Body Lift (Upper or Lower)

Following weight reduction surgery, or any substantial amount of weight loss, the skin and tissues often lack elasticity and cannot conform to the reduced body size. As a result, skin that has been severely stretched now is unsupported and may require a lift:

Upper arms may sag and appear loose and full
Breasts may flatten and hang with nipples pointed downward
Abdominal area may extend around the sides and into the lower back area, resulting in an apron-like overhang
Buttocks, groin and thighs can sag and cause hanging pockets of skin

Body Lift

Body Lift

Surgical body lifts following major weight loss improves the shape and tone of your underlying tissue that supports fat and skin, and removes excess sagging fat and skin.

The result is a more normal appearance to the body, with smoother contours. This is, in essence, the final phase of your total weight loss experience.

Is a body lift right for me?

Before you decide to undergo body lift surgery following major weight loss, your weight loss must be stabilized.

If you rapidly regain the weight, you will traumatically stress your already weakened and thinned skin, causing further stress to the skin, visible stretch marks and wide scars.
If you continue to lose weight, sagging pockets will redevelop.

If you had weight reduction surgery, Dr. Markmann will work closely with your physician to determine when it is appropriate for you to begin body contouring.

Good candidates for body lift surgery are:

Adults of any age whose weight loss has stabilized
Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what body contouring can accomplish
Non-smokers
Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle including proper nutrition and fitness

Body Lift

Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:

Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Special instructions you receive will cover:

What to do on the day of surgery
The use of anesthesia during your body contouring surgery
Post-operative care and follow-up

Dr. Markmann will also discuss where your procedure will be performed. Body lift surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical center, outpatient or ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital.

You'll need help

If a component of your body lift surgery 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.

What happens during body lift surgery?

The procedures necessary to achieve your goals will be defined along with a plan for the timing of these procedures. Plastic surgery procedures that may be recommended by Dr. Markmann include:

Lower body lift: to correct sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin and outer thighs
Breast lift: to correct sagging, flattened breasts
Arm lift: to correct sagging of the upper arms
Thigh lift: to correct sagging of the inner, outer and mid thigh

Step 1 - Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Dr. Markmann will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 - The incision

All body lift procedures require incisions to remove excess skin. In many cases, these incisions may be extensive.

Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as personal preference and Dr. Markmann's surgical judgment.

Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing, but this is not always the case.

Body contouring is often performed in stages. Your particular condition and goals, as well as Dr. Markmann's best judgment, will all influence how Dr. Markman defines a surgical plan. While it may have taken you two years or more to lose all the excess weight, it may take equally as long for the results of your body contouring to be complete.

Body Lift (Upper or Lower)

A complete lower body lift treats sagging buttocks, abdomen, waist, hips and outer thighs in one procedure or in staged procedures. Incision patterns vary, and may include a circumferential incision around the body to remove the "belt" of excess skin and fat.

An Upper body lift is performed on people who have excess skin of the upper back area, or any area above the waistline on the back and sides. This is a frequent complaint of women of having excess skin in the form of rolls below their bra strap across their back and underarm area. Men get this too, especially when they have had a significant amount of weight loss. Sometimes this can be improved via liposuction, just removing the fat from beneath the skin, making the rolls significantly smaller, but this will not tighten the skin. As an alternative, the excess skin can be removed via an Upper body lift. In this procedure, the excess skin is removed through a scar beneath a woman's bra strap. In men, a similar scar placement can be used, but it is obviously not as well hidden. Fortunately, this scar heals very well. Other scar placement options do exist depending on the degree of drooping and the amount of skin to be removed.

Safety and risks of body lift surgery

The decision to have body lift surgery is extremely personal and you'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.

Dr. Markmann will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks and potential complications.

Possible risks of body lift surgery following major weight loss include:

Unfavorable scarring
Bleeding (hematoma)
Infection
Fluid accumulation
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
Poor wound healing
Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
Skin loss
Blood clots
Anesthesia risks
Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
Major wound separation
Asymmetry
Recurrent looseness of skin
Pain, which may persist
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
Persistent swelling in the legs
Possibility of surgery to do revisions

After your body lift procedure is completed, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. A small, thin tube 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 your surgical site(s) following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

At home

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

Be sure to ask Dr. Markmann specific questions about what you can expect during your individual 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 stitches removed? When?
When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
When do I return for follow-up care?
Following Dr. Markmann's instructions is a key component to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
The results of a body contouring following aggressive weight loss are visible almost immediately.
However, it may take as many as one to two years or more for the final results of all the recommended body contouring procedures to fully develop. Visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness.
As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should be relatively permanent.

How much will body contouring surgery cost?

Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for body contouring procedures can vary widely.

A surgeon's cost for body contouring procedures may vary based on his or her experience, the type of procedure used, as well as geographic office location.

At Metamorphosis Plastic Surgery we offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.

Cost may include:

Surgeon's fee
Hospital or surgical facility costs
Anesthesia fees
Post-surgery garments

Additional Fees:

Prescriptions for medication
Pre-Operative Medical tests and physical

Your satisfaction involves more than a fee

When choosing a plastic surgeon for body contouring surgery, remember that the surgeon's experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.

Most health insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery or its complications.

Click here to see more before and after photos.