Body Contouring After Weight Loss »

Jeffrey Sebastian, MD, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He lives in Los Angeles. Joseph F. Capella, MD, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with a special interest in cosmetic surgery. He lives in Ramsey, New Jersey. J. Peter Rubin, MD, is assistant professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring and other aesthetic techniques. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Are you among the tens of thousands of people who have lost a dramatic amount of weight? If so, congratulations! You did it! Those years of struggling and failed diets are behind you. Perhaps you did it through weight loss surgery. Or, perhaps it was through diet and exercise. Either way, you have created a new body and a new life for yourself. But, now that the weight is gone, are you left with extra skin? If so, it likely causes you embarrassment and perhaps hygiene problems as well. Fortunately, body contouring surgery can help restore a more natural look to your body.
The authors of this book, respected plastic surgeons, have performed hundreds of body contouring procedures on weight loss patients, and they understand your concerns as you explore having reconstructive surgery. Among the questions they answer are:

• How soon after surgery can I have excess skin be removed?
• Which surgery should I have first?
• How many surgeries can I have at one time?
• Should I have a tummy tuck or a body lift?
• Will I have much pain after contouring surgery?
• Can my breasts be restored to normal?
• Where will scars from the surgery be visible?
• When can I return to work and resume physical activity?
• What about fees? Will insurance pay?

The book contains 136 color illustrations and photos, including dozens of "before & after" photos of surgery patients, as well as an appendix, resource section, glossary, and index.

Library Journal

This thorough, up-to-date exploration of the mechanics of body-contouring surgery is specifically written for people who have undergone substantial weight loss and are interested in having some of their resulting loose skin removed. The authors-all board-certified plastic surgeons with extensive experience in plastic and/or reconstructive surgery-include sections on when such surgery is indicated, how it is arranged, which medical professionals perform it, and specific bodily areas it targets (e.g., the abdomen, thighs, arms, face, and neck). One-page "Patient Profiles" detailing patients' experiences are peppered throughout each chapter and help keep the text relevant and realistic. The abundance of information found here is well organized and presented in an easy-to-read, conversational style. Highly recommended for all consumer health library collections, as the book covers an increasingly successful and popular area of plastic surgery. (Index not seen.)-Elizabeth J. Eastwood, Mesa P.L., Los Alamos, NM Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.