How Can a Body Lift Help?
A body lift is commonly performed for patients with sagging skin around the midsection and hips.
Schedule a ConsultationBody Lift Candidates
Candidates for body lift surgery may be adults who:
- Have hanging, loose, or flabby skin as a result of weight loss, aging, pregnancy, or heredity
- Have maintained a stable weight for at least three months
- Are in good overall health
- Do not smoke
- Have realistic expectations of their results
- Are not planning to have children in the future, as this can affect results
The Procedure
- General anesthesia is administered
- Incisions are made around the circumference of the body, around the belly button, and horizontally along the pubic region
- Excess skin is removed, and the underlying tissues are reshaped and sutured
- Stomach muscles are tightened
- The remaining skin is repositioned and draped over your new contours
- The procedure takes between four and six hours to complete
Combined Procedures
- Power-assisted LIPOSUCTION is performed for patients with localized pockets of fat
- Saline is injected to break up fat cells
- Fat is suctioned out through a thin cannula
- A BUTTOCK LIFT or THIGH LIFT may be performed at a later date to enhance body lift results
- An ARM LIFT removes excess skin on the upper arms
What are your Concerns?
Recovery
You can expect a significant amount of downtime after your body lift. Most patients take two to three weeks off work and stick to only light activity. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least four to six weeks. You will be given instructions on when you can shower and when drains and bandages will be removed. A compression garment will be worn around your abdomen for several weeks to reduce swelling, promote blood circulation, and facilitate healing. Dr. O’Toole and his staff will closely monitor you during this period to make sure you are healing well and there are no complications.
Cost
The cost of a body lift varies depending on the techniques used, the combination of procedures, anesthesia costs, facility fees, surgical fees, and all post-operative garments and medications. Dr. O’Toole and his team will provide you with an accurate cost estimate during your consultation.
Pain
A body lift is performed under anesthesia to ensure a safe and painless procedure. Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are likely to be experienced following your surgery. Resting and taking prescribed pain medication will help ease this discomfort.
Scarring
Scars will be present at the incision sites. Dr. O’Toole tries to hide incisions; however, visible scarring may exist when wearing bathing suits or abdominal-baring outfits. Patients can help reduce the visibility of these scars by keeping the healing incisions out of the sun and limiting tugging and stress on the incisions during recovery. Scars can be lessened by using silicone strips or silicone gel, and all scars will fade with time.
Results
Results from a body lift are long lasting when a healthy lifestyle is adhered to. Additional fluctuations in weight will negatively affect your results. A body lift addresses the skin laxity present at the time of the surgery; it does not prevent the development of future aging or skin laxity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does a body lift remove fat?
Liposuction is often combined with a body lift to remove excess pockets of fat near the treatment areas. Liposuction targets small regions of excess fat cells and is not an alternative to weight loss. Patients should have already lost their excess weight before undergoing a body lift and liposuction.
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Why is it better to combine procedures into a body lift?
Combining procedures is beneficial to your health, recovery times, and wallet. By performing surgeries simultaneously, you are exposing your body to less anesthesia, combining your recovery periods into one, and eliminating the cost of additional surgery-related fees.
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What are the potential risks and complications associated with a body lift?
Risks are present with any surgical procedure. While rare, they can include:
- Adverse reactions to anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Fluid accumulation
- Numbness
- Changes in skin sensation
- Poor wound healing
- Persistent pain
- Prolonged swelling
You can minimize your chance of these risks by following all of Dr. O’Toole’s post-operative instructions.
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Why is the recovery period so long after a body lift?
The body lift has one of the most extensive recovery periods because it is treating the circumference of your body instead of a single area. You can help your recovery by following all of Dr. O’Toole’s recommendations and allowing your body to heal on its own time. Trying to rush your recovery can negatively impact the process as well as the quality of your results.