ABSTRACT
Bariatric surgery is currently the most efficacious and durable weight loss intervention available for those with severe obesity. Accordingly, over 200,000 bariatric procedures are performed annually (ASMBS, 2009). The most commonly performed weight loss surgery in the United States is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), which accounts for the majority of bariatric surgeries (BOLD, Surgical review Corporation). The RYGB typically results in the loss of approximately 50–75% of excess body weight, often by approximately 12 months after surgery (Tice, Karliner, Walsh, Petersen, & Feldman, 2008). Patients usually reach their weight nadir by 18–24 months post-RYGB (Mechanick et al., 2008). While this rapid and massive weight loss leads to the resolution of many obesity-related comorbid conditions, it also frequently leaves patients with large amounts of hanging, residual skin.
