An article was recently published in the New York Times about Paul Mason, a man who shed 650 pounds from his original 980-pound frame. This was an amazing feat for Mason; however, after the extreme weight loss, he was left with close to 100 pounds of hanging skin. As a result, he was only able to walk a few steps at a time, was extremely uncomfortable, and had to tuck his extra skin into his clothing.
Word got out about his incredible weight loss and the need for body lift surgery. Skilled physicians at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City stepped up to the plate and offered to perform his skin reduction surgery at no charge. After an intense nine-and-a-half hour surgery, Mason’s skin was successfully removed and he was sent to recovery. He can finally walk his dog, sit comfortably in a chair, and was able to go to the movies for the first time in 30 years!
The positive way in which Mason’s life was impacted by the surgery reminded me of why I love what I do each and every day. For me, there’s truly nothing more rewarding than seeing the smiles on my patients’ faces or their renewed sense of confidence post-surgery. The transformation physically and emotionally can be astonishing, just as it was for Mr. Mason.
I have performed body lifts on numerous patients who have lost significant amounts of weight. As the New York Times article explains, body lift operations remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the middle and lower abdomen, the hips, the outer thighs, the back, and the buttocks. This procedure is most commonly performed after weight loss and is extremely beneficial because it helps create the body shape that patients have worked so hard to achieve. When my patients are happy with their bodies, I know I have done my job.
It’s always exciting to see a positive portrayal of plastic surgery in the media. Often times, plastic surgery is misrepresented or gets a bad reputation because of botched surgeries or because people and/or surgeons have chosen to go overboard. I pursued a career in plastic surgery to help my patients achieve the body image that makes them feel the most comfortable. To see this same goal documented in the New York Times article is truly inspiring.
