Summary 

Losing a great deal of weight is a great skill and a tone towards a healthier, more energetic spirit. Nevertheless, excess, sagging skin can present a fresh challenge, preventing patients from thoroughly enjoying their weight loss benefits. An experienced cosmetic surgeon can get rid of extra skin and restore more aesthetically pleasing body contours. Skin removal surgery includes a range of body lift procedures performed after significant weight loss to address the excess skin folds on the arms, legs, torso, and/or buttocks, helping patients make a more natural, aesthetically pleasing shape. If you are burdened with extra skin after losing weight, getting rid of it can dramatically enhance your comfort and self-confidence, help you exercise with greater ease, and improve the way clothing fits. This field has applications across a broadband of the population, from the petite “mommy” looking for a makeover to the male who lost more than 100 lbs after gastric bypass surgery. There are many techniques to do this. The termination of breast and body-lift procedures prepares the best possible contour while respecting essential safety topics and continually innovating to better results.

To be the right candidate for the surgical body lift, you should:

• Be a healthy adult
• Have any significant weight loss stabilized
• Commit to a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, diet, and exercise
• Have a positive outlook and realistic goals
• Be a non-smoker for any skin tightening procedures
• Have no medical conditions that would increase the risk of surgery
• Have no medical situations that would impair healing

Why Do People choose Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

Giving birth and breastfeeding can take their toll on a woman’s shape. A body lift can help bring back the body in its pre-childbearing form. People who lose a significant amount of weight feel healthier, more energetic, and lighter on their feet. However, their skin will stay stretched, and they may want to tighten up and sculpt various areas of their bodies. Body lift is the answer. As age and gravity push and pull the body out of shape, it’s nice to know body lift is there to bring it back to its natural form.

What should I Prepare for Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

During your body lift consultation, be ready to discuss:

• Your surgical goals
• Medical conditions, drug allergies, and earlier medical treatments
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
• Previous surgeries

Your plastic surgeon will:

• Evaluate your general health and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Examine your body and take detailed measurements
• Take photographs for your medical record
• Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
• Discuss the outcomes of body lift and any risks or potential complications

The success and safety of your procedure depend on your complete handiness during your consultation. Be sure to ask questions. To help, we have a ready checklist of items to ask your body lift surgeon that you can take with you to your consultation. It’s vital to understand all aspects of your body lift procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement for your expected new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing any concerns with your plastic surgeon.

What questions should I ask about Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

Use this checklist as a guide during your body lift consultation:

• Am I the right candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Where and how will you do my procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• How can I expect to look over time? After pregnancy?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my procedure?

What are the Risks of Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

The decision to have plastic surgery is highly personal, and you will have to decide if the benefits will make your goals and if the risks and potential complications of body lift surgery are acceptable. You will be asked to sign consent forms to make sure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications. Body lift risks include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation
• Poor wound healing
• Skin loss
• Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism
• Excessive or widened scars
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Anesthesia risks
• Unfavorable scarring
• Residual skin laxity or contour irregularity

I will thoroughly discuss these risks and others prior to your consent. You must address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon. Body lift surgery should be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, a licensed ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital. If your body lift is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

• Arm lift. Loose skin and excess fat are removed through an incision along the underside of the upper arm to restore a firmer, shapelier upper arm appearance.
• Back lift/ bra line lift. This procedure often combines liposuction and skin removal to reduce “bra rolls” and restore a smoother, firmer upper back contour. Incisions are typically found along the bra line, where clothing can easily hide scars.
• Breast lift surgery. Many female patients are bothered by sagging or “deflated” breasts following weight loss. A breast lift removes excess skin and reshapes the breast to make a firmer, lifted contour and improve symmetry. Breast implants can be placed during a breast lift to restore lost volume or increase size.
  

  What Areas of the Body are Addressed with Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

  I can address any part of the body with a body lift and aesthetic plastic surgery. Some of the common area’s patients look to improve are:

  • Arms
  • Abdomen
  • Back
  • Buttocks
  • Thighs
  • Skin Removal After Severe Weight Loss

  Typically, surgery involves a combination of body lifting procedures tailored to discuss a patient’s areas of most significant concern. Post weight loss, skin removal is personalized to a patient’s individual needs and goals; no two procedures are exactly alike. Your cosmetic surgeon may do one or more of the following methods.

  Upper Body Lift Procedures

  Excess skin on the upper body can result in “bra rolls,” sagging breasts, or loose, sagging skin on the upper arms. Upper body lifts surgery targets these areas to restore a firmer, more youthful appearance. Procedure options include:

The use of arm lifts is rapidly increasing. Tremendous variability in presentation has led to different types of arms recontouring. From suction-assisted lipectomy, for appropriate candidates, to minimal incision arm lift and a more extensive arm lift procedure, the objective is to reproduce a proportional and functional proportional and functional arm contour. Patient selection, preoperative assessment, and a clear understanding of the arm’s anatomical features are paramount. Preoperatively designed markings of four significant arm groups lift-minimal incision, standard, extensive, and chest-arm lift are based on the position and proximal and distal involvement of excess skin and fat and preferred scar position. Selective ancillary procedures, such as breast recontouring and upper body lifts, can be valuable adjuncts to arm lifts.

A breast lift restores a firmer, perkier, and more aesthetically pleasing shape to sagging breasts. This not only can improve a patient’s appearance by restoring her youthful, feminine proportions but also help bras and swimsuits fit more comfortably and attractively. A cosmetic surgeon can create a more youthful breast contour by removing excess, stretched-out skin, reshaping the breast tissue, and raising the nipple & areola into a more forward position. The stretched, large areolae can also be reduced during breast lift surgery, creating an overall better proportioned, natural-looking breast.

Abdomen lift, abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery that tightens and reshapes the abdominal area to an aesthetically pleasing, slimmer overall appearance. A flatter, firmer abdomen can dramatically improve the way clothing fits and looks, helping you feel more confident and comfortable in your body. During the abdomen lift, I will tighten abdominal muscles and remove sagging skin to treat protruding abdomen. The tummy tuck is a standard procedure for men and women, particularly those whose bodies have undergone dramatic weight loss or pregnancy changes. Abdomen lift improves stretch marks below the navel (belly button). There are many variations both to the design of the incisions and the technique itself. In some instances, it may be possible to avoid an incision around the navel. When the amount of loose skin is minimal, and the excess fat deposits are found below the navel, a short

A lower body lift tightens tissues on the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs. It is one of the most common post-weight loss procedures and one of the most extensive. Surgery involves a long incision placed just above the hip bone, which runs around the circumference of the body. Through this incision, the cosmetic surgeon tightens stretched abdominal muscles (like a tummy tuck), removes excess, sagging skin from the torso’s front and back, and lifts the remaining tissues to restore a firmer, shapelier lower body appearance.

• Thigh Lift & Buttocks Lift. Dramatic weight loss often results in more than skin gathered around the buttocks and thighs. A thigh and buttock lift removes excess skin and fat and restores the legs and buttocks’ firmer, smoother, and more slender appearance. This procedure can help jeans and shorts fit much more comfortably and make a more youthful, shapely appearance to the legs and lower body. The incisions for thigh and buttock lift surgery vary depending on the place and the amount of skin removed. An experienced cosmetic surgeon will place incisions in the least conspicuous areas possible, such as the groin, the natural crease beneath the buttocks, or lower on the hips, where a swimsuit can hide scars.
• Panniculectomy. Many weight loss patients are left with a significant “apron” of skin, called a pannus, hanging from below the belly button. A panniculectomy removes this apron of skin to restore a smoother, firmer torso. The incision is like that for a tummy tuck, found just above the pubic bone. While a panniculectomy can dramatically improve a patient’s comfort and help clothing fit better, it will not tighten abdominal contours when performed as a standalone procedure.

Buttocks lift can drastically improve excess skin and fat from aging, heredity factors, or after dramatic weight loss in the gluteal area with a buttock lift. Not to be confused with a “Brazilian butt lift,” which adds volume using fat transfer, this procedure involves only removing skin and fat through surgical excision and liposuction. A buttock lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the buttocks. It may be done as part of a tummy tuck (belt lipectomy)

A Thigh Lift, or Thighplasty, reshapes the inner or outer thighs contour by removing excess fat and skin to form a well-proportioned, natural appearance. Depending on each circumstance, an inner, vertical, or outward thigh lift approach will dictate the number and place of incisions required. Thigh lifts are not meant to remove extra fat. Liposuction alone can take away excess fat deposits where the skin has good elasticity and can conform to new body contours naturally. In examples where skin elasticity is reduced, a thigh lift along with liposuction may be commended.

What to Expect After Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

During your recovery from body lift surgery, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions after the procedure. Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect. You will be given specific instructions that may include:

• How to care for the surgical site(s)?
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing.
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health.
• When to follow up with your plastic surgeon.

Be sure to ask your body lift surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your recovery period:

• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Are stitched removed? When?
• When can I resume regular activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?

Weight Loss Surgery (body lift) Recovery at home

• I may instruct you to avoid bending, straining, or lifting for several days to weeks.
• Where tightening of the abdomen or thighs is involved, your plastic surgeon may also instruct you to avoid standing fully upright and stressing any internal sutures as they heal and to sleep with pillows elevating your knees.
• To lower the risk of DVT (blood clots in the legs, you will need to be up and walking as soon as possible and drinking plenty of fluids.

What Results Should I Expect After Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

• The body lift results following significant weight loss are visible at once; however, it can take two years or more to see the last results.
• Visible scars are something you must accept to do a body contour that matches your new weight and proportion.
• The results of a body lift are long-lasting if you keep a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your first improvement should stay.
• Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee. It may not be possible to do the best results with a single surgical procedure, and another surgery may be necessary for some situations.
• Following your physician’s instructions is critical to the success of your surgery.
• It is essential that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, motion, swelling, or abrasion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

What are Additional Surgical Procedures Can Be Combined?

Depending on your needs, your cosmetic surgeon may recommend other procedures to improve body contours after weight loss, such as tummy tuck surgery, liposuction, facelift, neck rejuvenation, or feminine rejuvenation.

Life after Weight Loss Surgery (body lift)?

Your recovery will depend on the procedures you have as well as the extent of skin removal. If you are only having an upper arm lift or breast lift, you may be able to return to work within one week and be ready to resume exercise within one month. More extensive procedures, such as lower body lifts, will call for a more protracted recovery and may need a short inpatient stay. Temporary drains may be set for the first 1 to 2 weeks to ease swelling, and discomfort can be significant for the first few days. Lifting, strenuous exercise, and physical tasks are typically off-limits for 6+ weeks after extensive lower body lift procedures. The rewards for a more active recovery are a more youthful, natural appearance and a substantial advance in comfort and self-confidence that can endure a lifetime.