Body Lift Techniques

There are different types of Body lift techniques. Each one differs basically on the location of the excess skin to be removed. Your Body Lift surgeon will determine which type of body lift will give you the best results. There are three types of body lift techniques:

• Lower Body Lif
• Upper Body Lift
• Total ( or Complete ) Body Lift

All of the body lift techniques have the same goal, to reduce excess skin on a patient's body so that the result is a more proportioned, leaner looking body. Please take in consideration that every person is different, it is necessary that you schedule a consultation with a specialized body lift surgeon in order to evaluate your individual case. During this consultation your surgeon will determine the best type of body lift for you depending on where the most excess skin is located, whether it is in the upper, mid or lower part of your body and how to achieve the best results from this surgery. Your surgeon may recommend additional procedures to body lift in order to achieve a better body shape.

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 and Weight Loss

Please keep in mind that a body lift is not a weight loss surgery. This is a surgery which main goal is to reshape the body, and not to eliminate fat. Body lift is a great procedure for anyone who has already lost weight and is left with excess, saggy skin.

If y have experience massive weight loss, your skin will only shrink back so much. This depends a lot on each person's skin elasticity. This condition is especially present in people who have had bariatric surgery and have lost massive amounts of weight. In some cases Body lift can be performed with other plastic procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation or breast lift to give the patient a better appearance.

Talk to your surgeon to know if you are a good body lift candidate and to learn how you can benefit from this procedure!