The Houston Chronicle recently ran a story online about a 17-year-old girl who lost nearly 200 pounds through gastric bypass surgery. Specifically, the young girl underwent a Roux-en-Y bypass procedure.
According to the article, the patient (like many who undergo bariatric surgery) had a lot of excess skin as the result of her significant weight loss. So she is now undergoing plastic surgery to address this secondary issue.
Plastic surgery after bariatric surgery is a common thing, as the weight loss that follows bariatric surgery often leaves an abundance of excess skin. Surprisingly, a recent report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons revealed that only 15% of bariatric surgery patients follow up with plastic surgery. [Learn more about this report on bariatric surgery and plastic surgery.]
An excerpt from the Houston Chronicle article:
A year and a half after her bariatric surgery, Willis had gotten her weight down to 172 pounds. This summer, she took a job as a theater usher, which she never would have done in her old body because it involves a lot of walking in public, she said. “I feel really good about myself,” said Willis, who wants to become a registered nurse. “I feel like I can do anything.”