INITIAL RECOVERY TIME: 2 WEEKS
FINAL RESULTS: 6 MONTHS
If you’re like many massive weight loss patients, you might have loose, sagging skin folds that prevent you from fully enjoying the benefits of your slimmer, lighter, and healthier body. All that excess skin can make it difficult to find clothing that fits properly, cause discomfort during exercise, and even negatively affect self-image.
If you are tired of carrying around excess skin after weight loss, body lift surgery can lift the burden—literally. This personalized plastic surgery removes stretched, superfluous skin and lifts sagging tissues on the upper body, abdomen, buttocks, and/or thighs to restore a smoother, slimmer body contour.
If you are dealing with the physical and emotional discomfort of excess, sagging skin, a body lift can help you enjoy a smoother, firmer body contour. It’s a dramatic procedure that can have incredibly positive, confidence-boosting results, but you need to be prepared for the surgery and recovery. In general, you are likely a good candidate for a post-weight loss body lift if you meet the following qualifications:
No two weight loss patients are the same. Some may only need skin removed from their abdomen, while others will benefit most from a more comprehensive procedure. Dr. Chen tailors body lift surgery to each patient’s needs, combining procedures as necessary to remove the desired amount of skin and achieve the most aesthetically pleasing results possible. Your body lift may include one or more of the following procedures.
Men and women who’ve lost significant weight often have stretched, sagging skin on their bellies, along with loose, protruding muscles, once the weight is gone. A tummy tuck corrects both of these issues, tightening the abdominal muscles and removing excess skin to restore a firmer, flatter abdomen. Learn more about tummy tuck surgery »
Most people end up with some loose, “flabby” skin on their upper arms as they age, but this can be particularly pronounced after massive weight loss. An arm lift removes excess, hanging skin from the upper arms, restoring a firmer contour and improving comfort in sleeved clothing. Learn more about upper arm lift surgery »
A thigh lift removes excess skin and lift tissues on the inner or outer thighs to create a smoother, more youthful thigh appearance. The procedure can correct a lumpy appearance and remedy pooled skin on the upper legs.
If you have a lot of skin pooled around the buttocks or flanks, a buttock lift can help by removing excess skin and restoring a smoother, more naturally appealing shape to the buttocks.
Also called a lower body lift, this procedure addresses an apron of skin hanging around the circumference of the body. By removing the excess skin, Dr. Chen can restore a smoother, more natural shape to the abdomen, back, and hips.
Because each body lift is tailored to the individual, the surgical techniques Dr. Chen uses will vary. More extensive procedures may require an overnight stay in the hospital for your safety.
My Weight Loss Surgeon’s nurse suggested Dr. Chen. He has significant experience with weight loss surgery patients and our unique needs. He wants you to have the best possible results, and expects nothing less than perfection from himself as your surgeon. He really listened to what I wanted to achieve—I have a waist again, and I am gaining confidence back.
-Actual Patient of Dr. Chen
Recovery time and protocols vary depending on the extent of surgery. While Dr. Chen will encourage you to get up and walk around the day after surgery, only very light activity is permitted for several weeks. Expect to take at least 2 to 3 weeks away from work. More strenuous exercise can usually be resumed gradually after 4 to 6 weeks. Dr. Chen and our staff will provide you with complete instructions for surgery preparation and recovery.
The vast majority of body lift patients agree that the dramatic improvements in comfort, appearance and self-confidence are well worth the lengthier recovery.
Although Dr. Chen takes care to place scars in inconspicuous locations whenever possible, since body lift surgery removes skin from larger areas of the body, longer and more conspicuous scars are unavoidable. Scarring is most pronounced after a circumferential body lift, where you will have a long, thin scar encircling the body, just above the hips. Buttock and thigh lift scars may be located in the groin area or in the natural fold between the buttocks and thighs.
While scars can be concealed beneath everyday clothing, they may be visible in swimwear or more revealing clothing. Even so, most patients feel that some visible scarring is well worth the comfort and confidence gained from losing the excess skin.