Post-bariatric body contouring is any procedure that helps patients who struggle with loose skin after significant weight loss. Patients who have undergone significant weight loss due to bariatric surgery or weight loss medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have increased in numbers, creating the need for cosmetic surgery specifically designed to treat these related aesthetic issues. In fact, approximately 1/3 of patients who lose weight after bariatric surgery receive cosmetic surgery to help address the resulting bodily changes. ⁽¹⁾ Whether it is loose skin hanging from the arms, midsection, or back, or if the face has been affected by the new loss of volume, post-bariatric body contouring can help patients regain confidence without this excess skin. ⁽²⁾

The dedicated team at Cosmetic & Bariatric Surgery Center has been taking care of patients in Tijuana for over 26 years with great success. Our surgeons skillfully combine procedures to maximize results for patients while reducing the risk of complications. Dr. Manuel Gutierrez, or “Dr. Tijuana”, is a board-certified plastic surgeon with a wide range of expertise, as well as a dedication to the rigorous ethical and safety standards upheld by the board. He offers several customizable treatment options to his patients while delivering outstanding care. To schedule a consultation or bring up any questions, please call our Tijuana office:

You can also fill out our contact form. Through our contact form, you can request a virtual consultation if you are unable to make it to the office in person.

About Post-Bariatric Body Contouring

Weight loss surgeries like the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass limit the amount of food a patient consumes. Because of the effectiveness of these procedures, patients are often left with loose skin that does not snap back after the weight is gone. ⁽²⁾ Completing a weight loss journey with bariatric surgery is a major accomplishment. However, many patients still find themselves unhappy with their physical appearance after losing weight. Excess fat is replaced by issues such as loose, sagging skin and stretch marks. Stubborn deposits of fat can also remain, leaving behind a lumpy bodily contour. Lifting procedures after weight loss surgery can dramatically improve patients’ appearances by revealing the slim, shapely figure beneath.

Post-Ozempic Body Contouring

“Ozempic face”, “Ozempic breast”, and “Ozempic body” are all relatively new colloquial terms for the sagging of skin after taking GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Using similar techniques as post-bariatric body contouring, our surgeons can create a more refined silhouette for patients who have undergone weight loss with these medications.

Treatment Areas

Our skilled surgeons in plastic and reconstructive surgery offer a variety of customized post-bariatric cosmetic procedures that can address the following areas:

Benefits of Post-Bariatric Body Contouring

Post-bariatric body contouring is helpful in the way that it allows patients to be free of excess skin that cannot be addressed by diligent exercise and healthy dieting. An added benefit of post-bariatric body contouring is the increased sense of confidence that can come with the removal of hanging skin and the uncovering of an appearance that is slimmer and firmer. ⁽²⁾ This increased confidence can then contribute to a better quality of life for patients who have undergone significant weight loss. ⁽²⁾ Because loose skin can be prone to infection, removing and tightening the skin can also help reduce this risk. ⁽²⁾

Candidates

If you have experienced massive weight loss, and you have loose skin in one or more areas of your body, it is likely that you are a candidate for post-bariatric body contouring. Other factors that can contribute to post-bariatric body contouring eligibility include:

Our highly trained team will determine your candidacy after evaluating several key factors. If you are a candidate, Dr. Gutierrez will craft a customized treatment plan for you.

Personal Consultation

At the Cosmetic & Bariatric Surgery Center in Tijuana, Dr. Gutierrez and his staff will be glad to answer any questions and explore any concerns that you may have about post-bariatric body contouring during a personal consultation. To schedule a personal consultation, please call our office:

If you would like to contact us for a virtual consultation with Dr. Gutierrez, please fill out our virtual consultation form. In this form, we will request that you provide us with information about your measurements and goals, so be prepared to have that information ready.

Preparation

To prepare for your post-bariatric body contouring journey, we will first perform blood work and a cardiology evaluation. This is to make sure that you are an eligible candidate for a procedure like post-bariatric body contouring. There are some other activities you may need to do outside of the office to prepare for your surgery. This may include starting a high-protein diet and stopping the use of certain medications, such as blood thinners. ⁽³⁾ We will also recommend an iron supplement. Depending on the extent of your procedure, you may want to plan to take a couple of weeks off of work so that you will have time to rest and recover. After your personal consultation, the team at Cosmetic & Bariatric Surgery Center will provide you with additional information regarding what you can expect before, during, and after your procedure.

Procedures

The list of procedures we offer to patients who have undergone massive weight loss is extensive, and includes the following:

Facelift

The face is one of the first areas to change due to weight fluctuations. A facelift can improve jowls, remove sagging skin, eliminate “Ozempic face”, and provide you with a toned facial appearance.

Breast Lift

Weight loss can result in cosmetic changes in the breasts, including volume loss and sagginess. This is sometimes known as “Ozempic breast”. A breast lift removes sagging skin and restores the position of the breasts and nipples. We can address the breast area with or without implants.

Extended Tummy Tuck

Our doctors can give you a contoured waistline with tummy tuck surgery, which tightens the skin and underlying muscles of the abdomen, which can separate with pregnancy or significant weight gain.

Full-Body Lift

Our surgeons are trained in upper, lower, mid-body, and full-body lifts. A full body lift involves the contouring of the entire body, with a primary focus on areas such as the buttocks, back, tummy, thighs, arms, and breasts.

Arm Lift

If you have recently experienced significant weight loss, you may be left with loose and sagging skin on your upper arms, colloquially known as “bat wings”. An arm lift (brachioplasty) can resolve this excess skin for a smoother upper arm silhouette.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift, also known as thighplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to address the excess skin and tissue in the thighs that can remain after significant weight loss. This procedure is specifically tailored to reshape the thighs and achieve a more proportional and toned appearance.

Highly Customizable Surgery

The process of your post-bariatric body contouring procedures will be highly personalized because of the unique needs of each patient. Because of this, each procedure will vary in length. During your personal consultation, Dr. Gutierrez will give you an estimate of the projected length and cost of your procedure.

Recovery

It is important to keep in mind that, because of the complex nature of body contouring, your projected recovery time can vary in length. Dr. Gutierrez will give you in-depth recovery instructions that are specific to your procedure. It is likely that we will recommend that you rest for a personalized period of time, and refrain from any strenuous activity during this time. One of the key ways we can ensure that you have the best recovery is to have a protein-rich diet after your procedure and to make sure you are getting all of the nutrients your body needs to heal. ⁽³⁾

Results

Any post-bariatric body contouring procedure or combination of procedures will result in a curvier, firmer physique. Without excess skin in the way, patients may find that their clothes fit better and are overall more comfortable. For patients who experienced chafing from their excess skin, post-bariatric body contouring can resolve this issue as well. Further, the results our patients receive from most post-bariatric body contouring procedures are essentially permanent. However, if significant weight gain occurs again, the results of the post-bariatric body contouring will be altered. In addition, the body will continue to age naturally and results may change simply because of this. To best preserve your results, continue to practice a healthy, well-balanced diet and regularly exercise. This will help keep the body firm long after the post-bariatric body contouring procedures are complete.

Cost of Post-Bariatric Body Contouring in Tijuana

The cost of post-bariatric body contouring surgery depends on what areas of the body the patient seeks to address, the extent of the excess skin present, and other factors. Our team can inform you about our pricing in more detail during a personal consultation. For more information about our pricing, you can also visit our plastic surgery cost page, where we break down the costs of certain procedures. At Cosmetic & Bariatric Surgery Center, it is our goal to be transparent with our patients to deliver the best experience possible. We also accept financing from two different companies: United Medical Credit and Med Loan Finance.

Call now for further information about after-weight-loss body contouring in Tijuana!

References

1. Abela C, Stevens T, Reddy M, Soldin M. A multidisciplinary approach to post-bariatric plastic surgery. International Journal of Surgery. 2011;9(1):29-35. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.10.002
2. Toma T, Harling L, Athanasiou T, Darzi A, Ashrafian H. Does Body Contouring After Bariatric Weight Loss Enhance Quality of Life? A Systematic Review of QOL Studies. Obesity Surgery. 2018;28(10):3333-3341. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3323-8
3. Makarawung DJS, Al Nawas M, Smelt HJM, et al. Complications in post-bariatric body contouring surgery using a practical treatment regime to optimise the nutritional state. JPRAS Open. Published online June 2022. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpra.2022.06.006