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Body Lift Procedures

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Body Lift procedures are commonly requested by people who have had weight loss surgery and for those who have lost weight. It is often the final transformation for a new look that offers a dramatic change for those who have the procedures. A tightened, toned abdomen is highly desirable. A shapely mid-line is attractive. Firm thighs and arms, as well as, shapely buttocks fit into the “ideal body equation”.  In fact, it is difficult to retract skin following weight loss surgery or weight loss. Diet, exercise, liposuction and massive weight loss surgery do not repair leftover, sagging skin from weight loss. So, this is the time that body lift procedures, such as, the arm lift, thigh lift, butt lift, flank lift, fully body lift, and tummy tuck may step in.

From sleeveless shirts, to cocktail dresses and bikini bathing suits, or wearing no shirt for men, your wardrobe may make a swift change after body lift procedures too. Now, it’s time to explore what you need to know about having a body lift procedure.

The Body Lift Choices

 Arm Lift: The arm lift treats excess saggy skin that has not retracted following weight loss. During the procedure, an inconspicuous incision line is made on the back of the arm to trim away excess skin. The extent of the incision depends upon the extent of excess saggy skin. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia in an office based facility or hospital. If the arm lift is the only body lift procedure, people who have the procedure return home the same day. Recovery from the arm lift is typically comfortable with the aid of anti-pain medication. Within a few days, most people return to most normal activities. Scars fade within six months with the use of advanced scar remedies and by following post-operative instructions. The final degree of scarring is individualized.

Thigh Lift: The Thigh Lift is designed to refine contours for the inner and/or outer thighs by trimming away excess skin. Sometimes, this procedure is combined with other mid-line procedures, such as, Liposuction or other Body Lift Procedures. During the procedure, you will be placed under general anesthesia and excess skin will be trimmed away following an inconspicuous incision line.   The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia in an office based facility or hospital. If the thigh lift is the only body lift procedure, people who have the procedure return home the same day. Recovery from the thigh lift is typically comfortable with the aid of anti-pain medication. Within a few days, most people return to most normal activities. Scars fade within six months with the use of advanced scar remedies and by following post-operative instructions. The final degree of scarring is individualized, but people do not usually mind because of the scar’s inconspicuous location.         

Buttocks Lift:  The Buttocks Lift is popular for people of all body types. The procedure may be performed with the aid of fat transfers in which excess fat is removed from one area of the body, prepared through a spinning technique, and injected into the buttocks to fill out and reshape contours. If excess skin is the reason for the buttocks lift, then excess skin will be trimmed away during the procedure.  In this case, most people return to most normal activities within a week. Scars usually fade within six months with the use of advanced scar remedies and by following post-operative instructions. The final degree of scarring is individualized, but people usually do not mind because of the scar’s inconspicuous location.  If the fat transfer technique was employed, recovery may be a day or two and there are no scars associated with the fat transfer procedure.

Full Body Lift: The Full Body Lift involves trimming away excess skin and sometimes removing fat with the aid of Liposuction throughout the mid-line area. This may include the abdomen, waist, hips, flanks, and back.  In this case, an incision line may encompass the front, sides and back, but is not likely to be very noticeable over time when compared to excess skin around the body. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital. Following the procedure, people who have the Full Body Lift may be required to remain in the hospital for a day or so. This procedure may be combined with other less complex procedures or the less complex procedures may be staged for safety reasons.  The results of the Full Body Lift are transforming.

Staging Plastic Surgery Procedures

The good news is that when procedures are combined, fees are usually reduced. For example, you only need an anesthesiologist and plastic surgeon one time; instead of two. Anesthesia is administered once; not twice. There may be more of a savings for the facility, too. There is one recovery too. The degree of the savings depends upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to: geographic location,   complexity and invasiveness of the procedure, length of time in surgery, and your plastic surgeon’s preference.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all procedures may be combined. In many body lift cases, it is wise or required to stage the procedures over a few months’ time for safety reasons.  Liposuction may be performed first before body lift procedures to remove excess fat before trimming away all excess skin.  When you meet in consultation with your plastic surgeon, your plastic surgeon will be able to identify the extent of plastic surgery you might need, based on your desires and careful evaluation. In this way, your plastic surgeon can properly plan for your procedures and decide on the best approach for you. In the case of staging, you may have one or more treatments in one session, but may return for one or more treatment sessions in order to complete your transformation.  Safety and effectiveness are the two most important goals in plastic surgery.   So, in a broad sense, providing the combination is safe and can be effective when performed simultaneously, then so be it. The best way for you to identify the proper staging for your procedures is to consult with a plastic surgeon for their recommendation.

Special Considerations for Body Lift Procedures

As with any plastic surgery procedure, it is real surgery. Thus, there are candidacy requirements, safety precautions and physician instructions to follow in order to optimize the final result, including, but not necessarily limited to:

Stable Weight: Generally speaking, ideal candidates should be at a weight that they are comfortable with. For people who have had massive weight loss surgery, this time may be as much as two years following weight loss surgery. Consistent weight helps to preserve the naturally appealing results from body lift surgery.

Good Health: Plastic surgeons review your medical history to ensure you are in good health for a body lift procedure. They will also review any medications or over-the-counter products you are taking to ensure that precautions can be taken before surgery should a medication or over-the-counter supplement pose a risk during surgery. In some cases, clearance for surgery must be obtained by a primary care physician.

Nutrition and Fitness: Plastic surgeons encourage an active fitness routine that is conducive to being best prepared for surgery and allowing the best opportunity to maintain longevity in the results. Proper nutrition helps support the healing process for the best results from surgery as well.

No Smoking: In order to qualify for body lift procedures, smokers must refrain from smoking up to eight weeks before the procedure. Quitting smoking permanently reduces the risk of poor healing and lower quality results that do not last as long when compared to non-smokers.

No Sun: Plastic surgeons require that body lift patients stay out of the sun in the weeks following surgery to help optimize incision healing. They also provide instructions to follow after recovery in order to prevent compromising the results of the procedure.

The body lift procedures offer shapely contours and natural looking results which are two reasons why these procedures are very attractive to people of all ages and body types.

Your Health Access disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. It is important to recognize that all information contained on this website cannot be considered to be specific medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or medical advice. As always, you should consult with a physician regarding any medical condition.