When an individual loses an excessive amount of weight, whether through lifestyle changes, bariatric surgery, prescription weight loss medication or after childbirth, they can often experience a significant change in body composition that may result in loose or excess skin. This may contribute to issues such as skin irritation, reduced comfort during movement, difficulties with clothing fitting and concerns about appearance.
Post-Weight-loss Loss Surgery, also referred to as Body Contouring Surgery, involves a series of reconstructive surgical procedures aimed at removing excess skin and reshaping the underlying tissues. These surgeries help restore comfort, improve function and align your body’s outer appearance with your internal health transformation.
Many areas of the body can be affected after excessive weight loss. Consequently, there are several surgical procedures to help address these issues, such as:
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Good candidates for weight loss surgeries should be in good physical and mental health, a non-smoker, not currently pregnant or breastfeeding and willing and able to follow post-procedure instructions to optimise their recovery process. It may also be necessary to change or pause certain medications, such as blood-thinning medications, as these can raise the risk of complications.
You must be aware of all risks and complications associated with your surgical procedure; Dr Dona will explain these to you during your Initial Consultation.
You must realise that Body Contouring procedures (e.g., Abdominoplasty) are not weight loss procedures. Therefore, you should have reached a maintainable weight and have sustained this weight for at least six months before surgery.
If you’ve been taking prescription weight loss medication from the GLP-1 receptor agonist class (or dual GLP-1/GIP agonists) such as Ozempic, Tirzepatide, Mounjaro or Wegovy, you can still undergo surgery safely. However, you must follow specific preoperative precautions to minimise risk during anaesthesia. Although you must follow these instructions, they are not difficult to follow. The following information answers common questions about this.
No, stopping your medication is not recommended as this can cause unwanted effects like weight rebound or poor glycaemic control. According to the Australian guidelines:
If you are taking GLP-1-based medication:
This approach helps reduce the risk of retained gastric contents (food remaining in the stomach while under anaesthesia), which can lead to complications such as aspiration during sedation or general anaesthesia (accidentally inhaling gastric contents into the lungs).
If you have not followed the fluid diet:
Yes, especially if you’re following the clear fluid protocol. There is no substantial evidence that pausing longer-acting GLP-1 medications improves safety, and in some cases, stopping them may actually delay your surgery or make weight control more challenging.
We often say that reaching a specific ‘goal weight’ isn’t necessary before surgery. What matters more is that you are at a stable, maintainable weight, not one that is temporary or part of ongoing rapid weight loss.
Ideally, you should have maintained a stable weight for at least six months before considering surgery. This helps assure the results are long-lasting and reduces the likelihood of future skin laxity or changes that could affect your surgical outcome. Instead of focusing on a number on the scale, focus on health, lifestyle and consistency.
BMI is not a reliable measure for determining readiness for post-weight-loss surgery. While some surgeons may choose to operate based on BMI thresholds, we do not use BMI as a determining factor in our decision-making process.
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a basic height-to-weight ratio used as one measure to assess an individual’s overall health. However, using this metric in isolation to determine an individual’s fitness for surgery is not something that Dr Dona agrees with.
Some surgeons may use BMI in their surgical decision-making because higher BMIs have been associated with increased anaesthetic and surgical risks. However, all surgery and medical interventions are determined based on a risk-benefit assessment, and an individual’s BMI is one of many considerations used in the decision-making process.
Dr Dona assesses every patient holistically, rather than relying on a number. He evaluates:
Post-weight loss surgery is most often reconstructive in nature. It’s designed to remove excess skin and improve daily function. Each patient’s concerns are assessed individually, and we do not believe that patients should be denied surgery based on a metric that does not reflect their true health status.
A Note on Weight Loss Goals
If you’re still actively losing weight, we usually recommend waiting until your weight has stabilised for at least six months before proceeding with surgery. This helps ensure lasting results and allows your body to adapt fully to the changes.