BODY LIFT
INDICATIONS
When loose, sagging skin involves not only the abdominal wall but extends around the waist to include the side of the legs, hips, flanks and buttocks a more extensive lift called a body lift may be necessary. These are done after massive weight loss either due to bariatric surgery or dieting and exercise. Commonly, some liposuction is done at the same time.
INTENDED RESULTS
Removal of excess skin circumferentially around the waist. Lifting of the side of the legs and buttocks. Removal of excess fat of the abdominal wall, waist, flanks, buttocks and side of the thighs. A smooth contour of the abdomen, legs, buttocks and hips.
PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION
Like tummy tucks, these operations are done in an outpatient setting under a general anesthetic. The patients will stay for one night in the Jewish East Ambulatory Center with 24 hr nursing care in a private room. In this procedure, three different positions are required to remove the extra skin circumferentially around the waist. We first position the patient on one side to lift the buttock, side of leg and flank. We then repeat this on the other side. The final step is to position the patient on their back and perform an extended abdominoplasty. As in tummy tucks, we use drains and pain pump catheters. The drains are removed in about a week and the pain pump catheters in three days.
RECUPERATION AND HEALING
The recovery for total body lift is slightly longer than for abdominoplasty. The pain pump catheters are removed in 3 days and the drains usually by one week. Patients can return to a desk job in 2-3 weeks and resume strenuous physical activity around 6 weeks after surgery. The scar, which extends around the waist, will continue improve for up to a year.
OTHER OPTIONS
Because this tends to be a rather lengthy procedure, other surgeries are not often combined with it. In the patient who needs lifting of other areas after massive weight loss, we will often combine several of these in one operation and space them out several months after the body lift.
NOTE
The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can only be determined at consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.