Before deciding to undergo the procedure, weight loss must be stabilized.

• If you continue to lose weight, the sagging will reappear,
• If the weight is quickly regained, you will traumatically stress your already weakened skin, causing stretch marks and enlarged scars on the skin.

If you have undergone weight loss surgery, your plastic surgeon will work closely with your doctor to determine when it will be appropriate to begin body contouring repair.

• The reason why you want to have the surgery, your expectations and the desired result;
• The options available in body contouring surgery;
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatment;
• Current use of medication, vitamins, natural medicines, tobacco, alcohol and drugs;
• Previous surgeries.

• Assess your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors;
• Examine and measure your body;
• Take photographs for medical records;
• Discuss your options and recommend the most suitable one;
• Discuss the possible results of the surgery and any potential risks or complications.

Before surgery, it may be necessary to:

• Take laboratory tests or medical evaluation,
• Take certain medications or adjust current medications,
• Quit smoking well in advance of surgery,
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatories and natural medicines, as they can increase bleeding.

• What to do on the day of surgery (fasting time, medications, bath),
• Information on the type of anesthesia to be performed during the surgical procedure,
• Guidance on post-operative care.

The procedure must be carried out in a safe and comfortable place for the doctor and patient, in a surgical center authorized by the Health Surveillance, with equipment and trained staff for any complications.

Be sure to ask someone to accompany you and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.

The procedures necessary to achieve your goals will be defined along with a surgical plan. Plastic surgery procedures that may be recommended by your doctor include:

• Lifting of the lower part of the body: Corrects sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin and culottes;
• Breast lift: Corrects sagging and sagging breasts;
• Arm lifting: Corrects sagging arms;
• Thigh lift: Corrects sagging thighs.

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Options include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.

Step 2 – Incision

All body contouring procedures require incisions to remove excess skin. In many cases, these incisions can be extensive. The incision length and pattern will depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as personal preference and the surgeon's judgment. Advanced techniques often allow incisions to be made in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing, however, this is not always possible.

Body contouring surgery is often performed in stages. Your particular condition and expectations, as well as the plastic surgeon's opinion, will influence how your doctor defines the surgical plan. Although it may have taken two years or more to lose all the excess weight, it may take the same amount of time for the results of the surgery to fully appear.

A complete lower body lift treats sagging buttocks, abdomen, waist, hips and lateral thigh in a single or multiple procedures. Incision types may vary and may include a circumferential incision, around the body, to remove the “belt” of excess skin and fat.

Incision patterns for removing sagging breasts from a woman's breasts will be determined based on the amount of excess skin to be removed.
They may include a single incision or a combination of incisions in a circular pattern around the nipple, in a line extending from the areola to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease. Breast implants are recommended to improve the shape and size of the breast.

The decision to undergo the surgical procedure is personal and it is you who must decide whether the benefits will achieve your goals and whether the risks and potential complications are acceptable. Your plastic surgeon and/or team will explain, in detail, the risks associated with the surgery.

You will be asked to sign the consent form to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any potential risks or complications.

Sagging skin on the arms is treated with an incision in the underarm area, extending to the inside or back of the upper arm. Additional incisions may be necessary wherever there is excess skin. Smoother, more defined contours are visible almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising.

Reshaping the contours of the thighs is achieved through incisions in the groin that can extend down to the knee along the inner thigh.
Improving the contour of the outer thigh may require a different incision. Through these incisions, the plastic surgeon will define the tissues, aiming for smoother contours.

• Unfavorable scars;
• Bleeding (bruise);
• Infection;
• Accumulation of fluid (seroma);
• Poor healing;
• Skin necrosis;
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensitivity;
• Anesthetic risks;
• Skin depigmentation and/or prolonged swelling;
• Adipose tissue necrosis (fat necrosis);
• Dehiscence (reopening of a previously opened wound);
• Asymmetry;
• Recurrent sagging of the skin;
• Pain, which may last;
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications;
• Persistent swelling in the legs;
• Possibility of a new surgical procedure (touch-up).

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or an abnormal heartbeat, seek medical attention immediately. If any of these complications occur, you may need hospitalization and additional treatment.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve the best results with a single surgical procedure, requiring a new surgery.

It is important that you ask all your questions directly to the plastic surgeon about the procedure you will undergo. It is natural to feel a little anxiety, to have expectations about the result or pre-operative stress. Don't be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

Following your doctor's recommendations is essential for the success of the surgery. It is important that surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or movement during the healing time.

After surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied over the incisions and you may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or compression to minimize swelling and support the new contours as they heal. A drain may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood and fluid that may accumulate.

How to care for the surgical wound and drains, medications to take orally to help reduce the potential for infection, specific care for the surgery site, your health status, and post-operative follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

• Where will I remain in recovery after the surgery ends?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will dressings be necessary after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Will the stitches be removed? When?
• When will I be able to resume my normal activities and exercise?
• When will the return appointment be?

The results of body contouring surgery, after major weight loss, are visible almost immediately. However, it may take up to 1-2 years or more for the final results of all procedures to fully appear. Maintaining the result depends on your maintaining a stable weight and good shape, your skin type and hereditary characteristics. As the body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness over time.

Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. A surgeon's fees may vary depending on their experience and the type of procedure performed.

• Surgeon's fees;
• Hospital or surgical center costs;
• Anesthetist's fees;
• Prescribed medications;
• Post-operative and mesh;
• Medical exams.

• Areola: Pigmented skin around the nipple.
• Arm lift : Surgical procedure, also known as brachioplasty, to correct sagging arms.
• Breast implants: Medical device placed in your body to enhance the size of your existing breast or reconstruct it. Breast implants are filled with silicone (cohesive gel).
• Breast lift: Also known as mastopexy, that is, surgery to lift the breasts.
• Breast Contouring: Surgical procedure after major weight loss to improve shape and tone and remove excess fat and skin..
• Circumferential incision: Surgical incision around the body to remove the “belt” of excess skin and fat and additional incisions.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during surgery to relieve pain and reduce consciousness.
• Hematoma: Accumulation of blood beneath the skin.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives given by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Local anesthesia: Drug injected directly into the site of an incision during surgery to relieve pain.
• Lower body lift: Surgical procedure to correct sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin and outer thighs.
• Medial thigh lift: Surgical procedure to correct sagging of the inner thigh.
• External thigh lift: Surgical procedure to correct sagging of the external part of the thigh.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.