Restoring Body Confidence

How removing excess skin through cosmetic surgery can help your everyday life

Losing weight has become an important goal in many people’s everyday lives and might now be even higher on the list of priorities after the pandemic. According to a survey of 1,200 participants, 22% stated they gained between five and 10 pounds as a result of the pandemic. After losing weight, a new concern for many is the remaining excess skin that can be left behind. Although there are some non-surgical skin tightening treatments available that may help, if there is significant loose skin, then the best option for removal is surgery. For 35-year-old Holly, undergoing a tummy tuck, arm, thigh and breast lift has given her a new lease of life and restored her confidence.

Saying goodbye to excess skin

During her youth, Holly weighed around 15st 7lb at her largest, but at the tender age of 21, Holly managed to lose 5½ stone through dieting and exercise and has since maintained this weight for the past 14 years. However, she suffered from excess skin around her tummy, breasts, arms and thighs as a result of the weight loss. Holly stated, “The excess skin made me feel so much bigger. I had lost so much weight, but I couldn’t see the true results due to the loose skin on my body.” To try and shift the lax skin, Holly continued training at the gym, but was noticing no improvements and was becoming demotivated. She realised that because her excess skin was so severe, surgery was the best option for her. She comments, “I researched online for cosmetic surgeons, read reviews through websites such as RealSelf, and had seven consultations before I found the right practitioner for me.” At her last consultation, Holly met with consultant plastic and cosmetic surgeon Mr Mo Akhavani. She reflects, “When I met Mr Akhavani, I knew he was the right surgeon for me. I got a good feeling about him and felt I could trust him because he was extremely honest. He asked me about the areas I wanted to treat, completed a full assessment, and told me the most prolific treatment plan best suited to achieve the results I wanted. I did not find that any other surgeons I visited did this for me. I found them to be unapproachable and that I was just another number to them.”

Before After An informative consultation

After deciding that Mr Akhavani was the right surgeon for her, Holly discussed her concerns and the potential risks involved in the surgery. She recalls, “The first question Mr Akhavani asked me was ‘Who is going to take care of you after the procedure?’. I found this question to be so powerful as he was concerned about my wellbeing, which no other surgeon had asked me about during previous consultations.” Mr Akhavani then proceeded to inform Holly of the ideal order of the treatments. He recommended the body lift to be performed on its own first (which was a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty but continuing all the way around the body to the back) followed by the thigh and arm lift next and then finally a breast lift, with sufficient recovery time between each procedure. In total, Holly would receive three different surgeries. She notes, “We discussed the risks such as infection, wound healing problems, asymmetrical scarring, as well as the cost and duration of the surgery.” In the lead-up to the first operation, Holly began to feel nervous and was eager to find out as much information as she could from other patients who had undergone similar procedures. She says, “I ended up on Instagram, typing in hashtags such as body lift and tummy tuck, and began messaging women who had gone through the same surgery. I managed to receive replies from three women who were lovely and put my mind at ease. We still remain friends to this day!”

An extensive procedure

On the day of the body lift procedure, Holly was placed under general anaesthesia with the surgery taking just under five hours to perform. During the surgery, Holly was first positioned on her front so that liposuction

Before After

Before After

Holly before and three months after arm lift procedure. After photo shows the removal of excess fat from the upper arm.

could be performed on her back. This was followed by a cut to remove excess fat and then she was stitched. Holly was then turned over to lie on her back and the same was performed on her front. According to Mr Akhavani, depending on how much tissue is removed from the treated area, a drain may be added to remove any fluids which may collect post-surgery. Holly stayed overnight at the Welbeck London Hospital, and was overwhelmed by the results post-procedure. She recalls, “I remember thinking that I felt so narrow around my hips, and it was bizarre. You don’t know what to expect to look like because you try to throw all your expectations out of the window until afterwards, but it blew my mind!” Five months later, she underwent her arm and thigh lift surgery, followed by a breast lift four months later.

Attentive aftercare

After the first procedure, Holly felt a tight sensation in her stomach. The removal of the skin and the swelling meant it became tricky for her to manoeuvre. At six weeks, Holly had another consultation with Mr Akhavani with further follow-up appointments at one week, three months and six months post-surgery. She says, “There was quite a lot of postoperative aftercare appointments to change the first set of wound dressings – it’s not over once the surgery has happened. You are also given dressings to take home with you if you need them. It is common to feel some pain after the surgery, but I was very lucky and didn’t feel any. Thankfully, I did not need to take any painkillers at all. The main post-surgery symptom I struggled with was the swelling. You don’t realise how bad swelling can be until you have one of these operations!” Although she had to stay mobile after the operation, she was advised not to exercise for six to eight weeks post-procedure, and to return to a gentle exercise routine after this time frame. Confidence restored

Despite losing weight at 21, Holly was still self-conscious about the excess skin left behind and these procedures have installed confidence back into her everyday life. She comments, “I can now wear mainstream clothing, which was always tricky for me to buy. I happily fit into a size 10-12 with no problems at all. The excess skin is no longer there, and it is much more comfortable when I’m exercising. I feel more confident at the gym as everything feels tighter and more sculpted. It has given me a new lease of life!” When asked if she had any advice for people thinking about getting this type of surgery, Holly says, “Make sure you seek a consultation with several surgeons to find the right one for you. Do your research, make sure your surgeon is listed on the General Medical Council specialist register for plastic surgery and go with your gut. You need to pick the right surgeon for you; it is not a one size fits all approach. They all have different methods and treatment options available. After that, go for it! My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner!”

Mr Mo Akhavani,

consultant plastic and cosmetic surgeon, as well as UK assistant national secretary for the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Mr Mo Akhavani Plastic Surgery, London IG: @moakhavani

Practitioner perspective

These procedures are great at improving the functional ability of the patient. Loose and lax skin can cause chaffing, get caught in clothing and make it difficult to find appropriate clothing options. More importantly, these procedures are fantastic at restoring the confidence in patients. Holly was very shy during the consultation and was even reluctant to remove her clothing for me to assess her. However, post-surgery she is more outgoing and active and wants to help inform fellow patients interested in having these surgeries performed. Holly’s result was really good, and she did not have any problems in terms of wound healing. She was very diligent in her post-operative care and took all advice given to her on board which is important for optimal results. At my clinic, an arm and thigh lift costs from £7,990, a body lift from £15,990 but with added liposuction it's from £18,990 and a breast lift from £9,990.