Extra, loose skin is one of the problems that plastic surgery commonly seeks to remedy. Several procedures including facelift and tummy tuck are designed to remove excess skin. One of the largest skin removal surgeries is commonly performed after massive weight loss. A body lift surgery is a skin removal procedure that helps patients see the true results of weight loss. Dr. Craig Jonov at The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery provides the best body lift Bellevue offers.
Body lift surgery is a plastic surgery that removes extra skin from the lower half of the body. With significant weight loss or weight loss surgery, the skin can often not retract well enough or fast enough to conform perfectly to the patient’s new body. This can leave rolls and bulges of extra skin. They tend to collect in the lower abdomen, hips, flanks, and back.
Unfortunately, surgery is the only way to address extra skin in these large amounts. In a young patient with good skin quality who experiences minor weight loss (less than 50 pounds), the patient will likely see adequate skin retraction. Minor skin tightening procedures may also help with these cases. However, as age and the number of pounds go up and skin quality goes down, there is more of a chance of developing significant extra skin.
The body lift uses a circumferential incision that completely wraps around the body. With a lower abdominal incision, it wraps around the hips and meets in the lower back. This can sound intense, but patients with such a massive amount of extra skin often consider the incision worth it.
Good candidates for a body lift surgery tend to have certain qualities. While many have undergone weight loss journeys, excess skin can form for other reasons such as pregnancy, aging, and genetics. Good candidates for the procedure are likely to have qualities like:
During a consultation at The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Jonov will evaluate the patient’s medical history, anatomy, and lifestyle to determine if the patient is a good candidate for the procedure.
A body lift comes with benefits and risks like any surgical procedure. Dr. Jonov and the patient will need to weigh these when making the final decision on whether or not to undergo surgery.
The benefits may include:
The risks of the surgery may include:
Major complications are rare. In the unlikely event of a complication, it is likely treatable and will resolve with no lasting issues. Still, patients should understand the risks and follow Dr. Jonov’s pre and post-op instructions.
A body lift and tummy tuck frequently get mistaken for one another. The two procedures are extremely similar and many patients can qualify for both. A tummy tuck only addresses the abdomen while a body lift wraps completely around the body. Technically, a body lift does include a tummy tuck.
Tummy tucks are more common among women who have had children, while body lift surgeries tend to address massive weight loss. This is not strict though. Overall, the procedures are similar, but a body lift surgery is more extensive than a tummy tuck.
Dr. Jonov starts a body lift surgery with the abdominal incision and then wraps it around each hip and just above each buttock until it meets in the middle of the lower back. This incision allows Dr. Jonov to remove extra skin from the entire lower body and tighten areas such as the abdomen and buttocks.
During the procedure, he may correct abdominal muscle separation. Depending on the patient’s needs, he can also perform a buttock lift which addresses extra skin on the buttocks or a saggy appearance. The procedure may include liposuction and often takes several hours. Dr. Jonov performs body lift surgery as an outpatient procedure with patients going home the same day.
During surgery, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. Thus, they should not feel any pain. After surgery, post-surgical pain is expected and Dr. Jonov prescribes medication to help patients manage discomfort. Most patients tend to notice the pain gradually decreasing over the week or so following surgery. Generally, patients get through their body lift recovery well.
When performed on the right patient, yes, a body lift is perfectly safe. It does involve a long surgical session which makes pre-surgery patient screening critical. This is perfectly safe for the average patient and the exact surgical time and procedure performed will vary slightly between patients.
Beyond the length of surgery, there are few additional risks not present in other plastic surgeries. Dr. Jonov values safety and will cater each procedure to the patient’s needs whenever possible.
Mommy makeover surgery and body lift surgery are both combination procedures. The difference is that a mommy makeover is not a set combination of a few procedures that only deviates slightly from surgery to surgery. Mommy makeover surgery can include any combination of an abdomen and breast surgery. There are several combinations.
In contrast, a body lift includes set procedures with some possible additions or changes on a case-by-case basis. For example, not all patients may require diastasis recti or some may benefit from additional liposuction.
A body lift recovery will require at least two weeks of downtime and time off work. Dr. Jonov will provide instructions for recovery and aftercare to promote the best results and patient comfort. Some of these instructions may include:
A body lift surgery in Bellevue starts at $7,985. The exact cost may be adjusted upon consultation when Dr. Jonov can get a full understanding of the scope of the procedure.
Dr. Craig Jonov is an experienced plastic surgeon with two decades of experience in body contouring procedures. He is frequently called upon for his expertise and patients come from around the world to see him. Dr. Craig Jonov at The Gallery of Cosmetic Surgery offers the best body lift Bellevue and Kirkland provide.
To learn more and schedule a consultation, call us at 425-775-3561. You can also reach out online via chat, contact form, or Price Simulator.
