A body lift is a customized procedure designed to eliminate excess skin, remove unwanted fat, and repair damaged muscles This is a procedure designed mainly for men or women who have lost large amounts of weight and are left with saggy and unsightly skin above and below the waist.
The best candidates for body lift surgery are those who have experienced major weight loss and are experiencing exceedingly saggy skin on the butt, thighs, stomach, hips and/or back. To be considered a candidate for body lift, you should be at a stable body weight, in generally good health, and motivated to improve your appearance. The ideal patient will have reached her weight goal and will have achieved a stable weight for 3-6 months.
A body lift is a highly customized procedure, so no two procedures will be exactly the same. It is typically performed under general anesthesia. Depending on the extent of the procedure, patients may be permitted to return home on the same day of the surgery. In some cases, the patient will be asked to spend one night under the supervision of our staff.
Because the body lift is an extensive plastic surgery procedure, patients should plan for some recovery time. Depending on the extent of the patient’s procedure, they may need to take anywhere from two weeks to two months off from work to recover. It is important to note that it can potentially take longer than two months to recover fully from a body lift procedure.
Pain can be managed with prescription medication. Antibiotics are also prescribed, along with elastic compression garments that promote skin contraction. If you are not healing properly or you are experiencing worsening symptoms, contact Dr. Sillins immediately.
Although the reasons behind getting a body lift are personal, there are quite a few risks you need to consider before making a final decision. The typical risks involved with any surgical procedure include bleeding, scarring, increased risk of infection, and having an allergic reaction to the anesthesia.
Below are the risks that are unique to a body lift procedure:
An experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon mitigates these risks. However, you need to weigh these risks with the benefits carefully.
Due to how extensive a body lift can be, there are contraindications that can disqualify you from being a suitable candidate for the operation. Certain health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, specific allergies, arthritis, and bleeding disorders. You will know if you are an ideal candidate for a body lift during your consultation with Dr. Sillins. She will assess your current condition as well as learn your medical history so she can determine the best course of action. If you are not a good fit for the procedure, she can give you safer alternatives.
If you are interested in learning more about body lifts, Dr. Deborah Sillins is more than happy to help. Contact us at 859-785-0937 to schedule a consultation at Rejuvene Plastic Surgery today.