Body Contouring After Weight Loss Baltimore, Maryland
Losing significant amounts of weight is an incredible and life-changing accomplishment for many men and women, who often share their journey with a close-knit group of new friends who collectively push and inspire one another. However, for many patients who have undergone massive weight loss, the journey doesn’t end with the number on the scale. Stretched, sagging skin often remains, unable to retract on its own. This excess skin can interfere with movement, hygiene, clothing fit, and overall self-image.
That’s where body contouring after major weight loss comes in. Dr. Michele Shermak, a board-certified plastic surgeon and reconstructive surgeon, helps patients complete their transformation with advanced, customized skin removal and contouring surgery to restore smoother contours and a sense of wholeness. Dr. Shermak is an international expert in body contouring after significant weight loss and patients seek her out from around the globe.
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At the end of your weight loss journey, excess skin will often remain. Sometimes there are residual fat deposits and deep creases and folds on the body.
Unfortunately, skin can not be lost through exercise or weight loss, and there may be so much skin left over that the individual who lost weight might wish he/she did not lose weight.
Excess skin removal surgery can be the grand finale of a goal you worked so hard to accomplish. Dr. Shermak congratulates you and would be honored and privileged to be part of your life-changing journey. Her team is uniquely qualified to care for individuals who sustain significant weight loss before, during, and after surgery. Discover customized surgical options to help you achieve your best body yet, outlined below.
Excess skin removal surgery is tailored to each patient’s own unique physique and needs. Some of the procedures that can be done as part of this surgery include the following:
The lower body lift procedure is an extensive and very common surgery that lifts and tightens skin tissue in the abdominal, back, and thigh regions. An incision is placed just about the hip bone and encircles the body. Excess skin is removed, and the remainder of the skin is tightened. Sometimes the continuous excision of skin from the abdomen 360 degrees to the buttock, known as a belt lipectomy, may help lift the inner and outer thighs adequately without performing an actual thigh lift.
Losing massive amounts of weight will typically result in excess skin being left behind in the buttocks and thighs, causing sagging, deflation, and an aged appearance. The thigh and buttock lift remove this skin and restore a firmer, smoother, and more slender appearance to these areas. With the Buttock Lift, the patient’s own deep tissue is utilized to help boost the buttock and improved shape to the area, allowing for better fit in clothing and swimwear.
The upper arms in particular are often the site of plenty of leftover and excess skin after massive weight loss (MWL). Sometimes there are fat pockets and creases in the arm that result as well. In an arm lift, an incision is made along the underside of the arm, allowing the loose skin to be excised and the remainder to be restored into a more shapely and attractive appearance. This excision is often extended from the underarm down the side of the chest, which is continuous and helps indirectly reduce loose skin in the upper back. This procedure is often continued into the chest and breast area to result in a comprehensive upper body lift.
Women who lose significant amounts of weight will suffer changes in the breasts, including deflation and sagging. Breast tissue may be augmented with fat transferred from another region in the body or with implants. Breast lift with skin tightening and elevation and reduction of the nipple-areolar complex is often necessary to improve breast perkiness. Some women benefit from one or the other, but most benefit from a combination of lifting and augmentation.
Analogous to women, men can also suffer from excess sagging skin and focal glandular tissue in the chest area. Sometimes, this can be restored with liposuction, sometimes with some skin removal, and sometimes more. Treatment is individualized depending on presentation.
Weight loss in the face mimics aging with deflation of fat and sagging of skin. This not only ages the face but also imparts a look of fatigue, unhappiness, or anger. Facial rejuvenation surgery will help refresh the look of the massive weight loss patient. Scars are well camouflaged under the chin and around the ears to lift and restore facial fullness and tautness.
Body contouring after weight loss is a series of plastic surgery procedures designed to remove excess skin, reshape the underlying supportive tissue, smooth contours, and enhance body proportions following significant weight loss. Common areas treated include the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper back, arms, chest, and face. For many patients who lose massive amounts of weight, this type of cosmetic surgery becomes the final step in reclaiming their health and body confidence.
Dr. Shermak personalizes each body contouring surgery plan based on your medical history, physical exam, and goals. She may recommend a lower body lift, arm lift, breast lift, tummy tuck, or face and neck lift, depending on where skin laxity and volume loss are most prominent. These major body contouring procedures are often combined to streamline recovery and results.
Body contouring surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia and can take several hours, depending on the number of areas being treated.
In most cases, a combination of procedures can be performed during a single surgical session. Other times, treatments are staged to prioritize safety and promote healing.
During the procedure, Dr. Shermak removes excess skin and reshapes the remaining skin and underlying supportive tissue. Liposuction may be used to reduce excess fat or smooth transitions. Surgical sites are closed with careful technique to minimize visible scars, and compression garments are applied to reduce swelling and support the new contours.
Body contouring after massive weight loss addresses a range of conditions, including:
Dr. Shermak's surgical expertise allows her to tailor each treatment plan to meet the unique anatomical and emotional needs of her patients.
Weight loss body contouring can address nearly all major areas of the body: abdomen, upper arms, back, thighs, chest, breasts, buttocks, face, and neck. These areas often retain extra skin and soft tissue after weight loss, which can be safely reshaped with the right surgical plan.
The best candidates for excess skin removal surgery:
You’ll notice an improvement in your body’s contour immediately, although swelling and bruising are normal in the early phase. Final results are visible after approximately 3–6 months, as the body adjusts to its new shape.
Scars will fade within a year and beyond, and Dr. Shermak will guide you on strategies to minimize visible scarring. With a stable weight and healthy habits, the benefits of excess skin removal are long-lasting and life-changing. Most patients report not only physical improvements but also emotional ones, such as comfort in their clothing, increased motivation to stay active, and pride in seeing their transformation fully realized.
The exact length of recovery and its intensity depend on the number of procedures you undergo.
Excess skin removal surgery is typically considered one of the more extensive yet impactful cosmetic surgeries available. Patients should be well-prepared for postoperative recovery and will do best to have a close friend or family member accompany them for several days after surgery. Patients will be provided with comprehensive aftercare instructions and recovery advice tailored to their specific surgery. This will typically include:
Dr. Michele Shermak is a board-certified and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon who, for years, has been nationally recognized as one of the best plastic surgeons in the United States. As late as July 2024, she was voted one of America’s best female plastic surgeons by her professional peers.
Her intensive education and extensive experiential background in cosmetic surgery enable her to provide the safest and most superior care to each of her patients, helping them achieve their body goals. Dr. Shermak also wrote the book on “Body Contouring,” published by McGraw-Hill as an industry textbook to educate the next generation of plastic surgeons, and she is working on a head-to-toe surgical text on plastic surgery due to be published by Elsevier in 2026.
In addition to her technical and scientific achievements, Dr. Shermak is also a Director on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Plastic Surgery where she advocates for patient safety through impacting the Board Certification and Continuous Certification processes.
We invite you to call Dr. Shermak’s Baltimore plastic surgery office at (410) 616-3000 to schedule your personal consultation today regarding skin tightening after weight loss.
Most plastic surgeons recommend waiting until your weight has stabilized for at least 6 months before undergoing body contouring after weight loss. This ensures that your results will be long-lasting and reduces the chance of needing revision surgery. Dr. Shermak typically advises reaching your goal weight and maintaining it before moving forward with surgical procedures.
Depending on your overall health and surgical goals, several major body contouring procedures can be performed during one operation. For example, a lower body lift may be combined with an arm lift or breast lift. An Upper Body Lift may be combined with Abdominoplasty. In more complex cases, surgeries are staged to reduce the risk of complications and promote healing between sessions.
Yes, skin excision and body contouring surgery can leave scars, but Dr. Shermak uses careful planning and advanced closure techniques to place incisions in discreet areas, such as the bra line, groin crease, or inner thigh. Over time, scars fade and become less noticeable, especially when paired with proper scar care and sun protection.
As with any surgical procedure, risks may include bleeding, blood clots, infection, delayed healing, infection or fluid buildup (seroma). Patients with significant weight loss or prior medical conditions may be at higher risk. Dr. Shermak’s extensive experience as a reconstructive surgeon and awareness of complication risk allow her to minimize complications and provide expert post-op care.
Absolutely. A tummy tuck is often included in a lower body lift or performed in conjunction with a breast lift, arm lift, or thigh lift. Combining procedures can enhance your overall shape and reduce total recovery time, but it’s important to discuss your medical history and goals with Dr. Shermak to determine the safest and most effective approach.
Many weight loss patients report improvements in sexual function and physical activity after skin removal surgery. Reducing excess sagging skin can ease movement, improve comfort during intimacy, and restore confidence in one’s body image—all of which may contribute to a better quality of life.
Yes. Some herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications can increase the risk of bleeding or interfere with anesthesia. Dr. Shermak will review your full list of medications and supplements during your consultation and advise you on what to stop and when.
