For more than 60 years, plastic surgeons have treated skin laxity with an á la carte selection of individual operations with no organization – a reconstructive procedure for one area of the body was entirely independent of another part of the body and almost always required separate visits that increased the risks and costs involved with re-forming the total body. Many plastic surgeons decided a unifying approach was necessary to cure the extraordinary deformity caused by excess skin. Body lifting shapes the body to better reflect the new person created by gastric bypass procedures, diet & exercise, aging, and pregnancy.

Body contouring is a term that refers to any number of plastic surgery procedures that are performed to make a dramatic improvement in the body's contour as a whole. Body contouring is often used for patients who have successfully lost considerable weight and have excess skin in target areas. It is also very effective at removing pockets of fat that remained unaffected by weight loss.

A body lift incorporates all components: tummy tuck, inner thigh lift, and outer thigh and buttock lift. Excess skin is removed from the abdomen, thighs and buttocks, and there is tightening of abdominal muscles as well as skin. A total body lift often incorporates liposuction to achieve balance between the torso and thighs. The surgery is extensive, but the outcome can be gratifying. The patient is left with a tighter and more attractive body from front to back and side to side.

Central Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy)

Either with increasing age or significant weight loss there is often an excess of body skin and fatty tissue. In the area of the back and belly (the trunk), cases of mild excess maybe treated appropriately by procedures such as a tummy tuck or liposuction. However, in more significant excess situations, especially where the excess is circumferential (circular) in nature involving the belly, hips, back, buttocks, and outer thighs, a more extensive procedure is required. This procedure is called "Belt Lipectomy", and is like a face-lift for the trunk. Other names for this procedure include torsoplasty, circumferential torsoplasty, body lift, central body lift, lower body lift, circumferential panniculectomy, and circumferential lipectomy.

The Procedure

Before Body Lift	After Body Lift

Lower Body Lift surgery can involve any of three procedures, depending on your concerns and desires. If you are interested in improvement of a saggy inner thigh, you can seek an Inner Thigh Lift. If you are interested in elevation of a saggy buttock and outer thigh, you can seek a Buttock Lift. If you suffer from a saggy stomach area, you can seek a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty). When all procedures are performed concurrently, it is called a total body lift.

An Inner Thigh Lift involves an incision high on the inner thigh near the groin crease. During surgery, excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is re-suspended, leaving you with a tighter and more attractive inner thigh.

The Outer Thigh and Buttock can be lifted through an incision across the back, above the buttock, from hip to hip. During surgery, excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is lifted, leaving you with a tighter and more attractive outer thigh and buttock.

A Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) requires the removal of loose skin from the abdomen and tightening of the underlying muscles. It is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia, and usually involves an overnight stay in the hospital. The incision is made along the bikini line and the resulting scar is not usually visible in swim wear. Although the incision is limited to the lower abdomen, the skin of the entire abdomen is tightened.

Who is a candidate?

Total Body Lift™ surgery is indicated in people who have had significant weight loss or for those who have excessive sheets of skin draping their bodies for reasons other than weight loss. This excess skin and fat has no natural way of re-shaping itself to the body's new form. However, one should know that this is not an operation for obesity. Any patient who is more than 50% over their ideal body weight should consult with a weight loss reduction program. Patients who have scars from previous surgery in some cases may not be candidates for this operation because of complications that may result from alterations in the blood supply to the skin. Your plastic surgeon will determine this at the time of consultation. Also, medical conditions such as bleeding disorders, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, hernias, or a history of smoking are of particular concern since these procedures are often long operations with prolonged recovery time. More Body Lift Facts...

Complications

Make no mistake about it, removing more than 15 lbs, is not a simple operation. It is an operation that requires all the skill of the surgeon and the cooperation of the patient. It is felt by most plastic surgeons, that this is not an operation that should be undertaken by the patient without a great deal of thought and willingness to withstand an arduous process. This operation is intense and requires 7-10 hours of surgery, often with more than one surgeon in the room assisting. You may require blood transfusions, have a risk of infection and, as with any operation, have complications with prolonged anesthesia. The more specific risks include seroma formation, a fluid accumulation in the areas of the back mostly. This is usually treated by repeated needle aspirations. Wound separation is another possible risk and careful postoperative management of the patient best avoids it. Deep vein thrombosis, or blood clot formation in the legs after surgery, can lead to pulmonary embolus, which is a blood clot that travels to the lungs. This is a dangerous complication and every attempt is made to prevent its occurrence. This involves making sure the patient walks as soon as possible after surgery. (It is beyond the contents of this page to list all complications here). It also leaves patients with significant scars. These scars, however, are usually made strategically to be hidden behind most bikini lines. More Body Lift Facts...

Results

When patients are properly educated on the Body Lift procedure and are willing to work with the plastic surgeon to make this a successful process, they are normally very satisfied with the outcome. However, it takes a few months to realize the full effects of the procedure. In the end, the abdomen becomes flatter, the pubic area is elevated and reduced, the waist has better definition, the hips are less protuberant, the back rolls are greatly improved, and the buttocks are smaller and better shaped.

Most patients who have massive weight loss have other areas that they would like addressed. These include:

1. Breast - Both males and females may have excessive hanging tissues in this area. This may require Mastopexy or Breast Reduction with/without implants.
   
   
2. Upper Arm Excess - Many patients will have hanging tissue of the upper arms, sometimes called "bat wings". This may require either liposuction and/or brachioplasty.

Procedures to treat these areas are covered elsewhere on this web site. More Body Lift Facts...

Recovery

Depending on the extent of surgery, your hospital stay can range from 1-4 days. Any discomfort you may feel will be controlled by medication prescribed to you by your plastic surgeon. Recovery time can be variable as well, but most patients are able to return back to non-strenuous work within 2-4 weeks. More Body Lift Facts...

How noticeable is the scar?

The tummy tuck scar runs just above the pubic area out to the hip bones. The thigh scars run in the inner thigh, potentially down to the knees, depending on the amount of skin removed. Most importantly, the scar varies on the amount of tissue removed, the body size and shape. The scars can easily be hidden by most styles of underwear and bathing suits. More Body Lift Facts...

Can my C-section incision be used again?

Yes. More Body Lift Facts...

How much downtime will I experience?

Depending on the extent of the surgery, most patients are able to return back to work within 3 weeks. More Body Lift Facts...

Will I need a compression garment? How long will I need it?

Yes, some type of support or compression garment is needed. The amount of time needed will be determined by your surgeon. It is usually worn two to six weeks. More Body Lift Facts...

When can I begin to drive again?

This normally varies from patient to patient, but most are able to begin driving within one to three weeks. More Body Lift Facts...

What is the average cost?

Depending on the extent of the body lift and the city it's in, the cost can range anywhere from $10,000-$15,000 More Body Lift Facts...

Disclaimer:
This information is intended only as an introduction to this procedure. This information should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor does it guarantee results of your elective surgery. Further details regarding surgical standards and procedures should be discussed with your physician.