Body Lift in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. F. Leigh Phillips, III, PA, FACS is Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and South Florida’s Source for Plastic Surgery and the Ultimate in Non-Surgical Aesthetic Enhancements, including body lifts.
What Is a Body Lift?
A body lift is a procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat and enhance the contour and tone of certain areas of the body. Because saggy skin is caused by reduced elasticity, an overall body lift can restore suppleness and tone to the areas of the hips, buttocks, stomach, waist, and thighs at one time. A body lift, therefore, can be used to improve the bodies of people who have lost a large amount of weight as the result of a gastric bypass or bariatric surgery.
Many times, when significant weight loss occurs, people are left with loose, hanging folds of skin in the aforementioned areas. Unfortunately, the skin in these spots is often stretched to the point where it needs to be trimmed and tightened. Not treating the problem can lead to limited mobility, rashes, and infections. Therefore, post-bariatric patients can benefit from the surgery from both an aesthetic as well as healthcare perspective.
How Is a Body Lift Performed?
The doctor initiates a body lift procedure by placing an incision in the area of the waist, then removing the excess skin and closing the incision site. Usually, the area that is lifted includes both the abdomen and the back area of the body. If a lower body lift is performed for the areas of the stomach, waist, buttocks, hips, and thighs, then a circumferential incision is placed for repositioning and tightening.
Typically, liposuction will be performed along with a body lift to achieve better contouring. Sutures support the new contours deep within the skin’s layers. Usually, one or two areas are focused on at a time. As a result, excess skin may be removed in several stages or over a span of several years. Body lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia and typically requires a hospital stay of a couple of days. The length of time required for the procedure is highly dependent on the areas of the body that are receiving the surgery.
Am I a Good Candidate for Body Lift Surgery?
To undergo body lift surgery, you must be committed to following a healthy diet and exercise plan and have maintained a fairly stable weight for at least a year. Most individuals who are considered to be viable candidates exhibit sagging skin in more than one area of the body. Overall, good surgery candidates are healthy individuals who have no known medical issues that can affect recovery. Individuals should also be realistic about the goals they wish to obtain from the surgery.
What Is Involved in the Healing Process?
After surgery, bandages and dressings will be placed at the incision sites. In addition, tubes may be placed beneath the skin to collect fluid or blood drainage. Because a body lift is a major surgery, recovery can take some time. Usually, discomfort is initially managed with medications that are intramuscular or intravenous in nature. Oral pain medications are prescribed later in the recovery.
In addition, patients also follow a specific menu plan to better facilitate healing. A compression garment is recommended to reduce swelling and encourage the release of fluids. Swelling typically dissipates after about three months.
Generally, surgical dressings are taken off after a couple of days with most people returning to work after about a month. Exercise can be resumed after a couple of months.
What Are the Typical Results?
Patients who opt for body lift surgery usually see long-lasting results, provided they keep their weight stabilized by practicing good nutritional habits and following a regular program of exercise. While the aging process can cause you to lose some firmness or tone over time, the results from body lift surgery are usually permanent and satisfying.
Additional Body Contouring Procedures:
What is the Cost of a Body Lift in Fort Lauderdale?
The cost for a body lift varies depending on the extent of treatment necessary to achieve optimum results. Dr. Phillips accepts many direct payment options and uses CareCredit as a financing option.
Whether you are looking to enhance your appearance non-invasively through skin rejuvenation treatments or invasively through plastic surgery, Dr. Phillips can help the residents of Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County make your medical and aesthetic goals become a reality. Call us today to schedule your body lift consultation at 954-271-1646!
