Body Lift

THE TYPICAL PATIENT

• Desire for a more youthful appearance of the legs and especially the outer thighs and buttocks where there is excess hanging and folded skin. This may be associated with some excess fat.
• This is often associated with losing weight.
• Focusing on wrinkles, folds, cellulite and excess fat, especially in the outer thighs, but anterior and inner thighs and knees and buttocks may also be affected and treated.

THE PROCEDURE

• Anesthesia is general and the procedure takes about six hours.
• The incision is very thin and is located entirely around the waistline like a belt. It may have a tendency to heal slightly wide and dark but this gets better over time.
• The procedure involves liposuction of any excess fat in the thighs and legs, then removing excess skin high up on the outer thighs and above the buttocks, loosening the tissues below this and pulling them up and sewing the edges together. Deep stitches are secured to the ligaments and bone so there is less of a tendency for the skin to fall down. The length of the incision depends on the amount of excess skin. It is not unusual to remove 5-10 inches in length!
• Drains are used for two days. These are soft and comfortable and removed without pain.
• Dressings and a light compression garment are used for several days.
• This can be combined with other plastic surgical procedures, most often tummy tucks and arm lifts.

THE RECOVERY

• You will need to stay in the hospital one or two days.
• You can shower on the second or third day after surgery after the drains are out.
• There is only mild to moderate pain that is mostly gone by the second or third day and easily controlled by medications.
• Swelling is mild to moderate and peaks at two to three days then disappears rapidly over the next three weeks.
• Minimal or no bruising is the usual.
• Some grogginess is present which persists for about a week.
• You can resume many activities within the first week, and most by at least three weeks.
• The stitches are removed at ten days.
• Expect to be off of work for a full week, but you will be able to be up and around.

THE RESULT

• Beautiful, tightened, lifted and flattened contour to the outer thighs and lifted youthful buttocks.
• Excess skin and folds are removed.
• Buttocks are lifted and more perky.
• More confident and comfortable in clothing, especially sports wear and jeans.
• Lasts the rest of your life and always looks better than if you didn't do it. If there is continued sagging or weight loss, then a second touch up procedure can help.
• Natural and presentable appearance in the first week that just gets better over the next three to six months.

For before and after images of this procedure click here

Please call or contact the office for any further information or to schedule an appointment.