How to Handle Excess Skin After Weight Loss

Losing a large amount of bodyweight – whether through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery – is a huge undertaking. It can therefore be very distressing to find you still do not look or feel how you imagined because of excess skin.

Loose, hanging skin is an unfortunate side effect of dramatic, rapid weight loss – the skin simply hasn’t had time to shrink and tighten. Other factors that influence how loose your skin gets after losing weight include your age (we all know that skin elasticity decreases with age), skin type, and how much your weight has fluctuated in the past.

Unfortunately, there is no other way to deal with this excess skin than surgically, because once skin is stretched no amount of exercise can restore it.

How much of an issue is excess skin for patients who undergo weight loss surgery?

A number of studies have been undertaken to ascertain the scale of the problem for post-bariatric patients. One such study, undertaken in 2013 included 57 patients who had previously had a body mass index (BMI) of 50 or more (18.5–24.9 is a normal BMI). One year after their surgery, the patients were asked about the amount of excess skin they had and how much discomfort it caused.

The majority of the patients reported that they had “a lot of” or “very much” excess skin, however women reported that they experienced more excess skin and discomfort than men.

Further research by Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden, conducted with patients who had been operated on between 1999 and 2008, also found both men and women were unhappy about excess skin.

More than 90% of women who responded to the survey said they felt their body was unattractive, while 67% of men also felt unattractive.

The most frequently reported sites of excess skin were the upper arms in women (91%) and the abdomen in men (78%). In both women and men, excess skin on the abdomen was reported to cause the most discomfort. 

Why can excess skin cause discomfort?

Sagging skin not only causes psychological distress, it can also impair the function of the body and quality of life. 

A 2012 study with 252 gastric bypass patients found almost all of them developed surplus skin, which resulted in intertriginous dermatitis and itching. In addition, patients reported problems with physical activity (playing sports) and finding clothing that fit appropriately.

This man very bravely took to YouTube to show the impact of his dramatic weight loss and problem with excess skin (he went from 500 lbs to 230 lbs). As he states, despite working out intensively he has been unable to improve the appearance of his sagging skin.

What can be done to correct excess skin?

There are a number of surgical options for removing excess skin - from a tummy tuck, arm lift, breast lift or thigh lift, through to a full-body lift.

Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is the most frequently performed procedure for patients suffering from loose skin following weight loss. This is an effective way to remove the apron of skin and fatty tissue that hangs down from the lower abdomen, known medically as a panniculus.

After the skin has been removed, the muscles of the abdominal wall are retightened from below the ribs to the pubic bone. This creates a flatter, firmer abdominal wall and prevents it from bulging when sitting or bending. Next, the skin is pulled tight and reattached, and the belly button is moved to its new position.

In addition to this, liposculpturing of the abdominal area can be performed to further improve the appearance of the tummy.

How long is recovery?

Approximately 2-3 days after your surgery drainage tubes can be removed. The sutures (stiches) are dissolvable and don’t need to be removed. Pain, bruising and swelling are normal after surgery, but will typically subside after two to three weeks and can usually be controlled with over the counter painkillers.

You will be able to resume normal activity within a month of treatment and should immediately start enjoying the benefits of your new physique.

Removal of excess skin will provide you with enhanced freedom of movement, reduced chaffing and make it easier to find comfortably fitting and flattering clothing.

If you have achieved substantial weight loss and are suffering from loose skin that you would like addressed, Ocean Clinic Marbella invites you to make an appointment for a no-obligation consultation. We can advise you on the best course of treatment to give you the body you deserve.

Cut Costs, Not Care – Why Travelling from the UK to Spain for Cosmetic Surgery Can be a Smart Move

The strength of the pound against the euro means cosmetic surgery in Spain represents better value than ever for UK patients

 

With the pound at a seven-year high against the euro, British health tourists now have more than 15% extra spending power in Spain than they did a year ago. The benefits of the strong exchange rate come in addition to already low prices for cosmetic surgery and dentistry in Spain.

Cosmetic treatments in the UK typically cost around 60% more than in Spain, but cutting costs does not mean cutting quality of care. Spain has some of the best medical establishments in the world. 

Here are the 4 main reasons you should consider Spain for your cosmetic treatments:

1) Spanish healthcare is world-class

The Spanish healthcare system is currently ranked seventh in the world by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is ahead of the UK, which ranks 18^th and the US, which is rated 37^th out of 190 countries. In addition, according to the WHO, Spain ranks second in terms of patient satisfaction. 

The facilities available in Spain, especially those in private clinics, are highly sophisticated, while the doctors practicing in the country are both highly trained and closely regulated. In accordance with Spanish law, all doctors must undergo at least six years of training before they can officially begin to practice medicine and those who wish to specialise must train for even longer before they are recognised as qualified in their field.

2) More and more foreigners are coming to Spain for medical treatments

New figures show the number of foreigners coming to Spain for surgery is higher than ever. Last year the health tourism sector grew by 20% to €500 million – and is on track to hit €1 billion by 2020.

Patients are travelling to Spain from the UK, the Middle East, Russia and even as far as America to take advantage of the savings. These so-called health tourists come not only for cosmetic surgery, but also for other treatments ranging from hip replacements and heart operations to IVF and cancer treatments.

3) Patients can make huge savings

Prices for medical treatment vary depending on the procedure but UK patients can easily expect savings of around 30% to 70%. There are several reasons why medical treatment costs less in some European countries. Labour cost is the number one factor governing prices, accounting for 70% of total costs in the UK.

Because of this disparity in overheads, exactly the same procedure, with equal levels of expertise and care, may be half the price in a neighbouring country. For example, in the UK, the average cost of private breast implant surgery is around £3,500 to £5,000. The average cost of the same treatment in Spain is between €3,500 to €5,500 – that’s £2,500 to £3,900 at the current rate of exchange. That’s a saving of at least £1,000.
 
Rhinoplasty in a private UK hospital would cost a patient anywhere between £3,500 and £4,500, but in Spain the same surgery is available for around £2,500 to £3,200 (€3500-€4,500). Again, you can make a minimum saving of £1,000. 

As you can see, the current exchange rate makes travelling to Spain for surgery a more attractive option than ever before.

4) Spain is the ideal place to recover

Many people who travel to Spain for cosmetic surgery combine their trip with a holiday. Taking a holiday enables you to recover in privacy, away from friends, family and colleagues who you may not wish to know about your treatment.

Moreover, you can fully relax, away from the chores of daily life at home, leading to a speedier recovery. The climate in Spain is also beneficial for those recovering from treatment, with plenty of sunshine, even in the winter. This is especially true in the south of the country, on the Costa del Sol, where Ocean Clinic Marbella is located. Winter temperatures here can be as high as 20 degrees.

Off-season hotel accommodation is very affordable, while the high availability of low cost flights makes it both cheap and easy to travel to Spain. Flight time from the UK to Spain is under three hours.

If you are based in the UK (or elsewhere outside of Spain) and are considering travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery, Ocean Clinic Marbella can arrange an initial consultation via Skype. This will allow the doctor to advise you on the procedure, assess your individual case and provide you with an accurate quotation. We can also provide you with information on nearby accommodation.

For further information please complete our contact form.

Beautician or surgeon? What you need to know before having cosmetic injections

Across Spain, and here in Marbella, you will find many beauty salons and hairdressers offering cosmetic injections, many of them advertising what appear to be very attractive prices. But what risks do you take by choosing to have your procedure outside of a medical setting?

We answer your questions related to the rules, regulations and risks around cosmetic injectables, so you may be fully informed when selecting a practitioner.

What does Spanish Law say about cosmetic injections?

The laws around administering cosmetic injections in Spain are very strict. You need to be a qualified doctor registered with the Ministry of Health. In addition, doctors undergo specialist training and gain specific qualifications. The clinic where the treatments are given must also be licensed.

According to Spanish law, not even nurses or dentists are allowed to give cosmetic injections.

So, are these other establishments operating illegally?

Yes. If anyone other than a registered doctor is offering facial or filler injections they are doing so illegally. These practitioners are both unqualified and unregulated.

How are qualified practitioners regulated?

Doctors who are registered to administer cosmetic injections are regularly checked by the authorities to ensure they are following safety procedures. This includes checking the integrity of the product, which is especially important due to the rise in counterfeit or ‘fake’ injectables in circulation. They also ensure the medication is within its date and correctly stored.

Why is it necessary to be a doctor to give cosmetic injections?

It must be understood that a cosmetic injection is a medical procedure. It involves the injection of a potent neurotoxin into neuromuscular tissue, in order to paralyse facial muscles. It is therefore vital that the practitioner is highly skilled and medically trained.

Having a cosmetic injection is not the same as having a facial or a manicure, and in the wrong hands the results can be disastrous.

What are the risks involved with having facial injections?

Properly administered, this is a safe and well-tolerated treatment. However, there are a number of side effects that may be experienced when the injections are given by an under-qualified practitioner.

The most serious include drooping of the eyelids, blurred vision or decreased eyesight, unwanted weakness/paralysis in nearby musculature, and facial necrosis (death of the skin, leading to unsightly scarring).

In addition, patients may experience an allergic reaction resulting in hives or swelling, or in rare cases, anaphylactic shock. If complications do occur, being under the care of a qualified doctor in a fully equipped medical setting ensures patient safety. 

How do the laws around cosmetic injections in the UK differ from those in Spain?

In the UK, the laws around administering injectables is far laxer. People with no medical training, such as beauticians, can administer cosmetic injections and do not have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (the independent regulator for health services in England).

The Royal College of Surgeons and The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) are campaigning for stricter controls. They believe only those who have medically recognised qualifications and training should carry out cosmetic procedures, and in a registered clinic with resuscitation equipment on hand in the event of an emergency.

I’ve been invited to an ‘injectables party’, should I go?

An ‘Injectables party’ is a social gathering, often held in a person's home, at which facial injections are given. Having your treatment at a so-called injectables party may appear an attractive choice – you may feel more comfortable in a domestic setting and supported by the company of your friends, who are also being treated. You may also enjoy discounted group rates.

However, even if the practitioner administering the injections is a qualified and registered doctor, it is always advisable to receive treatment in a medical setting. A party like this might not have measures in place to ensure safe and effective treatments.

You should also avoid drinking alcohol before getting injections, as this can increase your tendency to bruise afterward and prevent you from fully understanding the risks and benefits of the treatment.

If you're considering having cosmetic injections in Marbella, don't take chances. At Ocean Clinic Marbella, cosmetic injectables are administered only by fully qualified and highly experienced doctors.  

You will be offered an extensive consultation before the treatment is performed to help determine if this is right for you or if maybe another surgical or non surgical procedure is better suited for your individual case.

Contact Ocean Clinic today to further discuss your options. 

Vaginal Labiaplasty Explained – Your Questions Answered

Vaginal labiaplasty has been in the news a lot recently. The procedure is rapidly growing in popularity, with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reporting a 49% increase in labiaplasties performed in the US during 2014.

Meanwhile the National Health Service in the UK has registered a five-fold increase in labiaplasties (also know as labial reduction surgery) in the last 10 years. 

So what exactly is labiaplasty and why are more women seeking out this treatment?

What is labiaplasty?

A labiaplasty is a broad term for a variety of techniques used to remove excess labial tissue - the flaps of skin either side of the vaginal opening. It can be carried out to reduce the size of the labia minora (inner lips) and/or labia majora (outer lips) for both aesthetic and functional reasons. 

Labiplasty is sometimes combined with other intimate surgeries, namely vaginoplasty (tightening of the vagina) and hoodectomy (unhooding of the clitoris).

Why would you want labiaplasty?

There are a number of reasons women choose to have labial reduction surgery: 

·      Labia makes sport, such as cycling or horse riding uncomfortable

·      Labia is low-hanging and protrudes from underwear/bikini

·      Labia has torn and requires repair

·      Labia has stretched as a result of childbirth or age

·      Labia is chaffing and causing discomfort

·      Labia is inhibiting sexual enjoyment

What does a ‘normal’ vagina look like?

Vaginas come in all shapes and sizes and it is completely normal to have ‘uneven’ labial folds, where one is larger than the other, or for the inner lips to protrude out.

However, where the labia becomes particularly large or stretched – either as a result of normal development, labour or age - it can cause both physical and psychological distress. 

In this case, a labiaplasty can be performed to reduce the size of the labia and help address the patient’s concerns.

What happens during the procedure?

Labiaplasty can typically be performed under local anaesthesia only or combined with a sedation (twilight sleep) and takes from 1 hour (labiaplasty only) to 2 hours (combined with other intimate procedures. The surgery is performed either with a scalpel or laser and there are two main techniques:

Trim / Edge method: this involves taking away excess labial skin in one continuous incision along the length of the labia. It is quicker and simpler to perform but leaves a longer scar, which might take longer to heal.

Wedge method: this is a longer, more difficult operation, which involves a shorter incision across the labia rather than along its edge. Because it preserves the edge of the labia it can produce a more natural looking result, but is not indicated in every case.

When carrying out labiaplasty, care must be taken not to remove too much tissue and expose the very sensitive tissue of the clitoris, which could result in discomfort or loss of sensitivity. In addition, the surgery must not impair the function of the labia minora, which is keeping the vagina moist.

How long is recovery?

The surgery is done on an outpatient basis, which means you return home shortly after the surgery. Patients have little post-operative discomfort and are usually back to work in two days without difficulty.

The incisions are sealed with dissolvable stiches and heal quite quickly because the vagina is a very vascular area. Sexual intercourse and exercise can normally be resumed within 2-4 weeks.

Will I be happy with the results?

A recent study of vaginal labiaplasty carried out by Albany Medical Center concluded that the procedure carries high satisfaction levels.

The review included data from 19 articles and nearly 1,950 women and found that the women had a satisfaction rate of 94 to 100%. It also found that complication rates were low.

You can view before and after photos of vaginal labiaplasty surgery carried out by Ocean Clinic Marbella here. 

How much does it cost?

The cost will vary depending on the exact requirements of your treatment, but labiaplasty typically costs between €1,500 to € 2,000.

If you would like to find out more about labia reduction or other intimate surgeries, please contact Ocean Clinic Marbella for your free consultation.

Rolling Back The Years – What a Minimally Invasive Facelift Could Do For You

 

Minimal incision techniques enable you to take years off your appearance without anyone knowing you’ve had a facelift…

In the past, facelifts were anything but subtle, often leaving patients looking like they were standing in a wind tunnel. The surgery was drastic and recovery time was extensive.

Things have changed. Thankfully these days there is a trend towards minimally invasive ‘short scar’ techniques, which not only offer far more natural looking results, but also significantly less downtime.

Out with the old

 

The traditional facelift, the type that most people think of, is known as a cutaneous facelift. It involves making a long incision along the hairline so that the skin can be lifted up. It is an effective way to correct sagging and excess skin, but it does not address the deeper tissue and muscle layers and can result in an unnatural stretched look.

In with the new

 

All types of facelifts can be performed using minimal incision or short scar technique, although it is not effective for large amounts of excess skin (for that a SMAS facelift will be necessary). The MACS-lift (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension lift), as it is known, involves making a small incision in the skin fold in front of the ear and around the sideburn. This allows for access to the deep tissue.

Depending on the patient’s needs, up to four surgical sutures will be woven in to provide strong anchor points for the repositioning of facial muscle. The tissue and skin is drawn gently upwards and excess skin is removed. The incision is meticulously closed, resulting in a near invisible scar and a very natural looking result.

The results

 

The MACS-lift procedure restores drooping tissues to their youthful positions. Dependent on the sutures used, the procedure will restore the skin tightness of the upper and middle neck (jowls), soften the nasolabial fold around the nose and mouth, and lift the cheeks and lower eyelids. A fourth suture can be used to correct neck skin laxity, making this procedure suitable for older patients as well as those in their 30s and 40s, who do not require a full facelift.

The results are highly effective; typically you will appear around 10-years younger. The effects are also long lasting; the excess skin that is removed never returns so you will always look younger than you would have without surgery. However, a facelift cannot stop the aging process. The skin will continue to age, but any sagging that occurs in future years can be corrected with a minor ‘tuck up’.

Recovery time

 

The short scar facelift procedure is much quicker than a traditional facelift (typically 2.5 hours or less) and, because it is less invasive, tends to produce less bleeding and swelling. It is also less likely to result in nerve damage, so is considered safer.

Patients usually enjoy a faster recovery time, although there will be some swelling and bruising that will last around 7-14 days.

No overnight stay is required following surgery and pain can be managed with over the counter painkillers. Stitches can be removed after 7-10 days and the face will be virtually scar-free, thanks to the zig-zag pattern incision that makes the scar blend with the hairline. You may also wear make up immediately after the procedure.

Additional treatments for an even better looking result

 

Combining facial cosmetic surgery with non-surgical treatments is often the best path to achieve your aesthetic goals. Here are some additional options that can be used to tailor your treatment:

Facial liposuction

 

Excess fat in the lower face and neck can be removed through tiny liposuction cannulas hidden in the neck and behind the ear, resulting in a more defined jawline.

Fillers and Facial Injectables

 

While facelifts are effective in treating sagging skin and severe creases, they cannot remove fine lines or correct volume loss. Cosmetic injectables such as fillers and muscle relaxants are often used as complementary treatments to sculpt the face in order to achieve the desired results.

Laser skin resurfacing and chemical peeling

 

Stripping off layers of skin via laser resurfacing or chemical peeling can further enhance the results of a facelift by improving skin tone and texture. The treatment encourages new skin growth and can reduce the appearance of fine lines, skin discoloration, blemishes and scarring.

Fat grafting

 

Although fatty deposits can be removed via a facelift, it cannot address the issue of loss of volume in the face. For thin, aging faces, a facelift is ideally combined with facial fat grafting. Fat grafting involves removing a tiny amount of fat from the patient’s stomach region, purifying it and injecting it into the sunken areas of the face, such as the eye sockets and cheeks. Fat transfer can address both volume loss and wrinkling and achieve a highly effective rejuvenating effect.

Ocean Clinic’s signature PAVE-Lift concept

 

Head Surgeon at Ocean Clinic Marbella, Dr Kaye has pioneered a new concept in facelifts. His signature PAVE-Lift (peeling-assisted volume enhancing lift) is an enhanced facelift concept that includes both facial peeling and fat grafting. The technique blends surgical expertise with the most innovative anti-aging technology currently available to maximise the aesthetic outcome.

Dr. Kaye has presented the PAVE-Lift concept at surgical meetings around the world to great acclaim. Most recently, he gave a lecture on the cutting-edge technique to more than 250 surgeons at the ASPS Aesthetica meeting in Las Vegas (April 30-May 2, 2015).

To find out more about facelift surgery click here or contact Ocean Clinic Marbella for a free consultation.