America leads the way in the number of gastric surgeries performed on obese men and women worldwide and this has led a to rise in the amount of surgical body contouring surgeries conducted on post-gastric surgery patients when they have shed the fat. In fact the statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that the numbers of procedures has risen by nearly a quarter from the year 2004 to 2005 and is continuing to rise. The increase in the number of surgeries has also led to an improvement in the techniques and the body lift procedures that are required by the once obese people.

The popularity of gastric surgery is not only to do with the obvious weight loss advantages but also to do with the improved blood pressure levels and improvements in diabetic symptoms that they experience after the weight loss. Obesity over a long time leads to flesh and flabby parts round the thighs, stomach and arms that can't be got rid of by diet alone and requires surgery. It is basically a cosmetic issue that needs to be rectified after massive weight loss. Around 80% of those men and women having obesity related plastic surgery are those who have had gastric surgery beforehand.

The procedures are becoming more sophisticated as the traditional tummy tuck that many men and women have is not good enough for people who have been through extreme weight loss and they need a more advanced operation known as a circumferential abdominoplasty that is basically a more elaborate middle body lift. The procedure can involve a number of different operations and if performed by a skilled surgeon it can give very good results and leave patients with a trim and slim body. In a normal operation about three months is needed for full recovery and healing and the vast majority of patients have no health complications as a result of the surgery.

Ukmedix advises that weight loss surgery is for only those who are severely obese and whose weight is very detrimental to their health.