Body Lift Surgery
A body lift surgery, also referred to as a belt lipectomy, is a medical operation commonly employed to eliminate surplus skin and fat from the lower and middle areas of the body. This procedure is often utilized for individuals who have experienced substantial weight loss, whether it be through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery. Additionally, it can assist individuals in addressing issues such as sagging skin, stretch marks, and weakened abdominal muscles following pregnancy.
What Can a Body Lift Not Do?
A body lift procedure is unable to eliminate substantial fat deposits. It is important for you to have achieved a stable weight, ideally your desired weight, prior to undergoing this surgery. In situations where you have minor localized fat deposits but your skin lacks elasticity, your surgeon may suggest a combination of liposuction and body lift surgery.
Who Is It Suitable For?
A body lift is recommended for individuals with a stable body weight and excess skin and/or fat throughout their entire body. This is often due to weight loss. Patients need to be highly motivated and committed to not gaining any more weight. It is crucial to maintain a stable weight for at least a year, and ideally for a longer period, before considering a circumferential lift.
Benefits of a Body Lift
- More aesthetically pleasing appearance
- Removes unsightly excess skin and fat
- Better fitting clothes
- Increased self-confidence
- More positive outlook
- Better sex life
- Enhanced body contours
- Enhances patient’s motivation and capacity to maintain weight loss.
Areas where body lifts can be carried out include:
- Abdominal region refers to the immediate or broader area surrounding the sides and extending towards the lower back.
- Buttocks
- Thigh refers to either the inner, outer, or back part of the upper leg, or the measurement of the thigh’s size around.
- Underarm
Various factors such as getting older, exposure to the sun, being pregnant, experiencing major weight changes, and genetic influences can lead to decreased elasticity of tissues, which ultimately leads to sagging of the belly, buttocks, and thighs.
Body lifts are not specifically designed to eliminate surplus fat. If the skin has enough elasticity to adjust to new body shapes, liposuction alone can eradicate excess fat deposits. However, if the skin elasticity is decreased, it might be advisable to combine body lift techniques with liposuction.
Before the Surgery
When you have your first meeting, you should be ready to talk about whether a body lift is the appropriate procedure for you. Your doctor won’t just assess your overall health, but will also observe and measure your body and capture images of it. The two of you will also converse about the results of the body lift and any potential complications. It’s important to have a prepared list of questions to ask your doctor.
Before your procedure, your surgeon will typically request pre-operative laboratory tests to verify your health condition. They may also instruct you to make changes to your medication regimen, such as discontinuing or starting certain medications, for one to two weeks leading up to the surgery. This could involve avoiding aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements for a two-week period before the surgery. If you are a smoker, it is highly likely that your surgeon will insist on you quitting well ahead of the surgery.
Ensure that you have organized your transportation to and from the medical facility and ensure that you have a companion with you for a minimum of 24 hours after you arrive back home.
How is a body lift performed?
Body lift surgery is a procedure that includes making a cut around the waistline or just below it. This incision allows for the removal of any excess skin, which is then closed under a certain amount of pressure. The length and design of the incision vary depending on the specific location and quantity of the excess skin. Typically, a body lift addresses both the abdomen and back region, making it a circumferential treatment.
In a single surgery, a comprehensive lower body lift addresses various areas including the buttocks, abdomen, waist, hips, and thighs. The procedure involves making a circular cut around the body to eliminate surplus skin and fat, and to reposition and firm up the underlying tissues.
To enhance your overall shape, your plastic surgeon may suggest a combination of liposuction and body lift surgeries. By using sutures deep in the skin, they can help create a new, more defined contour. To minimize risks and optimize results, the process of reducing excess skin may be performed gradually over several years, focusing on different areas of the body at each stage. Your plastic surgeon will guide you on the most suitable approach to address all your requirements safely and effectively.
Body lift surgeries are conducted with the administration of general anesthesia and typically require a hospital stay of one to two nights. The duration of the surgery varies significantly based on the specific requirements of each patient.
YOUR RECOVERY TIMELINE
It typically takes several months to fully recover from a body lift. Bruises and discomfort should improve within a few weeks, but swelling may take a few months to completely go down. Despite still being in the healing process, most people can typically go back to work within two to three weeks and resume normal activities in four to six weeks. Throughout the recovery period, you may need to make adjustments to your workplace or daily routine for your comfort. Our doctors will give you personalized guidelines based on your specific surgery and recovery rate.
What results should I expect after body lift surgery?
You can see the outcomes of body lift surgery right away, but it may take up to two years or longer for the complete effects of the body lift procedures to become evident.
While there may be persistent visible marks, the effects of the procedure will endure as long as you maintain a consistent weight and overall physical wellness. It is normal for the body to gradually lose some of its tightness as it ages.
Nevertheless, the majority of the progress you made initially should stay intact.
While positive outcomes are anticipated from your body lift surgery, there is no assurance. In certain cases, it may not be feasible to attain the best possible results with just one surgical operation, leading to the need for further surgery.
It is crucial for the success of your surgery that you adhere to the instructions given by your doctor.
During the healing period, it is crucial to avoid applying excessive pressure, movement, swelling, or rubbing on the surgical incisions. Your doctor will provide you with precise guidelines on self-care.
Treatment in Türkiye:
The medical staff of surgical teams, doctors and consultants in Rehab Türk can provide the best treatment options and free consultations – by striving to keep abreast of the latest medical technologies and methods.
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