A body lift is one of the most rewarding body-contouring procedures for patients. Typically, those who consider this procedure have lost a significant amount of weight through either gastric bypass surgery or by their own means of weight loss. When one loses more than 100 pounds, or between 30 to 50 percent of their highest weight, excess skin on the breasts, arms, thighs, and many other places is inevitable. In some cases, excess skin results from the natural aging process or very poor skin elasticity. The body lift procedure helps to alleviate discomfort caused by excess skin and gives patients the youthful-looking body shape they likely once had.
Patients can choose among three different procedures to reduce their excess skin: lower body lift, upper body lift, and thigh lift. Patients can also combine these procedures or opt for a less extensive version of a procedure if they do not have a significant amount of skin to lose.
Lower Body Lift
The lower body lift is a common choice for post-bariatric patients. Also known as a belt lipectomy, the lower body lift addresses the abdomen, buttocks, outer thighs, and sometimes the groin.
Upper Body Lift
The upper body lift can address sagging breasts, excess skin in the upper arms, and sagging in the underarm area as well as the upper back along the bra line. A breast augmentation is combined with a breast lift to improve the shape of the breasts, and in some cases a breast reduction is needed. Incisions for a brachioplasty (arm lift) address the upper arms and can be extended to remove what many refer to as “bat wings,” or sagging skin in the underarm area.
Thigh Lift
The inner thigh lift will enhance the shape of the inner, upper thighs. A vertical thigh lift is needed when the excess skin of the inner thighs exists in the mid and lower third of the thigh. This results in an incision along the side of the inner thigh. Patients who have excess skin primarily in the upper thigh can have the incision hidden in the natural crease near the groin.
Who Can Benefit?
Any person who has a significant amount of excess skin or tissue in the arms, torso, breasts, buttocks, flanks, or inner and outer thighs can consider this procedure. Those who obtain the best results have reached their goal weight, maintained that weight steadily for several months, are finished having children, and have realistic expectations for the procedure. Body lift patients should be committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle with exercise and excellent nutrition to help speed recovery and maintain the benefits of the procedure.
Dr. Robert I. Oliver and Dr. Jason M. Jack are board-certified plastic surgeons with extensive experience performing the body lift procedure. To schedule your private consultation and to learn more about your candidacy, please fill out our online contact form or call us today at 205-298-8660.