfort and problems such as:

Your self-esteem and confidence may suffer, too, as a result of excess skin.

Lipectomy resolves much of the discomfort, hassle, and embarrassment associated with excess skin. The best candidates have a fairly stable weight and are nonsmokers. The surgery is generally safe and well-tolerated by most people.

Dr. Garcia and our team at Plastic Surgery Arts Center want you to feel good about your appearance. If you’ve worked hard to lose weight but still have excess skin, achieve the slimmer, fitter looking body you deserve with a lipectomy. Call our office in Webster, Texas, or schedule an appointment online to learn more and find out if the procedure is right for you.

You Might Also Enjoy...

When Breast Augmentation Is More Than Cosmetic

Many women choose breast augmentation, or a boob job, to enhance the size of their cup. But you may elect to have the surgery to correct very real medical problems. Here are some noncosmetic reasons for breast augmentation surgery.

What's Involved in Facial Rejuvenation?

Facial rejuvenation creates a harmonious appearance, while erasing the signs of aging and skin imperfections. Find out how a combination of facial rejuvenation procedures can get you a beautiful look.

Lipectomy of Tummy Tuck: What Is Right for Me?

Both a lipectomy and a tummy tuck tighten underlying abdominal muscles and remove excess skin, so how do you know which one is right for you? Learn more about each procedure so you can make an educated decision.

Four Reasons to Consider a Brow Lift

Your eyebrows can define your expression, making you look angry or tired, even when you are not. A brow lift helps brighten your face and open up your expression. Here are just four reasons you should consider this surgery.

Rhinoplasty for a Deviated Septum: What to Expect

The septum is the wall between your nasal passages. When it’s off center, you may experience inflammation, congestion, and other uncomfortable nasal conditions. Surgery can help improve these symptoms and your appearance. Here’s what to expect.

Five Popular Skin Benefits of Laser Therapy

Lasers use light and heat energy to revitalize and smooth your skin’s appearance. Here’s why you should consider using laser therapy to rejuvenate your complexion, erase lines and wrinkles, and even out your skin tone.