Body Lift

Body lift surgery; also called Circumferential Torsoplasty; is a procedure that reshapes and recontours the body after a patient has lost significant weight. The goal of a body lift is to remove the excess skin and fat from the torso. It also treats sagging fatty tissue and cellulite. A body lift surgery is performed by specialized body contouring plastic surgeons. A lower body lift, or Belt Lipectomy, involves the tummy, the thighs, buttocks and back. An upper body lift focuses on the breasts, chest and middle back areas. A total body lift is a surgery that combines an upper and lower lift.

A body lift surgery involves:

Reducing the arm and chest laxity
Reshaping the breasts
Removing excess tissue from thighs, back, waist, and abdomen

Usually a body lift is performed after massive weight loss. A body lift can be done in one or two stages. The number of stages depends on the patient's age, health, amount of excess skin to be removed, length of the procedure, and past medical history. A body lift surgery can be complemented with other plastic surgery procedures such as breast lift, breast augmentation, buttock lift and buttock augmentation.

Body Lift Surgery

During the body lift surgery, skin is lifted from underlying tissues, excising what is redundant and then suturing the remainder closed. In this type of surgery; the navel is often removed and replaced in its new position. After a body lift surgery, surgical drains are needed for several days to weeks to evacuate excess liquids from the body, and patients are required to wear compression garments for weeks to facilitate a faster healing.

Often times the body lift surgery is performed in two separate operations. Each operation is approximately four months apart. In the first stage, the frontal tissue is removed. On the second stage, after the patient has healed from the first surgery; the back is addressed. For some patients not undergoing one very large operation is a better option. A body lift surgeon will be able to evaluate your case inform you of how many stages you would need.

A body lift is a surgery that is typically performed in a hospital. However, some body lift procedures may be performed in a fully accredited outpatient surgical center. This determination depends on the patient's body mass index (BMI) at the time of the body lift surgery. The time of a body lift surgery ranges from four to eight hours and it is performed under general anesthesia. This means that the body lift patient is asleep during the procedure.

Lower Body Lift

A lower body lift, or Belt Lipectomy, involves the tummy, the thighs, buttocks and back. A lower body lift starts with a belt-like excision above the outer thighs and buttocks (this is where it gets its name). Then the body lift surgeon may further separate the thigh skin to help with the procedure. Then the area is sutured. This procedure is often followed by a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to give the patient better results.

The next step in the lower body lift involves a horizontal incision made along the pubic area. This step is followed by the removal of the tissues that span from the underlying muscles to the belly button. Then, the skin in between the belly button and central rib cage is separated. Next, the body lift surgeon may suction out any remaining fat in this area with liposuction.

After the extra skin is detached, the body lift surgeon will tighten the stomach muscles. The skin that remains is then repositioned and sutured at the pubic area; after which usually a new belly button is created and positioned in the original location. Also, women can undergo butt lift, butt augmentation of a combination of both as part of a lower body lift.

Upper Body Lift

An upper body lift focuses on the breasts, chest and middle back areas. It starts with a broad bra-line skin removal. After the body lift surgeon closes this excision, the back fat rolls are eliminated and the waist is narrowed. Any extra skin under the breasts or over the lower rib cage is then removed. Then, the body lift surgeon will tighten the skin under the breasts. The raised abdominal skin is then sutured to the lower rib cage. Also, men can undergo male breast reduction as part of an upper body lift, and women may have additional procedures done such as breast lift, breast augmentation or a combination of both.

Total Body Lift

A total body lift combines upper and lower body lifts. Sometimes it can be combined with supplemental plastic procedures. A total body lift can be done as one surgery, or at separate stages. This decision is taken by the body lift surgeon taken in consideration several factors such as the patient's age, medical history and extent of the procedure.

A total body lift may be broken up in several surgeries since surgery risks tend to increase when multiple procedures are performed at the same time. It also depends on the patient's needed recovery time. For some patients, it might also be more convenient to separate the procedures in stages with smaller recovery times than having one procedure with a long recovery time.

The time intervals between surgeries are set by the body lift surgeon and they differ from surgeon to surgeon. Body lift surgeons have different methods for performing total body lifts, this makes the procedure vary from surgeon to surgeon.

Body Lift Candidate

A body lift candidate is a person who typically, either can't lose significant amounts of weight by other means such as dieting and exercising, or already suffers from loose (inelastic) skin on many or most areas of the body as a result of age, childbearing or extreme weight loss due to diet, exercise or bariatric surgery. A body lift can also help a mother get her pre-pregnancy body back.

The best candidate for a body lift is a person who has maintained a stable weight for at least three months although it this preferred that the weight has been maintained for six months to a year. It is also desirable that a body lift candidate exercises regularly and maintains a healthy diet.

Body Lift and Bariatric Surgery

For candidates who have had gastric bypass, Lap-Band or other gastric restrictive procedure should wait at least one year after their weight loss surgery. This will allow the patient to fully recover from their previous surgery; have more time to lose the weight, and it will also give the patient time to reduce the impact of the health problems associated with their obesity.

Body Lift and Pregnancy

For women who plan to have children, it is recommended that they postpone their body lift surgery until after childbirth. Normal-weight women in their 30s and 40s may opt for a body lift to remove remaining excess skin and fatty tissue after reducing excessive post-pregnancy weight.

Body Lift Recovery

Body lift is a major surgical procedure and requires significant recovery time. Most patients remain in the hospital for 1 to 3 nights after surgery. Most people require 4 to 6 weeks to recover from their body lift before returning to normal activities, and generally from 6 to 8 weeks before exercising.

After a Body Lift surgery, patients are encouraged to walk as soon as they are able. Exercise and other demanding physical activities (such as lifting more than 5 pounds) must be limited for about a month. These activities are not recommended until sufficient healing has occurred and your surgeon instructs you to resume them. Results from a body lift surgery are visible immediately. All the swelling from the body lift surgery should dissipate after 4 months.

Pain and discomfort right after surgery are first managed with intravenous or intramuscular medications, and later your body lift surgeon will prescribe oral pain medication. A specific dietary plan may be encouraged in case you are not already following one, or in case the one you have needs modification. The body lift surgeon will supply a complete instruction list that must be followed to reduce the risk of complications after a body lift surgery.

Drainage tubes are inserted to allow excess fluid to drain. This will require personal home care for up to two weeks. It is recommended that you have someone assist you during this time. These tubes are removed when the drained fluid is low.

Your body lift surgeon may provide you with a medical compression garment. This garment should be used at all times except while bathing. The garment should be worn until your surgeon instructs you that it is no longer needed. Dressings are generally removed two days after the body lift surgery. Also, showering is allowed at that time.

Body Lift Considerations

Please be aware that the Body lift surgery is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Please consult a Body lift specialist and consider all benefits and risks before undergoing a Body lift.

The abdominal scars will appear to worsen during the first weeks or months after the body lift surgery. It may take up to 18 months before the scars flatten and lighten in color. The body lift scars never completely disappear, but can be hidden by clothing. Your body lift surgeon may recommend complimentary treatments to reduce the scarring.

Body Lift Consultation

It is necessary that you a have a consultation with a Body lift specialist to know if you are a good candidate, how you can benefit from Body lift and what to expect from your Body lift procedure. Your Body lift doctor can clear any doubt and answer any questions that you may have about the Body lift procedure.

Body Lift Questions

Here are some examples of questions that you might want to ask at your body lift consultation.

You certainly don't need to ask these exact questions, and you don't need to ask all of them. However, this list can help you to get a better idea of the sorts of questions that you might want to be thinking about.

Questions like these aren't only good to ask your body lift surgeon. They're also good to ask yourself too, because they can help you to realize your level of understanding regarding the procedure. And, of course, the better you understand the body lift procedure, the better equipped you will be to make the crucial decisions regarding your own personal surgery.

General Body Lift Questions:

Is body lift the right procedure for me? Are my complaints the sort that a body lift would address?
Are there any alternatives to body lift surgery? Would you recommend any of these in my case?
Am I a good candidate for a body lift? Are there any health indications which suggest that I shouldn't undergo the body lift surgery?
What results should I expect from my body lift?
How much will my body lift surgery cost?
What is the body lift cost for my case? How can I pay for my body lift? Do you offer any financing options or payment plans?
Will I need additional blood work or x-rays before my body lift?
How soon can I have a body lift performed?

Questions About Body Lift Technique and Procedure:

How exactly will my body lift be performed?
What is your rate of success? Can I speak with some of your past patients?
How much experience do you have with performing body lifts? How long have you performed this surgery?
How often do you perform body lift surgeries?
What are the risks associated with a body lift?
What complications could develop from my body lift (both immediate and long-term)? Am I at special risk for any of these complications?
Where will my body lift procedure take place?
How long will the surgery take?
How can I best prepare for my body lift?
Are there any medications or supplements that I need to stop taking before my surgery? Do I need to stop smoking or drinking?

What To Expect After Body Lift Surgery:

How long will it take me to recover from my body lift? When will I be able to return to work? To exercise and other strenuous activity? To sexual activity?
How will I feel after my body lift?
How much pain is there after a body lift surgery? What sort of pain medication will I be prescribed?
How long will it take me to fully recover from my body lift?
What are the scars like after a body lift?

Questions To Ask About Your Return Home:

Should I arrange for house help after my body lift surgery? If so, for how long?
Should my diet be different during my recovery? Are there any special foods that I should eat?
What symptoms should I watch out for during my recovery period?
Under what circumstances should I contact my body lift surgeon?
What medications will I need to take after my body lift?
Are there any things that I should avoid during my recovery period?
Will I need bed rest after my body lift? If so, for how long?
Will I need to wear bandages or special garments after my body lift? If so, how long will I need these?

In addition to these questions, please be sure to let your body lift surgeon know all pertinent details regarding your medical history. This includes your previous surgical history, adverse health conditions and any medications that you are taking. The more you tell your surgeon, the more accurately he or she can assess whether you would be a good candidate for body lift and how the surgery can best meet your needs.

Body Lift Cost

The cost of a body lift usually ranges from $10,000 to $50,000. This cost depends on the surgeon, the number of procedures performed, and the extent of the surgery or surgeries, among other factors. In rare cases the Body lift surgery may be fully or partially covered by insurance; especially is the patient suffers from special conditions and impairment due to their excess skin. It is necessary that you talk to your insurance company to know if they will cover full cost or part of the cost of the Body lift.

Many Body lift specialists also offer payment plans. Financing may be available for the Body lift surgery in the case that the Body lift is not covered or it is partially covered by the insurance.

Body lift Risks

Like any other surgical procedure; the Body lift surgery includes risks such as:

Infection
Bleeding
Temporary numbness
Blood clots
Pain
Decreased feeling in that area
Scar tissue buildup
Hematoma
Seroma (fluid accumulating under the skin)

It is important that you choose a good Body lift surgeon to make sure that you get the best changes of having a successful Body lift surgery. It is also necessary that you follow carefully the Body lift surgery directions and doctor's follow up orders and aftercare to reduce the risks of the Body lift surgery. With a skilled Body lift surgeon a Body lift should be a procedure that produces great results and satisfaction; and with proper after care your Body lift recovery should be smooth and you will be back to normal quickly.

Body lift Preparation

Before a Body lift surgery it is recommended that you stop smoking or consuming alcohol for a least a week before your Body lift procedure.

It is also recommended that you stop taking certain medications before the Body lift surgery including aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and blood thinners, since these may increase the risk of bleeding. Also any herbal remedies that may increase the risk of bleeding should be stopped. These include: vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea and gingko biloba since they may increase the risk of bleeding during your Body lift surgery.

Make sure that you tell your Body lift surgeon everything that you are taking. Please consult your Body lift surgeon or regular physician before stopping abruptly any prescribed medication.

Body lift Follow Up Consultation

It is necessary to have a follow up session with your Body lift surgeon. After the Body lift surgery your surgeon will give you a list of medications to take and the necessary after care and you will be given a Body lift follow up appointment or be advised to schedule one.

Your Body lift surgeon will prescribe oral medications to reduce pain and antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.

After A Body Lift

In this follow up appointment your Body lift surgeon will make sure that the healing process is going on as planned, may take out any sutures and will assess what aftercare is needed in order to help with your Body lift recovery. This consultation is a very important part of the Body lift surgery recover.

Learn About Body Lift

If you are thinking about getting a body lift, you probably have a lot of questions about this procedure. Your list of questions may include the following:

Am I a good body lift candidate?
Is a body lift right for me?
What is the recovery time after a body lift?
What sort of results can I expect from a body lift?
Where can I find a body lift surgeon?
How much will my body lift cost?
How much will a body lift hurt?
What kind of scarring can I expect after my body lift?

Here at Body Lift Guide, our goal is to provide you with the answer to all of these questions and more. We have gathered reliable information regarding every aspect of the body lift procedure in order to make it easier for you to learn about this procedure. With the information that our website provides, you will be able to make the decision that is right for you, for your body, and for your life.

Body Lift Guide has helped prospective body lift patients like you to learn the ins and outs of the procedure, to find the latest trends and developments in the body lift surgery, to learn about potential risks before going under the knife, and to successfully find talented and trustworthy surgeons.

When the time comes that you would like to look for a body lift surgeon, we're there for you. Simply use our search option to find qualified body lift specialists right in your area. All you need to do is click on the "Surgeon Locator" button on the left side of the page. Input your location, and you'll soon see a list of body lift surgeons in your area. You'll be able to read a short bio, view their credentials, visit their website and read what they have to say about the body lift procedure. You may also be able to look at pictures of their facilities, which will help you to get to know the atmosphere that the surgeon works in. Most importantly, you'll get a chance to look at before and after pictures of real patients whom the body lift surgeon has operated on. These pictures will help you to get an idea of the sorts of results that that particular body lift surgeon can offer.

Finding The Right Body Lift Surgeon

Although getting a body lift involves a number of choices, the most important one that you will make regards which surgeon you pick to perform the body lift procedure.

It is of the utmost importance that you find a body lift surgeon that you can trust, both in terms of their skill set and in terms of their business ethics.

The surgeons on our site are medical professionals. They are highly trained and experienced body lift surgeons who continually study the body lift procedure's latest trends and innovations, all so that they can give the best and safest results to their patients. They operate only in accredited medical facilities. And, because of our Surgeon Locator, they're right in your area, which makes your body lift surgery more convenient and reduces the need for expensive and potentially dangerous travel to and from your surgery.

Once you've located a body lift surgeon that you might be interested in, the next step is to set up an appointment for an initial consultation. Depending on the body lift surgeon, your consultation may be free, or there may be a cost associated with it. At this consultation, your surgeon will analyze your case. He or she will review your medical history, give you a physical examination and assess whether or not you would be a good candidate for a body lift. The surgeon will discuss your own personal goals, frustrations and thoughts with you. He or she will also give you an idea of what to expect from your body lift surgery, giving you an idea of how your particular surgery would be performed, how long your recovery would take, the body lift cost, and what sort of payment options would be available.

Your consultation is also an excellent time to ask your surgeon any questions that you might still have about the body lift surgery. This can include questions about the procedure, questions about the surgeon's credentials and experience, and anything else that you may be wondering. Please feel free to ask any questions that you might have at your body lift consultation.

Body Lift involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust. Our doctors are medical professionals who are trained and experienced in body lift procedures. They operate only in accredited medical facilities, adhere to a strict code of ethics and fulfill continuing body lift and medical education requirements, including standards and innovations in body lift and patient safety.

Finding the right body lift surgeon is key in your body lift process. The first step is always to make an appointment for your initial consultation.

In the initial consultation the body lift surgeon will analyze your case, let you know if you are a good body lift candidate. You can also talk to him or her about what to except, how will the body lift be performed, how long is the recovery time. Your body lift surgeon will also give you the cost of the procedure and present to you payment options if needed.

In the initial consultation you can ask your body lift surgeon questions such as:

For how long has he or she been performing body lift?