How Long After Bariatric Surgery Can You Get Body Contouring Surgery in Turkey?
- Jul 18, 2023
- 3 min read
Weight Loss & Excess Skin
Undergoing major weight loss — whether through diet and exercise or via bariatric surgery — is a major feat that takes a lot of dedication and focus. While achieving a healthy weight after struggling with obesity can be life-changing, many people are disappointed by the significant amount of excess skin that can remain.
This sagging tissue tends to happen after massive weight loss due to the fact it cannot fully retract after being stretched so far. Since this can make many men and women feel self-conscious with their new body, some choose to undergo body contouring after major weight loss — but how soon is it safe to do so after bariatric surgery?
How Soon is Skin Removal Surgery Safe?
Patients who lose weight through a bariatric procedure, such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, may be anxious to undergo plastic surgery to further sculpt their body. As with any cosmetic surgery, though, our plastic surgeons advise patients it is best to wait until they are at a stable, healthy weight.
After bariatric surgery, this may take about 12 to 18 months to get to this goal. Since the time period may differ for every patient, our surgeons recommend waiting about a year after weight loss surgery, with at least 3 months of maintaining a stable weight.
Benefits of Not Rushing Into Surgery
By not rushing into post-bariatric body contouring, you can correct any nutritional deficiencies that could affect your health, reduce the risk of complications associated with a higher body mass index (BMI), and achieve the best aesthetic outcome since your body shouldn’t be undergoing anymore major changes.
12 - 18 Months
Most board-certified plastic surgeons advise patients to wait at least 12 to 18 months after bariatric surgery before considering plastic surgery. A few of the most important factors in determining this timeline include:
Accelerated weight loss after gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or other bariatric procedures can continue for a year or more. Prior to pursuing cosmetic surgery, patients should be at a relatively stable, healthy weight in order to protect their long-term aesthetic results
Skin should have time to heal and retract/conform to the new body shape as much as possible prior to surgery
Bodies may need time to adjust to revised nutrient intake after bariatric surgery. Giving the body time to rebuild and adapt promotes a good foundation of health, ensuring patients are able to heal appropriately after their cosmetic procedure(s)
Complications from surgery decrease when the body has a lower body mass index (BMI)
The Plateau & Body Contouring
Once you notice your weight plateau at a stable weight, you can start scheduling your body contouring procedure.
What is Body Contouring?
Sometimes referred to as post-weight loss body contouring or after weight loss surgery, surgical body contouring refers to a collection of reconstructive plastic surgery procedures designed to address the unwanted side effects of weight loss and give patients a smoother, tighter, more natural-looking physique. Some of the most common treatments and procedures performed to reverse the cosmetic consequences of extreme weight loss include:
Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty
360 circumferential lower body lift
Thigh lift or thigh plasty
Torsoplasty
Arm lift or brachioplasty
Breast lift or mastopexy
Breast augmentation
Liposuction
Autologous fat transfer
You may have a single body contouring procedure or require a staged approach for addressing multiple areas. The treatment is performed while you are under general anesthesia. The excess skin and fat will be surgically removed to create a more attractive body shape.
The procedures range from some patients requiring an extended tummy tuck with tightening of the loosened abdominal muscle structure, to others having a circumferential body lift to address the excess posterior trunk skin. Other options typically performed are a breast lift to reshape and lift the breasts so they appear youthful and natural and arm or thigh lifts to address the significant skin excess of the extremities.
If Your Weight is Still Not Stable...
If you haven’t yet achieved a stable, healthy weight after 12 to 18 months, it may be best to follow up with your bariatric surgeon, dietician, or nutritionist to create a plan for continuing a healthy weight loss journey.
Get In Touch!
If you would like more information about plastic surgery after major weight loss, as well as learn the best time frame for your needs, please contact our team at to schedule a free consultation.
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