Post-bariatric surgery in Tijuana, for excess skin after weight loss
Bariatric surgery took the weight off. The skin left over does not go away with diet or exercise: it is removed with surgery, at the right time and in the right order.
Body surgery · Post-bariatric
- CMCPER, Mexican Council certification No. 2607
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- Identifier
- CMCPER, Mexican Council certification No. 2607
- Last verified
- Jul 29, 2026
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- Hospital operating room
- Bilingual care · ES / EN
No image on this page shows a real patient or a surgical result. The editorial photography is for illustration only.
Post-bariatric surgery with Dr. Alfredo Chama, a plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon certified by the Mexican Council of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery (CMCPER No. 2607), in Tijuana.
What it is for
What post-bariatric surgery is for, and what it is not for
Post-bariatric surgery is the plastic surgery done after major weight loss to remove excess skin and reshape the remaining tissue. It applies whether you lost the weight with a gastric sleeve, a bypass or another way: what matters is how much skin is left, where it is and your general medical condition today.
After losing a lot of weight, skin that was stretched for years does not always retract. It gathers on the abdomen, arms, thighs, back or breasts, and it brings problems that are not only about appearance: chafing and irritation in the folds, difficulty exercising and clothes that do not fit.
Three questions define your plan, and they are answered in your assessment:
- Is it time yet? Your weight has to have been stable for a while. If you keep losing, your skin will keep changing, and so will the result.
- Is your body ready to form good scars? After bariatric surgery, nutrition changes. The doctor reviews your lab work and your nutritional status before proposing surgery, because how your wounds close depends on it.
- What comes first? Everything is rarely solved in a single surgery. The order is decided by what bothers you most and what is safe to do together.
If you want to see all the contouring surgeries in more detail, there is a page on body contouring after weight loss. This page covers what is specific to people coming from bariatric surgery.
What it is not: it is not for losing weight, and it does not replace follow-up with your bariatric team. It is done afterward, once your weight has stabilized.
Benefits
What changes
- Less hanging skin in the areas treated.
- Less chafing and irritation in the skin folds.
- More freedom to move and exercise.
- A plan in stages that sets out what is treated first and why.
Candidacy
Who is usually a candidate, and who should wait
- ✓ Your weight has been stable for a while; the exact time is defined by the doctor with you and, if you have one, with your bariatric team.
- ✓ Lab work and nutritional status in order.
- ✓ You do not smoke, or you are willing to stop ahead of surgery and during recovery.
- ✓ You understand there will be scars, planned to be as discreet as possible.
- ✓ You can keep to the rest and the check-ups, especially if the plan goes in stages.
Who should wait: anyone still losing weight, anyone with uncorrected nutritional deficiencies, or anyone still in the early stage after bariatric surgery.
| Area | Surgery | What it removes |
|---|---|---|
| Abdomen | Tummy tuck (standard, extended or fleur-de-lis) | Skin and fat from the abdomen; the fleur-de-lis also removes excess across the width |
| Abdomen, waist, buttocks and thighs | Circumferential tummy tuck (lower body lift) | Excess skin around the entire lower trunk |
| Arms | Arm lift (brachioplasty) | Hanging skin on the arm |
| Thighs | Thigh lift | Excess skin on the thighs |
| Back and trunk | Upper body lift and back lift | Skin folds on the trunk and back |
| Breasts | Breast lift | Excess skin and sagging of the breasts |
Consultation
Virtual or in-person assessment of your case
Preparation
Personalized plan, lab work and preparation
Procedure
Hospital operating room, surgical team
Recovery
In-person or remote follow-up, including if you live in the U.S.
How the process works, step by step
- Assessment. The doctor reviews your weight history, when your bariatric surgery was, your lab work and which areas bother you. He tells you which surgeries apply and which do not.
- Coordination. If you are still in follow-up with your bariatric team, their opinion on your weight and nutrition is taken into account.
- Plan. Which areas are treated, whether they go in one surgery or in stages, and in what order. Anesthesia is defined by the anesthesiologist based on the procedure.
- Surgery. In a hospital operating room, generally under general anesthesia. There may be temporary drains.
- Follow-up. Scheduled check-ups while your scars mature; if you live outside Tijuana, part of the follow-up can be done by WhatsApp or video call.
In your consultation, Dr. Chama clearly explains the risks, the recovery and what result to expect in your case, so you can decide with all the information.
Have you lost the weight and have skin left over? Start with an assessment. Send us your photos and your history on WhatsApp and the doctor reviews them before your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What we are asked most
How long after a gastric sleeve or bypass can I have surgery?
When your weight has been stable for a while and your nutrition is in order. There is no number of months that works for everyone: the doctor defines it with your history, your lab work and, if you have one, the opinion of your bariatric team.
Can everything be done in one surgery?
Sometimes areas are combined, but the plan often goes in stages. Putting too much into one surgery lengthens the time in the operating room and the recovery. The order is decided by what bothers you most and what is safe to do together.
Why do I need lab work?
Because after bariatric surgery the way your body absorbs nutrients changes, and good wound closure depends on that. If something is low, it is corrected before surgery.
Will my skin retract on its own if I exercise?
Exercise improves your muscle and your fitness, but skin that was stretched for years does not usually go back into place. That is why contouring surgery exists.
What are the risks?
As with any surgery: bleeding, infection, fluid buildup under the skin, slower wound closure, visible scars and asymmetry. After major weight loss some wound-related risks can be higher, which is why preparation matters. They are explained for your case before you decide.
Will there be scars?
Yes. Removing skin leaves a scar. They are planned to sit in areas that clothing covers when possible, and they mature over time.
How much does post-bariatric surgery cost?
It depends on how many areas are treated and in how many stages, which is why there is no price list: your quote is personalized and comes after your case is reviewed.
About the surgeon
Dr. Alfredo Chama Naranjo
Dr. Alfredo Chama Naranjo — plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon in Tijuana.
- Mexican specialty license (cédula, SEP): 14854088 — specialty in plastic and reconstructive surgery from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), verifiable on the SEP portal.
- Certification by the Mexican Council of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery: CMCPER No. 2607, verifiable on the council’s site.
- He operates in a hospital operating room in Tijuana.
Last updated: 2026-09-23
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Last updated: November 5, 2026