Patients undergoing bariatric treatment are not being informed of the other cosmetic surgery options available to them, a recent study has revealed.
While hundreds of thousands of bariatric procedures take place each year, the vast majority – around 75 per cent – of patients are not told about the additional body contouring options available to them.
Cosmetic surgeons can help patients to 'fit' into their skin after a significant weight loss and referring people to such experts after weightloss treatment could significantly improve their chances of maintaining their new figure.
Despite this, just 25 per cent of the post-bariatric patients studied by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons were found to have discussed body contouring with their surgeon either before or after their treatment.
Furthermore, just 14 per cent were referred to a cosmetic surgeon for consultation and only 11 per cent actually underwent a body contouring procedure, although almost 40 per cent said that they would have considered the treatment if they had been given access to such treatment.
Jason Spector, managing director of the association and a surgeon himself, commented on the research: “Many massive weight loss patients suffer large amounts of loose, sagging skin as a result of their rapid weight loss that, if not removed, can cause rashes, wounds, infection, and limit comfortable mobility.
“It is apparent that insufficient counselling at the time of bariatric surgery is obscuring viable body contouring options for these patients."
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