Munich (dpa) - Many obese people do not feel happy even when they
have lost weight. They may have managed to shed kilos of fat through
surgical intervention such as a gastric band, but they now face an
aesthetic problem: they are carrying too much skin on their bodies.
In many cases losing weight often means visiting a plastic surgeon
later.
But that does not apply to all patients. Cosmetic surgery does not
have to follow, says Professor Hans Hauner, president of the German
Obesity Society in Munich. He says between 15 and 20 per cent of
obese people are affected by this issue.
Only very obese people who have lost a dramatic quantity of weight
will be faced with the problem of excess skin. If a patient loses
between 50 and 70 per cent of their body mass through surgery they
should be aware that cosmetic intervention may be inevitable, says
Professor Andreas Hamann, a consultant at a diabetes clinic in Bad
Nauheim. "Doctors should clearly inform their patients of that in
advance and that extra costs may be incurred through cosmetic
surgery."
Before committing to cosmetic surgery the patient's weight must
remain stable for at least a year. "It's problematic when a patient
starts getting heavier after weight-reduction surgery and their fresh
scars are put under pressure," explains Hauner.
The aesthetic problems a patient may face after stomach reduction
surgery depend on individual factors. The volume of excess skin, and
age are two things to consider, says Professor Peter Vogt from the
German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. "A
person in their early 20s has a better chance of their skin returning
to normal." This is because the elasticity of a young person's skin
is much greater.
The volume of weight lost is another factor. "We advise our
patients to train with weights and build up their muscles." That
affects how the body looks, as without strong muscles, skin tends to
look flabby.
It may be necessary to undergo cosmetic surgery several times as
doctors do not recommend working on multiple areas of the body at the
same time. Surgeons also require a firm part of the body in order to
tighten another area. "In many cases we begin by removing skin on the
belly, which allows the patient to wear normal trousers again.
Placing skin under pants also helps prevent the skin from rubbing
together," says Vogt. The next step is to remove skin from the
thighs.
Before taking the step of cosmetic surgery ask your health insurer
first if they will pay the medical costs. "Insurance companies are
reluctant to pay for plastic surgery because it is often more
expensive than an operation to reduce obesity," says Hauner.
There are also some cases where patients overreact to weight
reduction surgery and have no solid reason to have cosmetic
intervention. Sometimes those cases land before the courts.
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