Body Lift
A body lift is a circumferential body contouring procedure which can address the abdomen, outer thighs, and buttock areas. Body contouring procedures help to shape and contour areas by removing excess skin and fat. Patients who have gained and lost a significant amount of weight, such as after pregnancy or after weight loss through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery are common candidates for this cosmetic procedure.
Dr. Trussler in Austin, TX offers multiple body lift techniques which can be applied to whatever type of body contouring issues you have.
What Are My Body Lift Options?
The circumferential body lift addresses areas of excess skin, deposits of fat, and central muscle laxity called a diastasis recti. Dr. Trussler will listen to your goals of the procedure and identify areas of concern on the abdomen, waistline, thighs, and buttocks to formulate an individualized body lift plan that suits you. There are multiple types of body lift techniques which mainly depend on the amount and region of excess skin.
Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty is the front component of the body lift and addresses upper and lower abdominal skin excess, as well as fatty deposits along the waistline and muscle laxity. The procedure is performed through a lower abdominal incision to remove excess skin above and below the umbilicus (belly button) and tighten the central abdominal muscles. The outer incision line is continued into the outer thigh lift incision.
Outer Thigh Lift
Outer Thigh Lift addresses outer thigh skin excess and fat deposits commonly referred to as “saddlebags”. This procedure is performed as the outer component of the circumferential procedure and involves a lower waistline scar. The outer thighs are typically contoured with skin lifting and tightening, as well as outer thigh liposuction.
Buttock Lift
Buttock Lift is the back component of the body lift and addresses excess skin, flattening and sagging of the buttock area. The procedure is performed through an upper arching buttock incision which helps to shape and lift the buttocks, waist and outer thigh area. Further shape and volume can be added to the buttock lift with a buttock auto-augmentation procedure which utilizes the buttock tissue to fill areas of buttock flattening.
Considerations
The best candidates for all types of body lift surgery are healthy, non-smoking, in good physical condition with areas of fat and/or loose skin that have not responded well to diet and exercise. Body contouring is common in women who have had children and those patients who have lost a significant amount of weight. Ideally, women should consider a body lift after they finished having children because carrying a baby can reverse the effects of an abdominoplasty on the abdominal wall. Post-baraitric surgery patients should be at a stable weight for over 6 months prior to considering body contouring procedures.
Other considerations in body contouring surgery are the presence of pre-existing scars and the presence of hernias. The most common scar encountered in abdominoplasty is a C-section, which is usually removed with the procedure, however upper abdominal scars and umbilical scars may make a body lift have a higher risk of healing issues. Hernias are defects or holes in the abdominal wall which are commonly located at the belly button, or maybe a complication of previous surgery. Small hernias can be repaired at the time of the abdominoplasty component of the body lift.
Expectations
Realistic expectations are important when considering body lift surgery. Dr. Trussler will listen to your goals and factor into the extent and location of excess abdominal, thigh and buttock skin to help come up with a body contouring procedure that is right for you. No matter what incision type of body lift is performed there will be a scar. Scar quality and how the scar heals depends on what is done before, during and after body lift surgery. Choosing the right incision type for your body lift and Dr. Trussler’s surgical experience to help with scarring, but good nutrition, smoking cessation, avoidance of sun, limiting activity, and active scar care all help to improve the healing process. Dr. Trussler will provide detailed instructions for your body lift procedure.
Surgery
Body Lifts take approximately five hours under general anesthesia depending on what procedure is performed and the extent of excess skin, fat, and abdominal muscle laxity. Dr. Trussler does recommend at least one night in the aftercare unit to help make the body lift recovery safe and comfortable. The areas of skin excision and the incision placement are typically marked during the pre-operative appointment. The body lift procedure is started with the patient in the face-down position (prone) to complete the buttock and outer thigh lifts.
Dr. Trussler closes all incisions with deeper supporting stitches and then aligns the scars with stitches under the skin. Drains are placed in the procedures to help collect fluid that accumulates after the operation. The torso is flexed in this procedure to decrease tension on the healing skin. A compression garment is placed at the conclusion of the operation to hold the contour in place and avoid collections of fluid.
After Care & Recovery
After a body lift procedure, patients will likely experience mild soreness and swelling for a few days. Dr. Trussler advises at least a one night stay in the aftercare unit to encourage early ambulation and make the first night after the surgery comfortable. Mothers have two or more people to worry about at home, but in the first week after a body lift, it is important to have enough help at home so moms can focus on their own healing and recovery.
Most patients will be able to return to caring for their children, work and light exercise within two weeks, although vigorous exercise and other strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month. Heavy lifting greater than 30 lbs is limited for 6 weeks. Dr. Trussler will provide you with specific instructions for your individual recovery.
The results of a body lift are visible immediately after surgery and will continue to improve as swelling subsides and scars fade. The body shape will evolve over a three month period. Scar treatment will be initiated at the 3-week visit and may be continued for 3 to 6 months after the operation, or until the scars soften and fade.
*Disclaimer: Results and patient experience may vary.
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Publication
- Hatef, DA, Trussler, AP, Kenkel, JM. Procedural Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in Abdominal Contouring Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Jan;125(1):352-362.