Body lift surgery is the procedure used to remove large folds of skin and fat located on the hips, thighs, lower abdomen and buttocks. Also known as a body contouring procedure, the role of body lift surgery is to improve the appearance of the lower body by the modification of its size and/or shape.
Body Lift Surgery Quick Summary
Also known as a truncoplasty, body lift surgery is commonly performed after a significant loss of weight to remove and tighten excess skin and also after childbirth and ageing to tighten saggy skin.
The areas that are treated in body lift surgery are the hips, outer upper thighs, lower abdomen and the upper buttocks. The type of surgery required will depend upon your individual needs and the amount of loose skin that needs to be removed. Dr. Verma will discuss this with you at your consultation.
What is a body lift surgery?
As well as being used for cosmetic purposes to improve your appearance, body lift surgery also addresses physical, comfort and hygiene issues that can be caused by the heaviness of excess skin. These include:
- Difficulty in exercising and walking
- Back and shoulder aches
- Chronic rashes and infections in skin folds
- Personal hygiene issues from difficulty in cleaning problem areas that have increased accumulated sweat
Length of stay
3-5 days, depending upon the amount of surgery undertaken.
Type of anaesthesia
General anaesthesia
Approximate Cost
Costs will vary depending upon the complexity and length of time of the surgery that is required for your individual needs. After your consultation, you will be provided with a detailed written quote outlining all the costs.
FAQs
The body lift consultation
Who is a good candidate for body lift surgery?
If you have had significant weight loss or have developed excess and loose sagging skin after childbirth or from aging that is creating folds you will likely be a suitable candidate for body lift surgery. You will need to have reached your goal weight and maintained this weight for 3 months to get the best results from body lift surgery.
What to expect during the consultation?
No two bodies are the same. Your consultation will include Dr. Verma taking a general medical history and then discussions of your concerns as well as outlining the procedures of body lift surgery and how they can address your needs.
During your consultation, Dr. Verma will be taking photographs. This is a vital part of the cosmetic surgery experience and allows Dr. Verma to document and share with you your progress pre- and post-operatively.
Generally, the consultation is your opportunity to ask Dr Verma any questions or clear any concerns you may have regarding body lift surgery.
Body Lift Procedure
How is body lift surgery performed? Are there different techniques?
Body lift surgery is an extension of an abdominoplasty procedure. An incision is made like a belt and goes around the front of your lower abdomen, the outer thighs, and the upper buttocks. Through this incision, Dr. Verma removes the excess skin or fat. When the loose skin has been removed, the remaining skin is then tightened.
Your body lift procedure will depend upon the different areas of your body that need to be surgically corrected due to the removal of excess skin and the re-contouring of these areas. Body lift surgery procedure is complex and can take between 6-8 hours and are usually done in conjunction with other procedures to gain optimum results including liposuction, an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, breast lift or arm lift. Dr. Verma will discuss this with you in your consultation.
Where will the incisions/scars be?
Incisions and scars for body lift surgery are circumferential around the body and buttocks.
What type of Anaesthesia will be used?
The type of anaesthesia used is general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the operation. Sometimes your anaesthetist will also inject local anaesthesia into the site of surgery, giving you better pain relief upon waking.
What are side effects of body lift surgery?
All surgery has possible side effects that can include:
- Infection
- Bruising and bleeding
- Formation of hematoma (blood clots)
- Scarring
- Problems related to general anesthetic
- Postoperative pain
- Blood clots in the veins
What are the risks and complications of body lift surgery?
The body lift is a complex surgical procedure. Risks and complications directly associated with body lift surgery can include:
- Prominently visible scars including keloid and hypertrophic scars. These scar are red, raised and thickened and can form over the top of healed incisions. They are unsightly and can be irritating causing itchiness, but they are not health threatening.
- Numbness
- Skin that does not heal requiring a skin graft.
- Constrained movements due to the tightened skin.
- Formation of seroma ( collection of fluid ) around the operation site.
- Blood transfusion due to large blood lost during surgery.
Recovery after Body Lift Surgery
Care of your wounds
You will be provided with detailed instructions by Finesse Cosmetic Surgery with regards to care of your sutures, wounds etc. Any sutures are usually removed in 10-14 days after body lift surgery and you will also need to wear a ‘post-op garment’. This is a snug fabric compression garment that supports the operation site to assist with reducing swelling and bruising after surgery and helping to minimize pain and achieve better-looking results.
You will also need to follow some lifestyle changes post surgery until you have fully recovered including avoiding heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and sports and swimming.
Downtime
The body lift recovery period will be determined by the extent of the surgery required for your individual needs. Typically, you can expect to allow a recovery rest period of 2-4 weeks and a total of 6 weeks before a return to normal activities.
When will you see results?
You will notice results immediately after surgery but best results will become evident after the post-operative bruising and swelling have settled down, typically around 6 weeks after your surgery.
What will be your follow up schedule?
Dr. Verma will see you one week post the operation and then organize subsequent follow-ups according to how you recover. All follow-up visit costs up to three months after the operation are included in the cost of the surgery. Revision surgery for any complications carries an extra charge.
Similar to your consultation visit (see above), Dr. Verma will be taking photographs of the areas of your body that have been treated as well as the wounds in order to document healing during follow up visits.
How long do the effects of body lift surgery last for?
The body lift is a permanent procedure but is dependent upon stabilized weight. Any significant weight gain or weight loss after your surgery will affect the results.
