Total Body Lift

What can a Total Body Lift do for you?

A Total Body Lift is a procedure that is used to improve the shape and tone of the body by removing excess fat and skin. A total body lift is a combination of upper and lower body lifts.

An upper body lift improves the breasts, chest, and middle back areas. A lower body lift focuses on the areas of the buttocks, thighs, abdomen, and lower back. A brachioplasty (arm lift) may also be performed. Once the sagging skin and underlying fat are removed, the remaining skin tissue is stretched, giving the body a tighter, better toned, and more youthful appearance.

If you are looking to improve overall body shape and tone, a total body lift may be the right procedure for you.

What to discuss with your surgeon

When considering a body lift, it is important to have realistic expectations and to discuss any questions or anxieties with your doctor during the consultation. You should be as near to your ideal or desired body weight as possible for the procedure to have the best, and longest lasting effects. In addition, it is also important to discuss why you would like to have the surgery, your medical history, including any diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, high blood pressure, cardiovascular, or any circulatory disorders. It is also important to discuss surgical history, usage of certain medications, supplements, vitamins, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. These can all affect surgery, healing, and ultimately your cosmetic outcomes.

Due to the extent of this procedure, your doctor may recommend that it be done in smaller, multiple procedures, depending on your health and medical history.

What happens after you meet your surgeon?

After your questions are discussed with your doctor, you will most likely speak with the patient care or surgical coordinator to decide on a day and time for your surgery and to receive a quote. Many practices will perform the surgery either within a nearby hospital, accredited office-based surgery center, or an ambulatory surgery center outside of the office. Once you book your procedure you may be asked to get certain lab work performed, receive a medical evaluation from your internist or surgeon, stop smoking prior to surgery, and discontinue the use of aspirin, herbal supplements, and other drugs that may increase bleeding.

You should also leave your doctor’s office with a solid understanding of the procedure, step by step instructions on what to do the night before and morning of surgery, post-operative care instructions, and consents to sign and return regarding anesthesia and your total body lift procedure(s). Before your surgery you will want to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you following surgery, for at least the first night. Sometimes there are post-op care facilities focused on plastic and cosmetic surgery patients.

What to expect after surgery

After your procedure, your doctor or nurse will place surgical drains to remove the fluids which accumulate within the incisions. The amount of fluid is measured daily and once it is low enough, the drains will be removed in an outpatient procedure, usually 2 to 3 weeks after the initial surgery. Any sutures may be removed at this time as well. The doctor will give you compression garments to wear, either at the time of surgery or later, in order to control swelling. It is important to follow your doctor’s post-operative instructions. This helps to ensure proper healing, to reduce possibility of infection, and to achieve the best aesthetic results.

Typical short term side effects may include numbness or lack of sensation in the operated areas. Swelling may also occur, which the doctor will combat by giving you compression garments to wear. Once the drains are removed, seromas, which are collections of fluid (serum) under the skin, may occur which will require removal by your doctor.

You may be required to stay in the hospital setting for a night or two, in order to learn proper care of the surgical drains and to feel comfortable walking or moving. Walking is encouraged as soon as the day after surgery, and movements will become easier as your body heals and the drains are removed. However, excessive or forceful movement may hamper the healing process. Oral pain medications may be given to help control any post-operative discomfort. Usually you can assume normal activities within 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. However, it may take one to two years (or more) to see the full results from the body lift.

There will be scarring along incision lines. Your doctor will try to make these as small as possible. Some scars will always remain, but their appearance will diminish over time.