Achieving a significant weight loss goal can be life-changing. If you’re overweight or obese, losing weight can lead to reduced cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and an improvement in your overall health. However, losing weight in a short period of time often has unexpected effects, many of which can have a considerable impact on a person’s appearance and self-esteem.
Excess and sagging skin are the most common adverse effects after losing a large amount of weight. You may be surprised to learn that these effects are not limited to the stomach, arms, and legs. Many people experience unwanted, sagging skin on every part of their body, including their face and neck. There are many options today for people who are unhappy with their post-weight loss appearance. After massive weight loss, the most common face and neck procedures are facelifts, neck lifts, brow lifts, and dermal fillers.
Facelift
A facelift is a highly effective procedure used to remove excess skin from the lower face and neck and raise sagging tissues to create a more youthful, slender profile. The results are often dramatic yet natural, making it a great choice for patients who have undergone significant weight loss or weight loss surgery. The procedure is also used to treat deep wrinkles and reverse signs of aging. However, for post-weight loss patients, facelift surgery is more focused on skin removal and tissue reshaping than wrinkle reduction.
Our surgeons perform all facelift surgeries with patients under general anesthesia in a fully accredited hospital and with the assistance of a qualified anesthetist. The procedure typically takes 3-6 hours, and you may be discharged the same day. However, we recommend all facelift patients opt for an overnight stay.
Facelifts are often performed in combination with complementary procedures to give more thorough results. The best procedures to combine with a facelift are the brow lift, eyelid lift, and neck lift.
Neck Lift
The combination of face and neck lift surgery is the industry ‘gold standard’ in facial rejuvenation to reduce signs of aging and restore a youthful appearance. A neck lift is used to treat loose and excess skin in the neck area. You may recognize this as a “turkey neck.” Excess skin in the neck is common after significant weight loss and may cause feelings of embarrassment and low self-esteem.
Many people also find that wrinkled or saggy skin in this area is much more difficult to hide. Excess skin around the stomach can easily be covered with a sweatshirt, but it may be unrealistic to wear a turtleneck or scarf around your neck all day. Excess skin around the neck can also exacerbate the aging process and cause heavy lines or deep wrinkles to appear prematurely. Neck lift surgery addresses this concern head-on and can dramatically improve some of the most visible signs of aging.
During neck lift surgery, unwanted skin is removed, and the underlying neck muscles are tightened to create a smooth, lifted profile. Neck lifts are not typically performed alone and are most often coupled with facelift surgery to provide a comprehensive transformation of the face and neck
Brow Lift
A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, is another way to improve your facial appearance after weight loss. Brow lifts are used to remove excess skin and heaviness in the brow area. Sagging skin can hide the eyes and even make a person appear tired or angry. Our surgeons perform forehead lifts to refresh the face and smooth lines and deep wrinkles around the brows.
The procedure is especially popular for weight-loss patients, as it gives the face a natural boost and a more youthful appearance. Brow lift surgery is also excellent at treating deep wrinkles in the forehead, as well as droopy eyebrows and heavy eyelids.
There are several techniques used for brow lift surgery. The type of technique is based on factors, such as the eyebrows’ position, the amount of excess skin, and the height and configuration of your hairline. Our surgeons are experienced in performing a wide range of brow lift techniques, including traditional open brow lifts, minimal incision lateral brow lifts, and endoscopic brow lifts. Don’t worry if you’re not sure which type is best for you. Your surgeon will recommend the best technique for your face. Top benefits of brow lift surgery include:
- Reduced appearance of forehead wrinkles
- Improved brow symmetry
- Removal of excess eyelid skin
- Elevation of drooping brows
Dermal Fillers
Loss of volume in the face is a lesser-known effect of massive weight loss. One of the advantages of carrying slightly more weight in the face is that extra volume smooths out wrinkles and can make them appear less noticeable. Quickly losing a large amount of weight can also cause the skin to lose elasticity, resulting in a shallow, wrinkled appearance. Similarly, reduced skin volume and elasticity after weight loss can cause the skin to sag and lead to sunken eyes and temples.
Hollow areas of the face, a common complaint after massive weight loss, can also make a person look older- despite maintaining a healthy weight. Luckily, you no longer have to choose between living a healthy lifestyle and looking youthful and fresh. Dermal fillers are a minimally invasive treatment option used to add volume to the face and create a smoother, more even appearance.
There are several different types of fillers, each specifically formulated to restore fullness to different areas of the face. Popular brands include:
- Juvederm
- Radiesse
- Sculptra
- Restylane
Fillers are very versatile treatments. They can make your cheeks fuller, enhance lip volume, fill out sunken temples- all common concerns for weight-loss patients. However, unlike the other procedures on this list, dermal fillers are temporary treatments and typically last up to two years before requiring a touch-up.
We offer various treatments to reduce adverse side effects after weight loss, both fully transformative and minimally invasive. Our team of highly skilled Specialist Plastic Surgeons is committed to providing the very best in post-weight loss treatment. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
FRACS (Plastic Surgery) – Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
Australian Medical Association (AMA)
FRACS (Plastic Surgery) – Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Past President : ASAPS ( Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons)
Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
PhD (Eyelid Surgery) – University of Louisville, USA
