What Does a Body Lift Surgery Do?

What Does a Body Lift Surgery Do?

Body Lift Surgery: Types and Ideal Candidates

Body lift surgery is a procedure performed to eliminate excess skin and fat from different parts of the body such as the abdomen, hips, outer thighs and even the back. The procedure can help raise, firm, and tighten the skin in the areas targeted and it can be beneficial for you if you have loose or hanging skin caused by factors such as massive weight loss, pregnancy, age, or sun damage. Patients undergo body lift surgery to get a smoother and more toned appearance. In the past, body lift surgery was primarily used to treat patients who had lost a significant amount of weight, often through bariatric surgery. Today, the procedure is also used to address the effects of ageing and one or multiple pregnancies.

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a skilled plastic surgeon regularly performing upper body lift and lower body lift procedures to help patients achieve their desired aesthetic goals.

Download Dr Hunt’s Guide to Excess Skin Reduction

Excess Skin Reduction

 

When is a Body Lift Not Indicated

While body lift surgery can be an effective option for individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight or have excess skin and fat in multiple areas of the body, there are certain situations where it may not be indicated. For example, individuals who are significantly overweight or have a BMI greater than 30 may not be good candidates for body lift surgery, as the risks of complications and poor outcomes can be higher. More than this, if you have certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease, or bleeding disorders, you may not be a good candidate for the procedure.

It’s also important to note that body lift surgery cannot effectively address significant fat deposits. To be considered a good candidate for this procedure, you should have already reached and stabilised at or near your ideal weight. However, if you have smaller areas of localised fat but poor skin elasticity, your plastic surgeon may suggest a combination of liposuction and body lift surgery to achieve the desired results.

Body Lift Surgery – Types of Procedures

The purpose of body lift surgery is to remove excess skin and fat, which can be difficult or impossible to achieve through diet and exercise alone. If weight loss is possible with the right diet and exercise regimen, getting rid of excess skin is not possible without surgery, especially if you are over a certain age. What most people notice after completing their weight loss journey is that the skin didn’t retract on the new contours of the body. This often translates into excess skin folds in different areas of the body such as midline, back, thighs, to mention just a few.

The body lift procedure can help to improve the body’s contour and proportions. More than this, body lift surgery can improve the comfort and mobility if you are struggling with excess skin and sagging.

There are several different types of body lift surgeries, depending on the areas of the body that need to be addressed:

  • Lower Body Lift: This type of body lift surgery focuses on the lower part of the body, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, and thighs. It involves removing excess skin and fat from these areas. When broken down into its individual components, the Lower Body Lift procedure consists of three main surgeries: Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Thigh Lift, and Buttock Lift
  • Upper Body Lift: An upper body lift is a type of body lift surgery that focuses on the upper body, including the breasts, chest, back, and arms. Upper body lifts can be customised to meet each patient’s individual needs, but they involve procedures such as arm and back lifts, as well as breast lifts or augmentations in the case of women. In some cases, these procedures may be combined with liposuction as part of a  Post Pregnancy Surgery. Patients may also choose to combine upper body lifts with lower body lifts for a more comprehensive transformation
  • Full Body Lift: This type of body lift surgery is a combination of lower and upper body lifts. It involves removing excess skin and fat from the entire body, resulting in a more comprehensive and complete transformation

Your plastic surgeon will recommend the type of body lift that is best suited for your individual needs. In general, the lower body lift is suitable for individuals who have excess skin and fat in the lower part of the body, while the upper body lift is suitable for those who have excess skin and fat in the upper part of the body. The full body lift is suitable for those who have excess skin and fat throughout the body.

Body-Contouring-Sydney

How to Find Out If You Are a Good Candidate for Body Lift Surgery

You can perform a self-assessment to determine if you’re a viable candidate for body lift surgery. Here’s how:

  1. Stand in front of a mirror and examine the three targeted areas: abdomen, outer thighs, and posterior buttocks
  2. For the abdomen, hold one edge of skin on your lower abdomen with your thumb and palm, then grasp the lower skin with all four fingers. If you’re satisfied to see how your skin tightens and your pubic mound lifts, you may be a suitable candidate for abdominoplasty
  3. Hold the loose skin around your hips and observe how it lifts your hips and thighs, resulting in longer, slimmer legs. If you’re pleased with the results, an outer thigh lift may be right for you
  4. Turn around to face away from the mirror and reach back with your palm to lift your butt. This will give you an idea of the potential outcome of a posterior Butt lift

Pros and Cons to a Full Body Lift Surgery

Like it is the case with any surgery, there are pros and cons to consider before undergoing a full body lift procedure. Here are some of the pros and cons of a full body lift:

Pros:

  • Comprehensive results: A full body lift can produce comprehensive results, as it targets multiple areas of the body, including the upper and lower body, as well as the arms and legs. This can result in a more toned and contoured appearance throughout the body
  • Long-lasting results: The results of a full body lift can last for many years, especially if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid significant weight gain
  • Improved mobility: For some people, excess skin and fat can limit mobility and make it difficult to perform certain activities. A full body lift can remove this excess skin and fat, resulting in improved mobility and greater freedom of movement

Cons:

  • High cost: A full body lift can be an expensive procedure, this can be a barrier for some individuals who may not be able to afford the procedure
  • Lengthy recovery period: The recovery period for a full body lift can be lengthy, with patients needing several weeks to several months to fully recover. During this time, you may experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort, and you will need to take time off work to allow your body to heal and recover
  • Risk of complications: Like any surgery, a full body lift carries some risks and potential complications, such as infection, visible scars and others. However, these risks can be minimised by carefully choosing your plastic surgeon and following their advice for post-op care
  • Requires commitment to healthy lifestyle: To maintain the results of a full body lift, patients need to commit to a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a balanced diet. This can be challenging for some individuals, especially if they have struggled with weight loss or healthy habits in the past

Prepare for a Body Lift Surgery

Preparing for a body lift surgery is an important step towards ensuring a smooth and successful procedure. Here are some general guidelines to follow when preparing for a body lift surgery:

  • Stop smoking: Smoking can negatively impact healing and increase the risk of complications. It is important to stop smoking at least 6-8 weeks before the surgery and to avoid smoking during the recovery period
  • Avoid certain medications and supplements: Some medications and supplements, such as aspirin and blood thinners, can increase the risk of bleeding and should be avoided for several weeks before the surgery. Be sure to discuss any medications or supplements you are taking with your plastic surgeon
  • Maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine: Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help prepare your body for surgery and support healing during the recovery period. Have a stable weight for 2 months and your BMI Index less than 30

What to Expect After Body Lift Surgery

The recovery period following a body lift procedure is a crucial time that involves wearing a custom-fitted compression garment and limiting activities. You should plan to be off work for 3-4 weeks and avoid driving for 4 weeks. Some of your daily activities can be resumed as soon as the second week post-op, as long as they don’t involve intense physical effort.

FAQs-about-recovery-after-full-body-lift-surgery

FAQs about Body Lift Surgery

What is the recovery period like after body lift surgery?

  • The recovery period can vary depending on the extent of the surgery, but generally, patients can expect to take a 3-4 weeks off work to allow the body to heal and recover. During this time, you may experience pain and discomfort, as well as swelling and bruising that normally occur after a surgical intervention. Pain medication may be prescribed to manage any discomfort.

Who is a good candidate for body lift surgery?

  • Good candidates for body lift surgery are those who have lost a significant amount of weight or those who have excess skin and fat due to ageing, pregnancy, or other factors. Candidates should also be in good health and have realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure.

What are the risks and complications associated with body lift surgery?

  • Body lift surgery carries some risks and potential complications, such as bleeding, infection, scarring, and others. However, patients can minimise these risks by carefully following preoperative and postoperative instructions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Will body lift surgery leave noticeable scars?

  • Yes, body lift surgery will leave scars, but they can often be hidden by clothing or swimwear. The size and location of the scars will depend on the extent of the surgery and the specific techniques used by the surgeon. Most patients find that the benefits of the surgery outweigh any scarring.

Can body lift surgery be combined with other procedures?

  • Yes, body lift surgery can be combined with other cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation, or tummy tuck – abdominoplasty. However, the decision to combine procedures will depend on the individual patient’s needs and goals, as well as their overall health and medical history. It is important to discuss any potential combination of procedures with a qualified plastic surgeon.

Further Reading about Body Contouring Procedures with Dr Hunt

Medical References about Body Contouring Procedures

About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeremy Hunt

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon and a member of FRACS & ASPS. He has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and, through his guidance, can achieve good results.

The one-on-one service and attention to detail offered by Dr Hunt, has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

Want more information before scheduling your consultation?

If breast reduction is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.

Butt Augmentation for Post Weight Loss Patients

Butt Augmentation for Post Weight Loss Patients

Butt Augmentation for Post Weight Loss Patients – Using a Butt Augmentation Flap

With increasing numbers of patients undergoing significant weight loss either through diet & exercise or bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, Dr Hunt has developed expertise in reconstructing the abdominal and lower body contour in these patients. Combining a butt augmentation flap with body lift surgery can help achieve a more attractive backside or contoured bum.

Solving the body lift problem of a flat butt

A popular procedure for post-weightloss patients known as a lower body lift or belt lipectomy provides removal of excess skin circumferentially. It can help with 360 degree body contouring.  Over time and with ongoing follow-up with our patients and their results, we found that patients often end up with a particularly flat butt or pancake buttock, which is a less than desirable aesthetic outcome. Patients don’t just want body reconstruction, they want a body lift that delivers the optimum volume contouring results. 

From this, the buttock augmentation flap has become an important part of my delivery of that goal to all of our patients.

 

360° Body Contouring – Looking good from all angles

As a Specialist Plastic surgeon and aesthetic cosmetic surgeon, I do appreciate that my patients want to look good from all angles, that is, from front to back and the sides, and to achieve this, the patients will more often than not undergo a form of 360° body contouring, be it with liposuctionabdominoplasty or body lift, often with a buttock augmentationAs part of this, the buttock is an important aesthetic element and has certainly increased its profile with procedures such as the Brazilian butt lift and the introduction of the importance of buttock aesthetics.

What is Empty Buttock Syndrome?

The empty buttock syndrome is the term used when patients undergo a circumferential lower body lift or belt lipectomy and end up with a flat butt. The removal of excess skin over an already empty buttock from weight loss results in an absolutely flat bottom. Aesthetically, this is not pleasing, and it caused problems as there is nothing for patients to hang their trousers on. As the evolution of surgical techniques and as surgeons with an interest in perfecting the patients’ results, we have developed techniques to address the “empty buttock syndrome.”

Case 1 – Body lift Patient – NO Buttock Augmentation

butt augmentation - empty buttlock syndrome - Dr Hunt

butt augmentation - empty buttlock syndrome - Dr Hunt

butt augmentation - empty buttlock syndrome - Dr Hunt

Lower body lift alone will flatten the buttock, producing a less than ideal result. The buttock augmentation flap will avoid this outcome. 

Options for Buttock Augmentation of Body lift Patients

1. Buttock implant  

A buttock implant made of silicone is an option. However, it is quite often fraught with difficulties as the implant can become displaced or malpositioned, and patients often do not desire an implant.

Please Note – Dr Hunt does NOT perform Buttock Implants

2. Fat transfer to the Butt (A BBL or Brazilian butt lift)

The fat transfer or Brazilian butt augmentation was particularly popular until it was identified that it carried a significantly high risk of complications and potential death. The issue is that when the fat transferred enters the circulation and becomes lodged in the heart or lungs, this can be fatal. The popularity of this procedure has decreased in recent times due to the high-risk profile. 

Please Note – Dr Hunt does NOT perform Brazilian Butt Lift

3. Buttock Autologous Fat Flaps

When doing a circumferential lower body lift, the excess tissue above the beltline on the lower back will be discarded. The option exists to utilise this excess fat, though as a form of buttock implant made from the patient’s own tissue, and has the advantage as it has a fully intact blood supply, ensuring that it will survive the procedure.  

This Autologous Butt Augmentation Flap is my preferred choice for ensuring patients achieve the optimal form of buttock aesthetics following abdominal contouring after massive weight loss and achieve that 360 degrees they are after.

Case 2  – Body Lift Patient With Buttock Augmentation Flap

Body Lif with Butt Augmentation Dr Hunt

Body Lif with Butt Augmentation Dr Hunt

Body Lift Patient With Buttock Augmentation Flap Sydney Dr Hunt

Lower body lift with buttock augmentation flap – following weight loss, the lost volume and shape of the buttock is reconstructed and restored with the autologous buttock augmentation flap.

Dr Hunt’s philosophy and evolution in butt augmentation flap surgery

As surgeons and scientists, we have performed research using three-dimensional cameras on patients’ shape and volume before surgery, during the operation, and in long-term follow-up. We have published our results internationally and presented them at multiple international meetings.

Buttock augmentation represented in a 3D image of an actual patient

butt augmentation flap surgery Vector Illustration

The flap will elevate the buttock and increase projection and volume thus avoiding a shapeless flat “pancake” buttock and “empty buttock syndrome”.

Who is a candidate for Butt Augmentation Flap?

Patients who have undergone massive weight loss with the descent of the buttocks and hollow, empty skin are candidates for a buttock augmentation flap. We also find that with signs of ageing, there is the descent of the buttock, and patients who are considering an abdominoplasty, including rejuvenation of the outer thighs and buttock, are also candidates for the procedure.

Summary

The buttock augmentation flap is a key part of a body contouring procedure in my practice.  

Dr Hunt aims to deliver an aesthetic improvement when patients are viewed from the front, the side, and the back, and we regard this as the gold standard now in his 360° body contouring procedures.

Feel free to contact the office if you would like an opinion regarding the procedure.

Further Reading about Body Contouring Surgery

About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

dr jeremy hunt

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breastbodyface and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and, through his guidance, can achieve good results.

Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt

Want more information before scheduling your consultation?

If breast reduction is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.