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At A Glance

Price:

From £10500

Expected Results:

Reduction in loose skin and improved body contour

Length of Surgery:

2-5 hours

Anaesthesia:

General anaesthetic

Recovery:

4-6 weeks

Excess Skin Surgery Treatment & Body Contouring Options

Excess skin surgery, also known as body contouring surgery, involves the removal of loose or excess skin, most commonly following significant weight loss or pregnancy. The procedure aims to improve body shape and comfort where skin no longer retracts naturally and may also be referred to as skin-reduction surgery.

Common procedures include abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), brachioplasty (arm lift), thigh lift, and breast lift (mastopexy). These surgeries aim to remove redundant skin and reshape and contour the underlying tissues, helping to achieve a more toned and proportionate appearance.

When you’ve been carrying excess weight, or following pregnancy, the skin and underlying tissues stretch to accommodate changes in body size. Over time, this stretching can reduce skin elasticity. Following significant weight loss, the skin does not always retract naturally, which can result in sagging or loose skin.

Excess skin can cause physical discomfort, affect everyday movement, and impact self-confidence. The type of surgical procedure will vary depending on the individual and may involve treating a single area or a combination of areas, such as the abdomen, arms, thighs, buttocks, or breasts. A pre-operative consultation is essential to assess suitability and to develop an appropriate treatment and aftercare plan.

For many patients, non-surgical options are limited once skin elasticity has been lost, making surgery the most effective way to restore body contour and comfort.

 

People seeking excess skin removal are often affected by:

  • Loose or sagging skin
  • Soreness caused by skin rubbing
  • Irritation between skin folds due to trapped sweat or moisture
  • Difficulty wearing fitted clothing
  • Reduced self-confidence

 

The most appropriate surgical approach depends on the areas affected and your individual anatomy, which is assessed during a personalised consultation.

It’s important to have reached and maintained a stable weight before considering excess skin surgery. Weight fluctuations can affect surgical outcomes, so maintaining a stable weight for six months to one year before treatment is generally recommended.

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The Consultation

Dr Ahid Abood - Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

A pre-operative consultation before excess skin surgery is crucial, as every patient will have different needs, goals, and expectations from surgery. This consultation also confirms whether excess skin surgery is appropriate, or whether alternative or staged procedures may be recommended.

Dr Abood will assess the patient’s overall health, medical history, and desired results. After having established the patient’s suitability for this type of surgery, Dr Abood will explain his recommended surgical procedure(s), including potential risks, and expected outcomes.   During the consultation, patients are encouraged to voice any concerns, ask questions, and address any anxieties they may have.

Dr Abood will discuss the details of the procedure and post-operative plan with the patient, considering factors such as recovery timelines, follow-up appointments and post-operative care. The pre-operative consultation is a pivotal step in ensuring patients are well-prepared, informed, and mentally equipped for the transformative journey ahead. In some cases, patients are not suitable for excess skin surgery or have unrealistic expectations as to what can be achieved.   This may mean surgery is postponed pending other lifestyle changes being taken, or that surgery is not recommended at all.

Following surgery, the post-operative care is as important as the surgery itself for achieving optimal long-term results for patients.  When patients enter the post-operative phase of their surgical journey, they are very well supported by Dr Abood and his team.

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The Procedure

Ahid Abood Plastic Surgery - Procedure

Excess skin removal surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia, so patients will be asleep and pain-free during the procedure.  Dr Abood will make strategic incisions in the skin; where possible, these will be in concealed areas to minimise visible scarring. The size and location of the incisions will depend on the amount and location of the skin to be removed.  The excess skin and underlying tissue will be carefully removed, and the remaining skin will be sculpted and contoured to achieve a more toned and aesthetic appearance. In some cases, liposuction may be used to remove excess fat deposits.

After removing the excess skin, Dr Abood will close the incisions with dissolvable sutures.  Drains may be used to remove any excess fluid accumulated during the healing process.  Depending upon the type of surgery, it may take between 2 and 4 hours. At the end of your surgery, you will be wearing a compression garment appropriate to the surgery you have had.  This is usually worn for approximately 6 weeks, but can be removed when washing.

Following surgery, patients will be monitored in a recovery area for approximately an hour before returning to the ward.  Depending on the surgery you have had, it may be that you can go home the same day, or you may need to stay for a night in the hospital where you will be monitored by a specialised medical team.

Before going home, patients will be given instructions on how to care for the incisions as they heal, how to manage any pain or discomfort and when to resume normal activities.

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Aftercare & Results

Ahid Abood Plastic Surgery - Aftercare

Recovery from surgery is expected to take between 4 to 6 weeks.  You will be given tailored aftercare guidance depending on your individual circumstances, and this guidance must be followed to minimise the risk of complications and to achieve optimum results from surgery.

In the early stages of recovery, physical activity is reduced to a gentle level with no heavy lifting.  Incision sites should be kept clean and dry until the first follow-up appointment, which will be at one week following your surgery.  At this first follow-up appointment, the dressings will be removed, and the incisions will be gently cleaned. At that point, you will be advised about showering and managing the operated area as well as returning to your usual day-to-day activities.

During the early phase of recovery, the swelling and bruising will subside, but it can take many months before the scars start to fade. The scars are encouraged to fade and optimised through undertaking a scar management program, which Dr Abood and the team will advise you upon. Following surgery, there is an immediate transformation, but it can take up to 12 months for the final results to be seen.  You may find it helpful to look at our scar management page for further information.

After your surgery, there will continue to be regular follow-up appointments with Dr Abood and his team.  These are an opportunity for you to ask any questions and for the team to assess your progress.  Outside of these appointments, the team is always on hand should you have any anxieties or concerns about your surgery at any point during your treatment and recovery. Outcomes may vary depending on skin quality, surgical area and adherence to aftercare guidance.

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What our patients think

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Nina Jones 1 year ago
Four weeks ago I had upper eyelid and brow lift surgery and I am absolutely delighted with the results already. Mr Abood and his team looked after me really well. So much so, I am planning to return and have my lower lids done, once my upper lids have completely healed. I attach a before and after photo of my eyes to show what a difference the surgery has made to my lids and why I am so pleased with the results.
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Francesca Revelo 1 year ago
My upper blepharoplasty procedure was a relaxing experience throughout and it went very smoothly, thanks to Mr Abood. I am extremely pleased with the results so far, after only 8 days. Everyone at the clinic made this a very pleasant experience. Thank you.
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Wendy Hutchinson 1 year ago
I can honestly say that Mr Abood is extremely personable. He made me feel at ease from my 1st meeting with him. He explained what to expect from my surgery very well. I never felt rushed during appointments, I really felt reasured when I asked questions and he knew I was worried about going to London for my breast argumentation and lower blasphemy . He took time to video call me before my operations to offer reassurance .
I can not thank him more for his kindness and professionalism.
All in all I am extremely happy with the results and would definitely recommend him . I have discussed another surgery with him for later in the year . I would not choose a different surgeon, Mr Abood and his staff are fantastic.
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Nicolle 1 year ago
I had Breast Augmentation and Uplift with Dr Abood 31st July 2024 at Weymouth Street Hospital in London. This has been the easiest and most stress free procedure I've ever had. Dr Abood and Justine are so kind and lovely, I felt totally at ease and welcome from my first appointment. The aftercare is incredible, nothing is too much and I'm absolutely thrilled with my results so far. I cannot recommend Dr Abood enough. So thankful for everything!
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Hollie Herring 1 year ago
I would like to thanks Mr Abood got an incredible experience start to finish. I was super anxious about surgery but also wanted a breast augmentation for a very long time. Mr Abood made me feel at ease all the way through and I knew I was in safe hands. The confidence this has given me is amazing and I wish I had done it sooner. Thank you so much.
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Elizabeth Bonnelykke 2 year ago
Dr Abood has been brilliant from the first consultation up until my final appointment. He is down to earth and really understood what I wanted - making me feel at ease straight away. Any questions or concerns I had before and after surgery, he was quick to answer and solve. I would definitely recommend him.
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Magdalena Sadowska 2 year ago
Highly recommended.
Very patient, kind and sincere.
He was always there to answer to any pre- and post op concerns.
The procedure itself gave me life changing results and I regret waiting to do it so long.
Thank you very much
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Z W 2 year ago
I had inverted nipple correction surgery on my right nipple with Dr Abood around 5 weeks ago.

I am really happy with the result of my inverted nipple correction, the nipple has healed really quickly with very minimal to no bruising and looks like it was never even inverted in the first place! I am very pleased with the result as I have always been so self conscious about having 1 inverted nipple.

Thank you Dr Abood, who was professional, skilled and knowledgeable who made me feel at ease during the surgery and followed up promptly on my after care.

The whole process was fantastic, from consultation to surgery. I could not recommend Dr Abood highly enough.
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Helen Wilson 2 year ago
Absolutely brilliant service, all staff are excellent, would definitely use again, the nurses are so reassuring and helpful. Justine the secretary is so friendly and helpful and will answer any query you may have. Mr Abood was superb and a credit to the profession, He explained what was happening and the work he did was brilliant. Would also like to add that the staff at the Weymouth hospital are absolutely brilliant too, especially the nurses
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Potential Risks

Dr Abood is a highly experienced plastic surgeon, and fortunately, complications are uncommon in his practice; however, all types of surgery, no matter how minor, carry an element of risk. If Dr Abood considers there are any areas of particular concern in your case, he will discuss these with you before surgery, and he may advise against surgery altogether.

Please see our page on the Potential Risks of Surgery for more information.

Related FAQs

Am I suitable for excess skin surgery?

If you have loose or sagging skin following significant weight loss or pregnancy, you may be suitable for excess skin surgery, also known as body contouring surgery. Suitability depends on factors such as overall health, skin quality, and weight stability.

It is important to have reached and maintained a stable weight before considering excess skin surgery. Weight fluctuations can affect surgical outcomes and recovery, so maintaining a stable weight for 6 months to a year before surgery is generally recommended. Suitability is confirmed during a personalised consultation with Dr Abood.

Is excess skin surgery safe?

All surgical procedures carry potential risks and complications. Excess skin surgery is generally safe when performed by a qualified and experienced consultant plastic surgeon, following appropriate assessment and patient selection.

Dr Abood is a highly experienced consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive training in the UK and overseas, and many years of practice within the NHS and private sector. If he identifies any unacceptable risk during your assessment, this will be discussed with you in detail, and surgery may be modified, postponed, or not recommended.

Will excess skin surgery hurt?

Excess skin surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, so you will not feel pain during the procedure itself. After surgery, a specialist compression garment is worn to support the treated areas and help improve comfort.

Most patients experience manageable post-operative discomfort rather than significant pain, and this is usually controlled with simple pain relief such as paracetamol for a short period. Many patients report being pleasantly surprised by how comfortable they feel during recovery.

How much recovery time can I expect after excess skin surgery?

Recovery time following excess skin surgery varies depending on the areas treated and the individual patient. Most patients can return to light daily activities within around two weeks, although full recovery can take several months.

Following post-operative guidance, including activity restrictions, garment use, and follow-up appointments, is essential for achieving the best possible outcome. Recovery timelines and expectations are discussed in detail during your consultation.

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