Body contouring following weight loss
Get the Body You’ve Always Wanted
By Dr. Frank Lista
There are few things in life as satisfying as losing excess weight. Shedding extra pounds means a longer and healthier life for you. Reaching your goal weight also means a whole new chance at looking and feeling better about yourself. Our patients are always telling us how delighted they are when receiving compliments from family and friends about how great they look at their goal weight.
Sometimes, losing weight results in excess skin which can keep you from looking your best.
Flabby skin can occur in any area of the body but most commonly occurs on the tummy, upper arms, inner thighs and breasts. Loose skin occurs from the stretching of the connections between the skin and the covering of underlying muscle tissue called the fascia. When weight loss occurs, these tissues may not shrink properly resulting in looseness of the skin.
Any type of weight loss can result in loose skin. Rapid weight loss tends to cause this problem more often than slower weight loss methods. Gastric bypass procedures are more likely to cause loose skin because the weight loss is quite rapid. Conversely, gastric banding procedures have the advantage of producing a steady and gradual weight loss which results in less skin laxity. It is a well known phenomenon that gastric banding patients are less likely to require body contouring procedures than bypass patients because of the slower and more natural rate of weight loss.
If loose skin occurs after significant weight loss, there are effective plastic surgery procedures to correct these problems. The most common area requiring correction after weight loss is the tummy. Patients with this problem may suffer from loose skin and stretched muscles resulting in the bulging and hanging of abdominal tissues. An abdominoplasty is a procedure whereby remaining excess fat is reduced, muscles repaired and excess skin removed. This leaves the patient with a bikini line scar and a flat tight tummy.
Other areas which may require correction after weight loss include the thighs and the arms. Loose skin of the upper arm and inner thigh may be unsightly and cause irritation. Thigh lift and upper arm lift are plastic surgery procedures which can correct these problems by simply removing the excess skin. This leaves the arm or thigh tighter and smoother.
These procedures are usually performed in the clinic under a light general anesthetic. Patients typically go home the same day and are given a special garment to wear. Post operative care is fairly straightforward involving showering and washing the garment every day. After one week of rest at home patients can start resuming some mobility. Most people go back to work after 2-3 weeks.
Fortunately, a large amount of loose skin is rare after gastric band surgery. But if it does occur, body contouring plastic surgery is an excellent way of making you feel better and improving the look of your body after weight loss.
Make an appointment today with Dr. Lista to discuss what he can do for you! Call today for a free consultation at The Plastic Surgery Clinic 1-866-803-6415 or visit www.theplasticsurgeryclinic.com.
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Health Canada approves Lap-Band® System as a diabetes treatment
73% Of Study Participants Achieved Remission!
80-90% of people living with Type II Diabetes in Canada are obese. Type II Diabetes is rising throughout the population due to the increasing incidence of obesity. The good news is that there is now another treatment option for patients trying to manage their disease.
The LAP-BAND® System, a device used in Gastric Banding procedures, has recently been approved by Health Canada to improve or provide remission of Type II Diabetes in obese Canadians. The Health Canada approval is based on evidence from a two-year study that showed 73% of patients with the LAP-BAND® System achieved remission of their Type II Diabetes while only 13% of those receiving conventional diabetes therapy did so.
LOSING WEIGHT AND KEEPING IT OFF WITH THE GASTRIC BAND
The Gastric Band produces a sense of fullness with reduced portions, which results in a reduction of caloric intake and sustained weight loss. Gastric Banding is a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, meaning recovery time is relatively fast and many of the risks associated with other obesity procedures, such as gastric bypass or stomach stapling are avoided. Once implanted, the band can be adjusted for optimal weight loss and is reversible if required.
To ensure patients reach and sustain their weight loss goals, all SWLC patients receive ongoing support through personalized follow-up and education from an experienced team of surgeons, nurses, patient coordinators, wellness coach and dietitian. Patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of >30 with or without diabetes are candidates for the SWLC Gastric Band Program.
SWLC – LEADING EXCELLENCE
Surgical Weight Loss Centre (SWLC) specializes in the medical treatment of obesity and weight loss by delivering safe and effective Gastric Band and Gastric Balloon programs. SWLC is Canada’s leader in medically supervised weight loss and has performed over 2,300 successful procedures since the clinic opened in 2005.
To benefit from a free one-on-one consultation with one of our surgeons, contact SWLC today.
Call Toll Free: 1-888-285-7185
www.swlc.ca
info@lswlc.ca
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SWLC’s five tips and tricks for surviving the holidays
Bring your own appetizers to holiday parties
- Set realistic goals for the holiday season. Don’t expect to lose 10 pounds over the holidays as it is unlikely to happen. Instead, set a more realistic goal like weight maintenance. You will be content to maintain your weight and any weight loss would be a bonus.
- Have a healthy snack BEFORE you go (like an apple or low-fat yogurt) or bring a healthy recipe to the party that you can enjoy and won’t feel guilty about eating. If you arrive at the party famished, you will be more likely to over eat.
- Avoid high calorie liquids and choose your drinks prudently. Alcohol is high in calories. Liqueurs, sweet wines and sweet mixed drinks can contain between 150 and 450 calories per glass. Instead, try calorie free items such as water and diet juice. Limit your servings of beer and wine. Remember that moderation is a key component to a healthy lifestyle.
- Rehearse for your holiday parties. Think in advance about the foods that will likely be served and practice saying no to the ones you should be avoiding and those that are your triggers. If you can mentally envision and prepare yourself for these situations you will be less likely to overeat.
- Remember that the most important part of the holiday season is enjoying time spent with family and friends! Food can seem like a huge part of the season but it doesn’t have to be the focus.
Low-Fat Hummus Recipe:
- 1 15 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans, drained (save liquid)
- 1-2 cloves crushed garlic
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon tahini, or low fat peanut butter if you prefer. If you do not use either ingredient, increase yogurt by 1 TBLS.
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
In a food processor combine beans, tahini (if desired), yogurt, garlic, and lemon juice. Blend well. Add salt and cumin and blend to a smooth and creamy dip.
If the hummus is too thick, add liquid from the chickpeas - about a teaspoon at a time. Another way to thin out hummus is to use warm water or olive oil.
Serve with chopped vegetables and enjoy!
By
Saad Fayed, About.com Guide
Wishing you a very happy holiday from the staff at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre
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Do you suffer from any of the following weight related health concerns?
Our newsletter readers voiced their opinion! In the last issue we asked our readers what newsletter content they were most interested in reading. Recipes, dietary advice, and patient success stories led the pack. Exercise tips and clinical study summary rounded out the top five. Thank you for participating and don’t forget to enter this edition’s poll on health concerns.
Book a Free consultation today to learn how the Lap-Band can help you to sustain weight loss.
Our newsletter readers voiced their opinion! In the last issue we asked our readers what newsletter content they were most interested in reading. Recipes, dietary advice, and patient success stories led the pack. Exercise tips and clinical study summary rounded out the top five. Thank you for participating and don’t forget to enter this edition’s poll on health concerns.
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