Board Certified Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Jay Calvert, states that an important part of the overall transformation during massive weight loss is to undergo a facial rejuvenation surgery. He adds that the face and neck are the most visible parts after bariatric surgery and so neglecting post-bariatric facelifts will result to the face having wrinkles, extra folds, excess skin and a hollowed-out, drawn and unhealthy look.

With the rise of people taking a stand for their health, massive weight loss programs including bariatric surgery are becoming popular. This operation involves reducing the size of the stomach through removing parts of it, introducing implants or doing bypass. The U.S. National Institutes of Health recommends this surgery for people who have a BMI of more than 40 in order to reduce the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In post-bariatric surgery, the focus of the procedure is on the excess skin of the legs, arms and abdomen. Dr. Jay Calvert, a Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon, pointed out that the steep costs associated with these two combined operations have prevented patients from seeking post-bariatric facelift surgeries, however he explained that the most exposed parts of the body should never be neglected.

“I believe the face needs to be addressed in the overall plan for post-bariatric reconstruction, using techniques that offer the best results,” Dr. Calvert stated when asked about the importance of post-bariatric facelifts. The face and neck have many layers and this includes the skin, the fat under the skin, the SMAS, which is the suspension layer of the face, the muscles, the periosteum, which is the lining of the bones and finally the bone area. These layers are necessary for the face and neck to function properly. During massive weight loss, each layer is affected in a different manner causing the skin to thin and become dehydrated. The decrease in the face and neck volume causes the skin to hang and results in droopy cheeks, a down turned mouth and downcast eyes.

“The most crucial part of the process is repositioning of the facial structures to create the look of youth,” explained Dr. Calvert. He then proceeded to discuss the best approach to address the issue of neck and face volume loss after bariatric surgery. The initial pre-operative step is to create an outline on what needs to be done to the brows, eyes, cheeks, jowls and the neck area. The first surgery will then be the neck area, which may be done twice depending on the amount of skin that needs to be removed. The second procedure is the cheek and jowl lifts to create a more youthful look. Finally, the last step is doing the eyelid operation, mid facelift and lower facelift all at the same time to preserve facial harmony.

Dr. Jay Calvert, MD, FACS, finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Biology at the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and earned his Medical Degree at Cornell University Medical College in New York. He is a certified plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and specializes in aesthetic surgery. Dr. Calvert sees new patients every week at his Beverly Hills and Newport Beach offices.




Jay Calvert, MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills and Orange County, CA. He performs all types of plastic surgery and specializes in face lifts, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation. To learn more about Dr. Calvert's aesthetic surgery practice, please visit http://www.drcalvert.com or Call 1-310-777-8800 in Beverly Hills or 1-949-644-2858 in Newport Beach to set up an appointment.