Wellness Clinic

Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants introduced the Wellness Clinic to specifically address those individuals who have or need to loose significant weight before considering body contouring surgery. The clinic operates on designated days when our dietitian and fitness consultants are available.

Dr. Majzoub, medical director of the clinic, explains that “plastic surgery is not a substitute for weight loss, individuals seeking plastic surgery as a weight loss measure will be very disappointed.” At Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants we want our patients to achieve the most satisfying results when undergoing body contouring procedures and that often begins with diet and exercise first. “There is just no quick fix, you will often have to invest time and effort into your figure to achieve the results you desire,” explains Dr. Majzoub.

For those individuals who are above their desired ideal body weight, we offer graduated weight management programs with a dietitian and physical trainer. Each program is specifically designed to meet an individual’s needs based on their weight, height, age and preexisting medical history. Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants will continue to follow your improvement though the wellness clinic program, as you progress through the program your progress will be documented at specific intervals. When you meet your targeted weight goals your surgeon will discuss what surgical options you may benefit from. Dr. Majzoub explains, “some individuals may find that there is no reason to proceed with a surgical procedure and that’s the beauty of the clinic, operate only when necessary helping to eliminate unwanted surgical risks.”

For those individuals who have altered their lifestyle or undergone bariatric surgery and lost a significant amount of weight, skin laxity frequently creates problems with hygiene, ambulation and daily living routines. Plastic surgery procedures have been developed to deal with post-bariatric soft tissue deformities, including excess skin around the arms, waist, and thigh. Many female patients also experience difficulty with volume loss in their breasts, this often requires a breast lift to correct the resulting cosmetic deformity.

Individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight have a number of unique treatment considerations. It is helpful to find a plastic surgeon that is familiar with such patients. Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants prefers that you have lost the majority of your desired weight and that your weight has plateaued over a 4-6 month period. There are exceptions to this rule, for example, when excess skin and soft tissue cause hygiene problems or medical problems in the form of skin rashes or ulcers. Under such circumstances we prefer to operate on specific targeted regions to assist in improving an individual’s mobility, eradicate hygiene problems and in some cases help motivate individuals to loose more weight.

We frequently need to consult with the patient’s medical physician to determine if an individual is fit for surgery. Obviously those individuals who are in the Wellness Clinic benefit from their exercise regimen and diet which contributes to a physically healthier person more fit for surgery. Individuals who use tobacco need to enter a smoking cessation program and must be tobacco free for 2 months prior to their surgery date. Patients regularly present with a variety of soft tissue and skin laxity problems after successful weight loss. Below is a list of the areas that Dr. Majzoub frequently encounters when dealing with weight loss patients.

Thighs

Skin and soft tissue laxity in the thigh region often becomes problematic after excessive weight loss. The inner and outer region of the thigh may be affected, some regions more than others. Inner thigh soft tissue and skin laxity may complicate ambulation and hygiene. Excision of excess inner thigh tissue or in some cases, a thigh lift, will remove unwanted tissue and promote better hygiene and improved ambulation. This procedure may be performed in combination with other procedures or your surgeon may want to stage the procedure depending on your medical condition.

Abdomen/Torso

The skin and soft tissue in the abdominal region and around the torso frequently accumulates following weight loss due to gravity and soft tissue attachment points around the waist. Excessive soft tissue and skin around the abdominal region and torso may result in hygiene problems, affect ambulation and interfere with an individual’s daily living routine. Soft tissue and skin in the abdominal region may be removed by direct excision (lipectomy) involving part of the waist or circumferential (around whole body), some patients who have excessive laxity in the abdominal muscles may benefit from tightening of these muscles and excision of abdominal fat (abdominoplasty).

Arms

The upper region of the arms can become problematic following weight loss with the development of excessive skin and soft tissue laxity. Some individuals experience heaviness in their arms, others complain of difficulty fitting into clothes due to the girth of their arms from excessive arm skin and soft tissue. Excess skin and soft tissue may be removed with an incision placed under the arm fold or over the posterior aspect of the upper arm, this procedure is referred to as a brachioplasty.

Breasts

Large fluctuations in weight following weight loss can result in a volume loss in your breasts which affect the breast’s shape. An individual’s breasts will appear deflated and sag. Some individuals complain of hygiene problems from the excess skin. A breast lift is necessary to remove unwanted skin and restore the breast shape, this procedure is referred to as a mastopexy.

For more information on whether you may be a candidate to enroll in the Wellness Clinic, contact Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants at 502.899.9996. At Louisville Plastic Surgery Consultants our goal is complete patient satisfaction.

Medical Disclaimer: All medical procedures are associated with some degree of anesthetic and operative risks. Your specific anesthetic and operative risks will be outlined at the time of your consultation.