Costly procedure increases chances of saggy skin, massive wrinkles
GASTRIC BYPASS and other surgical stomach-reduction procedures that result in dramatic weight loss have soared in popularity during the last five years.
Celebrities such as NBC "Today Show's" Al Roker, comedian-actress Roseanne Barr and singer Carnie Wilson have upped the procedure's profile. This year alone, the American Society of Bariatric Surgery predicts there will be close to a 50 percent increase in these bariatric procedures, to a whopping 160,000 surgeries.
Certainly, to the 65 percent of American adults who are either overweight or obese, an operation that can result in the loss of 80 to 150 pounds may seem like a godsend. This latest "get thin quick" trend, however, comes with consequences.
New studies indicate obesity surgery is more dangerous than previously believed. But even successful surgeries may have unpleasant results.
Skin redundancy is one of the ugly, unmentioned side effects of bariatric surgery. As patients drop pounds, the body shrinks but the skin doesn't, resulting in massive wrinkles and sagging rolls of flesh on the limbs and torso.
Innovative cosmetic surgical techniques are now available to help. Pittsburgh cosmetic surgeon David Hurwitz, M.D. F.A.C.S., and author of the book "The Total Body Lift," is one such innovator.
Hurwitz has literally carved out a niche for himself performing what he calls the "body lift," an eight- to 10-hour procedure to remove as much as 20 pounds of sagging flesh. I was both riveted and repulsed by the dramatic before-and-after photos in his book, which also provides A-to-Z details on what patients can expect from the procedure.
"Gastric-bypass patients do not have a free lunch," Hurwitz told me in an interview. "What I see is more people [primarily women] who are more distressed by the excess skin than they were by the obesity."
I agree.
In the last few years, I have consulted with at least two dozen teary-eyed, disappointed women who had hoped weight training might firm their sagging skin, the result of dramatic, rapid weight loss. But at that point, skin elasticity has been compromised.
Losing weight more slowly (and doing weight training) may help, but if you are significantly overweight and drop the pounds, your skin will likely be affected.
A body-lift procedure is a huge investment - typically $30,000 to $50,000 - and in most cases you'll have to fork over the cash. While insurance companies will pay for gastric bypass and other bariatric procedures, they rarely foot the bill to correct contour deformities.
The surgery has a recovery time of six weeks to three months, with a demanding post-op regimen that may include the use of compression garments and drains, and scar management.
Potential candidates for gastric bypass or cosmetic surgery also must be motivated and healthy, since the procedures are stressful on the body. Medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or organ failure may disqualify those seeking aesthetic improvements through surgical treatment.
Can you regain the weight?
Without a commitment to exercise and a healthy diet, bariatric patients may regain the weight they've lost.
Hurwitz said that some patients may regain 20 to 30 pounds after the body-lift procedure, too, but "persistent weight loss is a bigger problem." If the patient continues to lose weight after a body lift, this could create new disfigurement problems.
As with all quick fixes, the results of bariatric surgery can't be guaranteed. Those who have that surgery and follow-up cosmetic procedures such as the body lift ultimately must follow the only effective method for permanent weight loss: proper diet and exercise.
For more information on Hurwitz and the body-lift procedure, go to Hurwitz Center
Comments (2)
I agree and as someone who has lost 90 lbs. through healthier eating habits (I hate saying diet) and regular exercise it irritates me a little to see everyone jumping on the gastric bypass bandwagon. I am living proof that dropping a lot of weight doesn't mean you'll inevitably end up with loose sagging skin. People are amazed by my sleek toned arms and you'd never tell by looking at me I used to weight 225 lbs. They key is losing it at a reasonable pace, eating healthy and making exercise a regular part of your life. I can稚 help but feel that in all but the *most extreme* cases gastric bypass surgery is a copout.
Posted by Laurie | October 25, 2005 11:12 AM
Posted on October 25, 2005 11:12
I hate to say this, but low income people are far more at risk to suffer the more dire side effects of G.Bypass surgery than their wealthier peers, just as they are more likely to suffer the risks of obesity.
If you cannot voluntarily change your bad eating habits, surgery is not only not likely to help one become healthier, but is likely to lead to the belief that one does not have to try anymore.
Slow and steady is the proper method for everyone.
Posted by Gloria | October 26, 2005 5:13 PM
Posted on October 26, 2005 17:13