Entrust your cosmetic experience to Dr. Harris and the Image Surgical Arts team of experienced professionals.
Obesity rates are increasing in America. However, as more people come to understand the dangerous health hazards of excess weight, an increasing number are also opting to lose that weight. Some are able to do so with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. Others choose to get help by way of gastric bypass surgery. The resulting change is termed “massive weight loss,” which is generally considered a reduction in weight of 100+ pounds or at least 50% of your excess weight.
As you gain weight, your skin grows and stretches to accommodate increasing fat deposits. Think of a balloon as it inflates. Conversely, significant weight loss dramatically reduces the amount of fat, but most often, the skin is no longer elastic enough to contract accordingly. So, like a balloon, it becomes floppy. You’re left with excessive sagging skin, most commonly in the abdomen, breasts, back, flanks, upper arms, buttocks, thighs and face.
At Image Surgical Arts we offer a range of skin rejuvenation treatments that are ideal for correcting imperfections and fine-tuning skin texture and tone. We can use these treatments to renew the skin (face or body), addressing everything from remaining skin laxity to fine lines and wrinkles, age spots and other hyperpigmentation issues and even acne scars.
And speaking of scars, Dr. Harris may recommend follow-up laser treatment to help minimize the appearance of scars you will have after your post-weight loss surgery.
Just like the decision to undergo weight loss surgery, there is a lot to think about when considering restorative follow-up procedures. It can be a lengthy process, involving multiple surgeries that affect many areas of the body. That means a renewed commitment to the time and effort required for recovery, which may impact not only you, but your friends and family as well. It probably took you a year or two to lose weight. It may take just as long for your body contouring results to be fully revealed. There are several things to think about when arranging all of the moving parts for your procedure and recovery.
You will need to set aside enough time away from your work and home responsibilities so that you can recover with few distractions. Dr. Harris will explain the limitations that are recommended for each of the procedures in your surgical plan. If your job or other responsibilities involve strenuous activity, you may need extra time to recover, to prevent any undue discomfort or delay.
You should be fully healed before venturing out, for safety as well as appearance reasons. Keep in mind you will be undergoing multiple surgeries, each with a unique recovery period. Procedures of or near the face can leave bruising, swelling, and redness - you’ll want to leave time for these to fade before stepping in front of any shutterbugs!
We recommend that someone stay with you at all times for at least 48 hours after your procedure. This time is crucial for optimal recovery, and getting help will relieve stress so you can focus on healing. The longer you have some assistance around, the easier recovery will be.
Recovery for many of your procedures will require that you wear a compression garment. These are used to support the skin and underlying tissue as it heals and to help reduce swelling, both of which help speed and improve the recovery process. How long you will have to wear a compression garment varies according to the type of surgery, but it could be anywhere from a short period to 3-4 months.
It is vital that you understand what is involved, the risks as well as potential benefits and, above all, the kind of results that surgery can realistically produce. Surgery can transform your body, but there is no such thing as perfection. Each person has specific reasons for considering post-massive weight loss surgery. You will discuss your concerns, desires, expectations, and priorities with Dr. Harris at your private consultation. He will explain the risks involved with this process as well as the benefits you can achieve and the recovery process for each procedure. Then he will recommend a surgical plan tailored just for you. He will combine the procedures you choose when possible – for example face/neck lift along with arm lift – but he will start with those procedures that you have deemed a priority.
By now, you have studied before and after photos of similar patients, so you have a realistic idea of the improvements you might expect to see. Perfection is unrealistic, but you will look and feel so much better.
Convenience and comfort matter. At Image Surgical Arts, our clinic and accredited surgical center are located together — no hospital visit required. To prepare, you may be asked to take pre-operative antibiotics, avoid blood-thinning medications or supplements, and quit smoking at least 6 weeks in advance.
All surgeries are performed under general anesthesia, and you'll go home the same day — so plan for a driver. Before beginning, Dr. Harris marks the body as a surgical template, often using liposuction first to refine his incision plan and maximize skin removal. He may also temporarily close incisions with staples to preview your contours before permanently closing.
Surgery duration varies by procedure — a tummy tuck alone takes 3–4 hours. Dr. Harris incorporates 360° liposuction with most post-weight-loss procedures for all-around contouring. One or two drains are placed at closure, and you'll be monitored in recovery until you're ready to go home. Dr. Harris will see you the following morning to check your surgical sites and answer questions.
You will need help from a friend or family member, especially at first. That includes physical and emotional support, both of which are important for healing.You will need to have a responsible adult with you at all times for the first 48 hours at least. You will need assistance with daily basics at first, and you will want (and deserve) some extra pampering.
We will give you detailed written instructions for self-care after you return home. We will go over everything with you before you leave, to be sure you understand – that said, you should feel free to call any time you have questions or concerns. You can read more about the recovery process below.
It is crucial that you follow all of your at-home instructions because there is an important reason behind every detail. You can also take other steps to ensure your recovery goes as quickly and successfully as possible:
Before your surgery, designate a spot as your recovery headquarters – a place where you can relax comfortably (a recliner is a good choice, but a chair and ottoman or cushy sofa are also good options), with water, medications, TV or movies or a good book within easy reach.
At first, movement will be restricted by your own body and by our home care instructions, but short walks and deep breathing exercises are vital. This promotes circulation of blood and oxygen that support healing, keeps your lungs clear and reduces risk of blood clots. Follow your instructions, but don’t overdo it.
It takes a village, as they say. Critical as it is to choose the right surgeon, remember that you will be working with his or her entire team. The team will guide you through your surgical journey, from first visit to follow-up. Their qualifications and demeanor will determine how well things go for you and how you feel afterward about your overall experience.
At Image Surgical Arts, we believe you deserve our best, never less, and we work hard to deliver just that to every patient. Our office is pleasant and welcoming and our patients describe us as friendly and caring. We’re here to help you get comfortable with the surgical process and that means making sure you have all the information you need. We love to answer questions because we know that the best care starts with listening to a patient’s concerns.
Accomplished through a series of surgical procedures, body contouring aims to remove excess skin and fat and to tighten underlying muscles. The techniques employed are specific to each area of the body, ranging from the face and neck to breasts, abdomen, back, and buttocks. With proper experience and expertise, the surgeon you choose will help you decide which areas to target with surgery. The goal is to achieve smoother, firmer, shapelier contours for anyone experiencing the discomfort of excess skin. It can make a dramatic difference in your confidence, your day-to-day physical comfort and your overall health.
Interestingly, sometimes corrective measures may involve restoring volume in certain areas. This helps achieve a smoothly rounded, natural-looking shape, especially in the breasts, buttocks and face. Dr. Harris may recommend fat transfer for this, especially to lift the buttocks and to add volume under the eyes.
At Image Surgical Arts, we have found that many bariatric surgery patients did not clearly understand just how deflated they would appear, post-surgery. Many of our patients are also caught off guard by the sheer volume of excess skin. This creates multiple problems:
Surgical body contouring, sometimes referred to as a body lift, can correct these problems, improving your appearance, physical function, quality of life and self-esteem. All of this can help to increase your motivation to maintain your new weight. Post-massive weight loss surgery can be totally life-changing, allowing you to be truly happy with your post weight loss self.
Because post-massive weight loss surgery involves multiple procedures, it is often safer to complete these surgeries in stages. This limits the length of time that you’re under anesthesia for each surgery. It also allows for faster, more comfortable recovery each time, which is crucial for good health and good results. The body automatically sends increased blood flow and growth factors to wounds to promote and support healing, so keeping the focus on a limited number of areas allows your body to do its best work without being over-taxed.
At Image Surgical Arts, the most common body contouring procedures that we perform are:
Depending on each patient’s specific physical condition and desires, we can also include:
We perform these procedures to remove excess skin and tissue to eliminate sagging. Dr. Harris will also lift and reshape as necessary to restore normal projection and fullness, such as in the breasts and buttocks. Areas to be addressed in each surgical stage will depend on your priorities and the safest path forward.
If you’ve lost more than 100 pounds and are left with sagging skin, and you want to fine tune your appearance, you may be a good candidate for body contouring. However, if you are planning a future pregnancy, it is best to wait until afterward so we can achieve the best results, especially for tummy tuck and breasts. The best candidates are:
Risks associated with body contouring vary according to the amount of tissue removed as well as your age, lifestyle habits and overall health. Risk for complications is higher for those who have lost a massive amount of weight, especially via gastric bypass surgery as opposed to diet and exercise, and for those who have chronic health issues such as heart disease or diabetes.
For this reason, Dr. Harris may conduct a physical exam and/or lab tests to evaluate your overall health status prior to your surgery. Stable weight helps mitigate risk, which is one reason we require that patients maintain stable weight for at least six months before undergoing this surgery.
Any incision, no matter how big or small, creates a risk of bleeding, infection, and injury to surrounding structures. Potential complications vary according to the specific procedure(s) being performed, but in general they include:
This is not a complete list of risks and complications, just those that are most common. Even these are rare, overall. Nonetheless, body contouring is a major undertaking and it is especially important that you understand the possible risks or side effects. By working closely with Dr. Harris to discuss medical issues and prepare a detailed surgical plan, and by following post-surgical instructions carefully and completely, you can help reduce your own risk.
Once you’ve lost all that weight, it’s normal to be anxious about putting the finishing touches on your new body. We would love to have you in for a consultation to discuss your goals and all of the possibilities. However, in order to set you up for success after any surgery, we need to be sure that your weight has stabilized. This means that you’ll need to wait for about six months before moving ahead with any procedures. This can certainly be frustrating, but fluctuations in weight post-surgery will negatively affect your results, which would be a shame!
Let’s review some other important considerations to make.
Every surgical procedure we perform at Image Surgical Arts is personalized for each patient. That is especially the case for post-massive weight loss surgery, since it is a complex process that involves multiple individualized procedures. Because there are so many variables, there is no set fee and patient costs can vary widely.
That said, cost generally ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 or so, depending on the procedures you choose. One patient may want only a tummy tuck, whereas you may want a tummy tuck plus thigh lift, breast lift and/or something else.
We will discuss costs with you before you make a final decision to move forward with surgery, and we will give you a detailed written estimate. If you are comparing prices with another surgical practice, be sure to do that item by item, because cost estimates can differ. One that is incomplete will be lower and look more attractive, but it could cost you more in the end once you discover the hidden costs.
At Image Surgical Arts, we value transparency. We want you to know exactly what you’re getting, so we always quote an all-inclusive price that covers:
If there will be extra charges for items such as prescription medications or compression garments specific to your surgery, we’ll explain that up front. We do not want to surprise you! Post-massive weight loss surgery is considered cosmetic, so it is usually not covered by insurance and we do not accept insurance at Image Surgical Arts.
When you decide to have any type of surgery, you are putting your body into someone else’s hands. In the case of cosmetic surgery, the results of their work will be very visible – that’s the point. So everything about your surgery, your health and safety and satisfaction, all depend on the person you choose to perform your procedure. Successful cosmetic surgery requires extensive training, skill that can only come from experience, and an exceptionally artistic eye.
You want to be supremely confident in your surgeon’s abilities in all three of these areas. And did you know that almost any licensed physician may perform these procedures, even if they do not have any specialized training? Furthermore, even many otherwise-experienced cosmetic surgeons do not have much experience in post-major weight loss surgery. Frankly, they don’t want to do these procedures because they are especially complex and time-consuming.
You want the best. Not just anyone – especially since you will be undergoing multiple different procedures. The fact that Dr. Harris is board certified in general surgery as well as cosmetic surgery and facial cosmetic surgery underscores his skill and experience in performing surgery on all parts of the body. Successful results require detailed anatomical knowledge that guides skin excision and contouring. Dr. Harris’ specialized expertise enables him to meticulously tailor his work to match each patient’s desired goals, always with utmost safety.
Beyond the best in talent and competence, you want a surgeon who makes you feel comfortable. If you don’t feel at ease, you won’t be able to have the kind of honest personal discussion required to learn about and plan post-massive weight loss surgery. Do you trust that everyone associated with this practice has your best interests in mind at all times? Do you like the surgeon and the other team members? Friendly people and a welcoming environment can do wonders to soothe your anxiety and boost your ultimate satisfaction.
Take the next step with Image Surgical Arts and meet with our team to discuss your goals, options, and personalized treatment plan with confidence.
