BODY LIFT

A body lift addresses loose drooping body tissue and transforms patients that have experienced massive weight loss and have excess skin.

It is a combination of procedures resulting in a dramatic makeover of the mid and lower body. It reshapes the abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks and usually involves several procedures over time to address the entire body: a lower body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy; breast lift; arm lift; and upper body lift.

The lower body lift itself may include a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and a thigh lift.

The lower body lift (belt lipectomy) has the advantage that it may be done in one surgical session, or in stages, depending on the patient's needs.

 

What do you want to change?
The body lift procedure is performed on post bariatric patients as well as patients who have not had weight loss. Loose sagging skin just does not look good and gets in the way of normal activities or movement. Aging, pregnancy, certain genetic skin conditions, and major weight loss can result in lax hanging tissues.

People with high body fat should consider weight loss options first. The fat inside the abdominal cavity should not be excessive so that the surgery can flatten the abdomen. When lying down, the stomach should not project above the ribs.

Different degrees of sagging can exist around the body. Dr. Chartchai will guide you as to the type of body sculpture procedures are most appropriate for you, trading off the resulting scars with the benefits you will receive.

After significant weight loss tissue can only shrink a certain amount, leaving excessive loose drooping skin and supporting structures. The hanging skin can make it difficult to maintain hygiene, find fitting clothing, and force bothersome adjustments of flesh with activities like sitting down or standing up.

After major weight loss, when individuals often want quick results, body lift surgery is best postponed until the skin and tissue have stabilized. The time to stabilization can vary from 6-18 months depending on many factors.

When standing in front of a mirror, look at your abdomen. Use your thumb and palm of your hand to hold one edge of skin on your lower abdomen and then grasp the lower skin with all four fingers. If you like how your skin tightens, and the way your pubic mound lifts, you are a candidate for an abdominoplasty procedure.

Now pinch the loose skin around your hips. See how it lifts the hips and thighs. If you like this maneuver, you are a candidate for the lateral thigh lift. Together with an abdominoplasty, this is considered an extended abdominoplasty.

 

Recovery time
Following the body lift procedure patients should plan to be out of work for 3 weeks. Some patients can resume limited work functions after 2 weeks. If you are a traveling patient, you should plan to stay in Bangkok for 2 weeks before taking a flight.

 

Possible complications
Body lift surgery is not a weight loss tool. It is a resuspension sculpture. It is not an alternative to losing weight or a motivational tool. When you lose weight, you cannot predict where the fat will come from. Plastic surgery can redefine or rebalance your body after you lose weight.

If you have major weight loss after a body lift, this can result in further tissue sagging.