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Is a belt lipectomy the same thing as a body lift?

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Belt Lipectomy, Body Lift on October 4th

Question: Is a belt lipectomy the same thing as a body lift?

Answer: A belt lipectomy does involve removing excess skin and fat along the tummy, thighs and buttocks. A body lift does the same thing but a body lift also involves lifting and elevating the thighs much more than a simple belt lipectomy.

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How extensive is the recovery after a body lift?

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Body Lift, Surgery Aftercare on October 1st

Question: How extensive is the recovery after a body lift?

Answer: A body lift is a very extensive procedure that involves an abdominoplasty, thigh lift and buttock lift all at once. Patients should anticipate taking at least two to three weeks off of work and avoid any kind of heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least four to six weeks. It is one of the largest procedures that is done in cosmetic plastic surgery and a patient should be prepared to take the appropriate time off in order to have a positive outcome.

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I had gastric bypass surgery and I am looking for a way to get rid of all the excess skin

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Abdominoplasty, Body Lift, Tummy Tuck on September 22nd

Question: I had gastric bypass surgery and I am looking for a way to get rid of all the excess skin I now have. I think a body lift is right for me because my sagging skin is pretty much all over however I am concerned about the cost. It seems like the procedure is really a combination of several procedures like a tummy tuck, thigh lift, etc, does this mean that the body lift costs significantly more than other procedures?

Answer: A body lift indeed is a combination of a tummy tuck, thigh lift and buttock lift all in one and it does involve an incision or scar that will go all the way around the lower abdomen. The body lift procedure is slightly more costly than other procedures because it is a more lengthy procedure. A body lift, depending on the patient, can take anywhere from six to eight hours. However, it is a very good procedure to address the tummy, thighs and buttocks, especially after weight loss following a gastric bypass.

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I have been reading about body lift since I started losing weight

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Body Lift on May 12th

Question: I have been reading about body lift since I started losing weight. I am nearly at my weight goal and have significant excess skin. Do I need to wait any period of time after this weight loss to get my body lift?

Answer: If you have already reached your weight goal and you have been stable, then a body lift would be a good procedure for you. This operation is a combination of a tummy tuck, thigh lift and buttock lift all in one. It does involve an incision that goes all the way around but it is a remarkable procedure for patients, especially ones in your situation who have lost over 85 pounds.

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I have just lost a lot of weight due to gastric bypass

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Body Lift on May 12th

Question: I have just lost a lot of weight due to gastric bypass. I might lose more weight but the excess skin between by legs is giving me a lot of trouble, especially in the hot weather. Can I get some of this excess skin removed now or should I wait until I am down to where I want to be? I want to lose about 20 more pounds.

Answer: If you have already lost a significant amount of weight due to gastric bypass and only have about 20 more pounds to lose, then it is safe to proceed with any of the procedures you are considering. To address the excess skin between the legs, a medial thigh lift which is a thigh lift that removes excess skin going from the groin all the way down to the knees would be the right procedure for you. This is often done in conjunction with liposuction to sculpt the remainder of the thighs circumferentially.

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My main concern is the after care

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Body Lift on March 27th

Question:

My friend was telling me about her body lift procedure that she had several years ago. She really liked the results and recommended that I also consider the procedure to remove excess skin and fat from my belly and thigh areas. My main concern is the after care. Will I need my husband to take some time off work to help me with the recovery process?

Answer:

A body lift procedure involves an abdominoplasty, thigh lift and buttock lift at the same time. The incision line does go all the way around the waist line. While it is an invasive procedure, the recovery is not any worse than a regular abdominoplasty, so therefore, the most uncomfortable period will be the first 48 hours and also it is uncomfortable having to deal with the drainage tubes that are placed as part of the procedure. You will need help from your husband or family member especially for the first night but after the first 48 hours most people are able to get around alone and do their normal daily activities. As with any other procedure such as an abdominoplasty or body lift, typically patients are not able to return to work until after 7-10 days and they are not able to undergo strenuous activities such as going to the gym or working out for at least four to six weeks.

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How long total are compression garments worn after the surgery?

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Body Lift on March 21st

Question:

I have heard of people wearing something called second stage compression garments after a lower body lift. What are these? How long total are compression garments worn after the surgery?

Answer:

Second stage compression garments are garments that are worn typically in the first or second week after surgery. These are garments that provide softer, more comfortable support, not as tight as the first stage garments and they are used to not only provide support but facilitate decreasing the swelling that normally occurs after surgery and they are typically worn for a total of four weeks after breast, tummy or liposuction procedures.

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