4th August 2017

Doctors say a lot of people opt for contouring or such procedures that will help them in fixing their saggy skin post bariatric surgeries. Out of everyone who undergoes this surgery, about 2 to 3 per cent will undergo these surgeries. The ones who are opting for it are elderly people, because as one gets older the skin becomes elastic as compared to a younger individual

Bariatric surgeries have become popular in the recent past. Credit it to growing awareness among people or exceeding self-consciousness, there are a lot of people opting for bariatric surgery. Recently, doctors across the city say there is a rising trend among people who come for bariatric surgery to get post-surgery body contouring procedures done for removal of saggy skin and for restoration of normal body shape and image.

These body contouring procedures include multiple procedures like face-lift, neck lift, breast left (mastopexy), tummy tuck, body lift, belt lipectomy, thigh lift, buttock lift, medial arm lift (brachioplasty) etc. Doctors in the city say these cases are rising now and the probable cause is obviously the need to maintain a positive body image and to look attractive and ‘presentable’.

“We are seeing a rise in bariatric cases- mainly due to increase in lifestyle diseases and obesity and diabetes, combination due to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. As awareness increases there is a rise in the amount of Bariatric cases,” said Dr Prashanth Rao, Oncosurgeon & Bariatric Surgeon, Global Hospitals.

Post bariatric surgeries, doctors say a lot of people opt for contouring or such procedures that will, help them in fixing the saggy skin.

Katie A. (name changed) has come to India for multiple post-bariatric cosmetic procedures. She is with the Global Hospitals for an over-all body contouring procedures that comprises of all the procedures mentioned above. She underwent bariatric surgery about four years ago, and now, she is getting her surgeries done from Dr. Nilesh G. Satbhai, Global Hospitals, Consultant Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgeon at Global Hospitals, Parel.

“Medical tourism in India is a growing manifold. Like Katie, a lot of people do come here for similar procedures. The main concern of these patients is the loose skin folds that remain after massive weight loss. Exercise, yoga, etc help in toning up the muscles. But after a certain age, the ability of skin to contract and shrink decreases exponentially. Restoration of body image by plastic surgery procedures helps them greatly. It helps them build their self-esteem and regain their confidence on personal, social and professional fronts.” added Dr. Satbhai.

The rise, as they say is commonly seen among the younger population, “In the younger population of post-surgery, if they take adequate care, with proper exercise their body can mould itself into a new shape after weight loss and there’s less problem of sagging skin and aesthetic issues. A lot of them who are unable to do this and particularly patients who have been obese for longer periods /older ones may need to go in for cosmetic procedures like liposuction or contouring of the body if they want to,” added Dr Rao.

“Morbidly obese patients often have additional medical comorbities such and diabetes, hypertension, heart disease. Hence prolonged surgeries and anaesthesia in these patients needs proper planning and execution with intensive care support. Hence, it is advisable to perform these procedures at well equippedcentres”, said Dr. Satbhai.

“I would say, in the past 5 years people going in for post-bariatric surgeries are decreasing, this is because of people opting for other toning options like exercises,” said Dr Sanjay Borude, well-known bariatric surgeon in Mumbai.

“Out of everyone who undergoes this surgery, about 2 to 3 per cent will undergo these surgeries. The ones who are opting for it are elderly people, because as one gets older the skin becomes elastic as compared to a younger individual. If someone is between 55 to 60 years of age and has undergone a bariatric surgery and lost 30 kgs/40 kgs of weight in a year, then they can see lot of saggy skin and these are the ones who like to go for cosmetic reconstruction or body remodelling,” said Dr Dr Biswanath Gouda, Consultant, Laparoscopic GI&HPB Surgeon K J Somaiya Super Speciality Centre.