The high percentage of the population that is overweight continues to be problematic in the U.S. Nearly one third of U.S. adults are obese, with another third being overweight and more Americans than ever are looking to gastric bypass surgery in order to shed the extra pounds. The increase in gastric bypass surgery procedures has also made a greater need for post bariatric body contouring.

It is expected that over the next decade post bariatric body contouring will become an area of cosmetic surgery that will really take off and emerge as a more popularly desired cosmetic surgery choice. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery statistics, in 2003, there were significant increases in the number of post weight loss procedures performed. There was, for example, a 127% increase in all body contouring procedures.

Since body contouring cosmetic surgery is considered a more difficult aesthetic procedure, it is especially important to find a cosmetic surgeon with the training and skill necessary to safely perform it. In 2004, it is expected that the number of post bariatric patients will increase at least 36%.