Massive amount of weight loss, be it through lifestyle changes or due to weight loss surgeries including liposuction, it can cause skin and tissues to lose elasticity and sag. This saggy excess skin and fat can be removed by body lift surgery. Body lift surgery not only helps get rid of the lose skin, but also helps improves the shape of the underlying tissue, giving it a proportionate appearance and smooth contours. It also addresses cellulites.
What Is Body Lift?
Body lift is an effective plastic surgery procedure with excess skin, fat, and other tissues. Depending on the position of the excess skin, the patient can choose upper, mid or lower body lift.
An Upper Body Lift is a procedure where the excess skin is removed from either the upper back, side of the chest or side of the body to tighten the skin and remove skin excess.
Lower body lift surgery includes an abdominoplasty, mons lift, lateral thigh lift, and buttock lift.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate For Body Lift?
Dr. Abizer Kapadia, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, has provided guidelines as to who can receive Body Lift :
You are an ideal candidate for Body Lift if –
- You have lost significant amount of weight.
- You have lose sagging skin.
- Your weight has now become stable
- You have realistic goals and positive outlook.
What To Expect At The Consultation With Dr. Abizer Kapadia?
Dr. Abizer Kapadia gives the utmost importance to the consultation as it is the step where you understand the procedure, all the aspects of it, and analyze your comfort level with the doctor and his/her staff. During the consultation, Dr. Abizer Kapadia will guide you through the whole process with all the details and will discuss different procedures, the suitable procedure for you, preparation for the surgery, and its recovery process, helping you make an informed decision. Dr. Abizer will also discuss and understand your reasons for getting surgery and help you have realistic goals and expectations from the surgery.
During the consultation, you should prepare yourself to discuss your medical history, previous surgeries, drug allergies, medical conditions, and other such topics concerning your health. Dr. Abizer also urges his patients to ask questions and queries to resolve any doubts they may have regarding the surgery, procedure, risks involved, results as his utmost priority lies in the safety and satisfaction of his patients.
How To Prepare For Body Lift?
- In case you smoke, you should be ready to quit for the time period prescribed by Dr. Abizer Kapadia.
- You may be asked to undergo a few lab tests to avoid the occurrence of any complications and risks.
- Specific instructions will be given by Dr. Abizer as to how to prepare for the surgery.
How Body Lift Surgery is Performed?
The procedure and surgery time for body lift surgery depends on the area that needs to be contoured. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia. The incision in body lift surgery is generally large to remove the excess skin but depends on the body part it is performed on. With the advancement in techniques and the experience of the cosmetic surgeon, the incision can be placed strategically where they can be hidden well.
Body lift procedures can be performed on various parts of the body individually or in combination in a single session. It may include:
- Body lift can address sagging buttock, abdomen, thighs, waist and hips in a single session. For abdomen, the surgeon will examine whether the patient requires a mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck to get rid of the hanging skin over the abdomen.
- Arm Lift addresses the sagging upper arms. An incision is made on the undersides of the arms. The length of the incision varies depending on the amount of skin to be excised. Once the incision is made, the tissues are tightened and excess skin is removed.
- Breast lift helps in lifting the sagging breast caused due to ageing, significant weight loss, pregnancy or lactation. In this procedure, the surgeon makes the incision, extracts the excess fat, tightens the tissues, remove the extra skin and sutures the incision. In some patients, the surgeon may recommend breast implants along with breast lift to enhance the shape and size of the breast.
- Facelift procedure may include correction of sagging mid-face, jowls and neck.
- Gynecomastia procedure is performed on males who have sagging breasts. Through an incision, excess fat and skin is removed to help achieve flatter male chest.
What Are The Risks Associated With Body Lift?
- .Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding, infection, and scarring
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Poor wound healing, swelling, prolonged pain, numbness, or other changes in skin sensation
- Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
- Skin loss and skin discoloration
- Asymmetry and unsatisfactory results
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation and require removal
All these risks are very uncommon and will not occur in one patient. Dr. Abizer takes utmost care to avoid the occurrence of any risks and complications during the surgery.
How Is Recovery After Body Lift?
Post the body lift, patients are usually discharged on the same day. However some patients who underwent a combination of surgeries, may be admitted overnight. Thin tubes called drains may be placed under the patient’s skin that help in draining excess blood or fluid that may get collected. Patient might have slight discomfort, bruising and swelling; but it is all temporary and diminished in 7-10 days. The patient can resume normal activities from Day 2. However, bending, straining or lifting anything heavy should be avoided for 4-6 weeks. The surgeon will recommend wearing a compression garment to reduce the swelling and maintain the contours achieved at the operating table.