Massive weight loss patients often require multiple surgical procedures to address excess skin and fat throughout their entire body. From the healing and safety standpoint, it is not feasible to perform all of these procedures in one operation. Typically, panniculectomy (removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen) or lower body lift procedures are performed as the first stage. Breast reduction/lift procedures can be combined with either brachioplasty (arm) or medial thigh lift. The remaining procedure can be performed as a third stage. If there is significant facial laxity, a face lift can be performed, often, as the final stage. Typically, the time period between stages is three to six months to allow for recovery and healing. The procedure that health insurance most commonly covers is abdominal panniculectomy, that is, the surgical removal of excess skin and fat from the abdomen, without muscle tightening.
