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Surgeons everywhere are reporting huge increases in the number of patients who undergo bariatric surgery — the procedures that reduce the size of the stomach and the amount of food it can hold.

Because any meal is then limited to only about a half a cup, bariatric patients lose such huge amounts of weight, doctors have assigned a new medical status for them: “MWL,” meaning massive weight loss.

S. S., 48, of Avada, Colorado, is one such patient.

S.S. at work, showing a horse before her surgery.
(Photo courtesy of patient)

Bariatric Surgery

At exactly five feet and 260 pounds, she (who asked for medical privacy) could not properly do her job as a horse groomer and shower of horses. And, being so heavy, it was hard to get – and stay – on any steed. Moreover, it was exhausting for her to stay on her feet all day to do the horse grooming.

After fighting obesity her entire life, S.S. opted for bariatric surgery as a final solution in March, 2005. With her stomach surgically reduced to hold only ounces of food, her weight dropped to 133 pounds within a year.

But there was another problem — loose hanging skin.

S.S.’s skin had been stretched by the excess pounds for so long, it could not spring back. An apron of skin hung from her stomach while her legs, rear end and breasts sagged with useless folds of skin. When she worked or exercised, the sheets of skin rubbed together and created sore spots. Also, there was a lot of skin flapping around when she tried to jog or sit on a trotting horse.

Body Shaping

“I have come this far to look good and be healthy,” she told herself. “Why stop now? Why not have the loose, hanging skin removed by a plastic surgeon?”

After doing a massive amount of research on body shaping and plastic surgeons, S.S. decided on Grossman Plastic Surgery in Denver, Colorado.

The surgeon recommended three operations separated by a year to rid her of the bothersome and unhealthy-looking hanging skin.

Lower Body Lift

The first surgery would remove the surplus skin from her lower body.

In a 10-hour surgery in February of 2006, the extra skin was removed from her abdomen and from her outer thighs, known as a lower body lift.

“The surgeon also performed a buttocks lift to bring my sagging rear back up to where it used be,” says S.S. who noticed that about six pounds of needless skin was removed. But she was in great physical condition, thanks to being thinner, which made her recovery a lot easier.

“I wore a huge compression garment that ran from my mid-calf to just under my breasts,” S.S. says. “I didn’t really care because it was winter and the added warmth was welcome.”

Breast Lift, Too

In January, 2007, S.S. reported back to Philippe Angelo Capraro M.D., for body shaping skin removal from her inner thighs. However, she developed an infection on one of her legs which, fortunately, her physician cleared in two weeks by prescribing antibiotics and installing additional drains in the incision which ran on the inside of her legs from her pubis area down to her knees.

“So, for 2008, I decided to complete the package and have the extra skin removed from my hanging breasts in a breast lift procedure,” S.S. says. “I also had some loose skin on the underside of my upper arms that was removed, too.”

S.S. after weight loss and body shaping surgery.
(Photo courtesy of patient)

Before and After Pictures

When S.S. went for her final consultation, her surgeon pulled out the very first snap shot taken of her from her surgical before and after pictures and asked if she recognized the person shown.

“I shot back: ‘That was really me?’ The person in those pictures was all hanging skin with no shape at all,” she says.

“But it was worth it! With no flapping skin, I’ve started playing racquetball, I show more horses now, do the horse grooming faster and better and have much more energy. Besides, I’m single and looking and I think my new appearance helps tremendously.”

And the cost of all the body shaping?

“Just having the loose skin surgically removed was about the equivalent of buying two really nice cars,” S.S. says. “But I would take the plastic surgery over the new cars anytime!”