Biggest Loser winner Olivia Ward opted for a tummy tuck to remove excess skin after shedding 116 pounds. See her journey and dramatic transformation. Read the full story

Weight loss surgery patients often have plastic surgery after losing weight. In this video, Dr. Mike Dixon talks about reducing possible complications.

Read the full story

Weight loss surgery meant Joanne Brown could get rid of 120 pounds, her C-Pap breathing apparatus and her health worries. But what she gained was even better: confidence. Read the full story

When is it safe to consider a body lift after weight loss surgery?  How long is the recovery time? What other plastic surgery operations are popular for bariatric patients? Board certified plastic surgeon T. Michael Dixon, MD, FACS, answers these questions and shares some remarkable patient before and after pictures in this informative interview. Read the full story

Tummy Tucks Take Off for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

So, you’ve lost a lot of weight. You have dropped ten sizes, you can walk a mile without passing out, and your future is full of endless possibilities. There’s just one problem left: your extra skin. What in the heck do you do with all the freaking extra skin?

Enter the abdominoplasty – better known as the “tummy tuck” – which statistics show is becoming an increasingly common part of post-operative care for weight loss surgery patients. In fact, in the U.S., surgeons performed 148,000 tummy tuck operations in 2007 alone – an increase of 137% over the number performed in 2000. And with more and more weight loss surgery procedures being performed each year, the tummy tuck trend is certain to grow.

Excess skin is a serious issue for weight loss surgery patients who have lost large amounts of abdominal fat. There is the embarrassment of having oversized flaps of loose skin hanging from your belly. Zippers are a constant threat. And where do you put it when you get dressed?
What’s more, redundant skin can cause seriously problems, like yeast infections, or even lead to gangrene.

Reconstructive surgery can help address these issues, but it is unlikely that your insurance carrier will pay for the procedure unless there is a medical reason. And, depending upon the circumstances, a tummy tuck can cost anywhere from $5000 to $25,000. But, many folks will gladly shell out this kind of dough if it means being able to finally wear a bathing suit in public for the first time in their lives.

Get the latest updates on research related to the treatment of obesity and related co-morbidities, lifestyle tips for staying healthy post-op, and human interest stories that are sure to move you, each week on WLS News!

In the February 20, 2009, newscast, we’ll give you the latest on the federal government’s new Medicare policy regarding weight loss surgery for Type 2 Diabetes, explore how bariatric surgery can decrease the risk of certain cancers in women, and take a look at some promising findings on the development of an obesity drug.

We’ll also give you the facts about tummy tucks, uncover the relationship between obesity and incontinence, and check in with WLS Journeys host Yvonne McCarthy as she talks about one of her favorite WLS websites!

Organizations mentioned in this week’s news:

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Society for Gynecologic Oncologists
• University of Virginia Medical School
• Virginia State Cancer Registry
• Dr. Bill Adams (Plastic Surgeon)
• Obesity Action Coalition
• Lap-Band King (WLS video blog of Marcus Cook)
• Bariatric Girl (Yvonne McCarthy’s WLS support site)
• University of North Carolina School of Medicine
• New England Journal of Medicine
• Bariatric Advantage (nutritional supplements)