Body Procedures · Rogers, Arkansas
Body Contouring AfterWeight Loss Surgery
You’ve done the hard work. Now let your body reflect it.
What is body contouring after weight loss?
Body contouring after weight loss surgery is a group of plastic surgery procedures that remove excess skin and reshape the body after major weight loss. After significant weight loss, skin often loses its elasticity and can’t shrink back on its own, leaving loose, sagging skin on the abdomen, arms, thighs, back, breasts, and buttocks. Surgical body contouring removes that excess skin and fat and tightens what remains, for a smoother, more proportionate shape.
Most patients need more than one procedure, and many treat several areas of the body in stages. At Northwest Arkansas Center for Plastic Surgery, body contouring surgery is performed by Dr. Heath Stacey, a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 15 years of experience in Northwest Arkansas.
The final chapter of your weight loss journey
Losing a significant amount of weight takes commitment, and it changes your health and your life. But many patients are surprised to find that loose skin hides the results of all that effort. It can cause rashes and discomfort, make exercise harder, and make clothes fit poorly.
Many of our patients tell us they feel smaller but don’t yet feel like themselves. Body contouring helps your body finally reflect the work you’ve put in, so you can feel comfortable, confident, and proud of how far you’ve come.
Benefits of a Body Contouring
A smoother, firmer shape
Everyday comfort
Easier movement
Clothes that fit
A more proportionate figure
Confidence in your progress
Is body contouring right for me?
You may be a good candidate for body contouring after weight loss if:
- You’ve had significant weight loss through weight loss surgery or diet and exercise
- Your weight has been stable for at least six months; after weight loss surgery, this is often 12–18 months
- You have loose or sagging skin in one or more areas of the body
- You’re in good overall health and eating a balanced, protein-rich diet to support healing
- You don’t smoke, or are willing to stop before and after surgery
- You understand that skin removal surgery leaves scars, placed where clothing usually covers them
Still on your weight loss journey? It’s best to reach a stable weight first. Your results will last longer, and you may need fewer procedures.
Body Contouring Procedures
Lower body lift
A lower body lift is the most comprehensive body contouring surgery after major weight loss. It removes excess skin and fat in a full circle around the lower body, lifting and tightening the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, and outer thighs in one procedure. The abdominal muscles can also be tightened, as in a tummy tuck.
Best for
Incision
Procedure time
Several hours; varies by patient
Often combined with
Back to desk work
3–6 months
Final results
6 months to 1 year
Best for
Incision
Procedure time
Several hours; varies by patient
Often combined with
Back to desk work
Final results
Upper body lift
An upper body lift treats loose skin across the upper back, below the shoulder blades and along the bra line, areas that diet and exercise can’t change after significant weight loss. It’s often combined with a breast lift to reshape the chest and with an arm lift to address sagging skin on the upper arms.
Panniculectomy
A panniculectomy removes the pannus, the hanging fold of skin and fat that can drape below the belly button after major weight loss. Unlike a tummy tuck, it focuses on removing the overhang rather than tightening the abdominal muscles or reshaping the belly button.
Many patients choose a panniculectomy for comfort: the overhang can cause rashes, skin irritation, hygiene challenges, and difficulty with exercise. It can be performed on its own or combined with a tummy tuck for a more refined, contoured result.
Best for
Incision
Low across the abdomen
Insurance
Body contouring for men
Men experience loose skin after weight loss too, often on the chest, abdomen, and flanks. Male body contouring can include chest contouring to remove excess skin and tissue for a flatter, firmer chest, along with a body lift or tummy tuck tailored to a masculine shape.
Choosing a cosmetic surgeon for body contouring
Body contouring after major weight loss involves some of the most complex surgical procedures in plastic surgery. Choosing the right surgeon is important.
What to look for
- Board certification in plastic surgery. “Cosmetic surgeon” isn’t a recognized board specialty. Look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which requires years of surgical training focused on the face and body.
- Experience with weight loss patients. Body contouring after weight loss surgery calls for careful planning across several areas of the body.
- A plan that puts safety first. A good plastic surgeon will tell you when staging procedures is the safer choice.
- Ongoing support. Ask who will care for you during recovery.
Why patients choose NWACPS
Dr. Heath Stacey is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He’s a member of The Aesthetic Society, the leading organization for aesthetic plastic surgery, and has performed body contouring in Northwest Arkansas for more than 15 years.
Your experience at NWACPS
After everything you’ve been through to reach this point, you deserve care that’s personal, respectful, and unhurried.
- A private, judgment-free consultation. Your surgeon examines each area, listens to what matters most to you, and maps out a plan, including whether to stage procedures.
- Clear preparation. You’ll receive written instructions covering nutrition, help at home, and what to expect.
- A nursing team you can reach. Our nurses stay in close contact through your recovery and answer questions as they come up.
- Follow-up visits. Your surgeon checks your healing in person at every stage.
“Over the last ten years, I had two babies, two C-sections, and lost about 150 pounds, and that did exactly what you think it would do to my skin. I’d done two consultations before, and other than those very brief interactions, my experience with plastic surgeons was limited to “Tell me what you don’t like about yourself” from Nip/Tuck. I was nervous.
Dr. Stacey and Hannah were so incredibly kind… Dr. Stacey was polite and made sure I felt comfortable at all times. He was also realistic. I asked about various areas on my body, and he would give me both answers and recommendations.
My surgeries were done in two rounds, about 4 months apart from each other… For the first time in my life, I felt confident looking in the mirror. I cried a little, but definitely for a different reason! It’s still shocking to me that this time last year I was researching surgeries and surgeons. If you’re on the fence, just hop over. It’s worth it. And if you’re anywhere near Rogers, AR, Dr. Stacey is the one you want.”
Recovery after surgery
The first week
Rest at home with help nearby. You’ll wear compression garments, and you may have small drains for the first several days. Short walks help circulation.
Weeks 2–4
As you heal
6 months to 1 year
Your results and scars
Your results. You’ll see a smoother, more defined shape right away, with final results over six months to a year. Removed skin doesn’t return, and maintaining a stable weight helps your results last.
Visible scars. Skin removal requires longer incisions than most cosmetic procedures. Your surgeon places them where underwear, swimwear, and clothing usually cover them. Scars fade gradually over 12–18 months, and most patients feel the trade-off is well worth it.
Planning for body contouring ● Planning for body contouring ● Planning for body contouring
Planning for your procedure
Because every body contouring plan is tailored to the patient, you’ll receive a personalized quote at your complimentary consultation. Your plan depends on:
- Which procedures and areas of the body are treated
- Whether procedures are combined or staged
- Anesthesia and surgical facility fees
- Compression garments and post-op supplies
Payment Options
Flexible ways to plan your procedure
We offer monthly payment plans through CareCredit, Prosper, and Cherry. You can apply before your consultation so you know your options going in.
Related procedures ● Related procedures ● Related procedures ● Related procedures ● Related procedures
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually not after major weight loss. Skin elasticity is often reduced, so stretched skin can’t fully shrink back. Skin removal is the most reliable way to address it.
A tummy tuck treats the front of the abdomen. A lower body lift extends around the body to treat the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, and outer thighs in one procedure.
A lower body lift treats the waist, buttocks, and thighs. An upper body lift treats loose skin on the upper back and bra line, and is often combined with a breast lift.
Often, yes. Some areas can be combined safely, while others are best staged a few months apart. Your surgeon will recommend the safest plan for you.
Not after major weight loss. Liposuction removes excess fat but not skin, and nonsurgical skin tightening and body sculpting treatments are designed for mild changes. Surgical body contouring is needed to remove excess skin and fat.
Yes. Skin removal requires longer incisions, but your surgeon places them where clothing usually covers them. Scars fade significantly over 12–18 months.
It depends on the procedures. Many patients return to desk work in two to four weeks and are cleared for exercise around six weeks.
Cost depends on the procedures and areas treated. You’ll receive a personalized quote at your complimentary consultation, and we offer monthly payment plans through CareCredit, Cherry, and Prosper.
No. Consultations are complimentary. You’ll meet privately with Dr. Stacey and leave with a personalized plan.
Ready for the final chapter?
Meet privately with Dr. Stacey at our office in Rogers, AR. He’ll listen to your goals, walk you through your options, and help you build a plan that fits your body and your life.
Prefer to call? (479) 571-3100
