Massive Weight Loss Surgery Highlighted
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Life After Weight Loss program is nationally
and internationally recognized for its innovative body contouring surgical techniques following massive weight loss. Headed by McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member J. Peter Rubin, MD, chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery, UPMC Endowed Professor of Plastic Surgery, and Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, who is one of the nation’s top doctors in the field and the author of a text book on the subject, the UPMC Life After Weight Loss team performs a wide range of body contouring surgeries.
Dr. Rubin and his team have pioneered many of the body contouring methods in use around the world today. Recently, Dr. Rubin assisted a NY surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital on an unprecedented clinical case of excess skin surgery.
The patient, 54-year-old Paul Mason, tipped the scale at 980 pounds before gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago. He now weighs 330 pounds, but carries excess skin around his arms, abdomen, and legs, causing infections and impeding his ability to function. He uses a wheelchair, walker, or crutches to get around.
The surgery lasted 9 ½ hours, involved about 8 feet of incisions, removing 48 pounds of excess skin from Mr. Mason’s legs and abdomen. His recovery will take 6 weeks, including about 4 days of hospitalization. Another surgery is planned for the future to deal with excess skin from his arms and back.
“While this is certainly a historic case because of the amount of weight that Mr. Mason lost, his story really highlights how life-changing this process of significant weight loss can be for patients and how impactful and important the plastic surgery procedures are,” Dr. Rubin said. “This really completes the weight loss journey for these patients.”
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