| Cost range | Recovery |
|---|---|
| Cost range $8,000 - $30,000 | Recovery 2 – 8 weeks |
Overcoming obesity and losing a lot of weight, whether by diet and exercise or bariatric surgery, is an extraordinary achievement. Unfortunately, dramatic weight loss can result in loose, sagging skin on the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, chest or arms.
Body lift is a surgical procedure intended to eliminate the loose skin, revealing the weight loss results the patient worked so hard for. Skin removal surgery can also eliminate any related mobility restrictions as well as other health-related complications, such as rashes, chafing and infections, that are common with excess hanging skin.
A surgery as complex and extensive as body lift should only be trusted to a plastic surgeon like Dr. Genaro Valladolid. His education, training and experience with body lift surgery are crucial to delivering outstanding results. Dr. Valladolid is also a compassionate surgeon who understands how to make patients comfortable. He wants patients to feel educated about their choices and make decisions that best suit their health, lifestyle and goals.
Candidates for body lift are individuals that have lost a dramatic amount of weight through lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery, but are left with excess hanging or wrinkled skin on the upper and/or lower body. The skin may interfere with normal movements or exercise. It may be hard to clean the folds of skin, and they may be prone to chafing, rashes or infection.
In order to undergo body lift, candidates should be at their target weight and have maintained it for at least six months. For the best results, candidates should not plan to lose any more weight in the future. They should also be in good overall health and should not smoke.
Body lift is customized to the unique needs of the individual patient. A body lift can address the upper body (e.g., the chest or breast area, upper back and arms), the lower body (e.g., the abdomen, thighs, lower back and buttocks) or both. Upper and lower body lift may be combined into a total body lift, or staged out into separate operations.
There are a few different approaches to lower body lift. With one technique, incisions are made on the lower abdomen, extending around the trunk to the back of the body. Through the incisions, excess fat and skin are removed and the underlying tissues are lifted and tightened. This approach flattens the abdomen and lifts the skin and tissues of the buttocks and thighs.
Upper body lift can include the following procedures:
Body lift is usually performed in a hospital or surgery center with general anesthesia. The surgery may require a short hospital stay.
Body lift requires a lengthy recovery with lots of rest. Bruising, swelling and discomfort are common in the treated areas. Compression garments should be worn at all times (except while bathing) to help support the healing tissues and reduce swelling.
Dr. Valladolid provides complete instructions for aftercare and post-surgery activities. Most patients resume work and most of their normal activities within two to four weeks and wait six to eight weeks before resuming strenuous exercise. Dr. Valladolid follows up with patients throughout their recovery to closely monitor their healing progress.
If you are interested in eliminating loose skin and refining your body’s contours with body lift, Dr. Valladolid can help. Schedule an informational consultation with him by calling (480) 770-5015 today.
