What Is A Body Lift?
A body lift, also known as a ‘full body lift’, ‘belt lipectomy’ or ‘circumferential body lift’ is an operation that is used to remove excess fat and skin, to rejuvenate the abdominal area. This procedure is usually performed on patients who have lost a significant amount of weight.
Who Is It Suitable For?
A body lift is most suitable for those of normal stable body weight who have developed excess skin and/or fat all the way around the body. The commonest cause is weight loss. It requires patients to be highly motivated and also assurance that they will not put on further weight. It is important to be weight stable for at least a year and preferably longer before committing to a circumferential lift.
Who Is Not Suitable For Body Lift Surgery?
Anyone who is encouraged to undergo body lift surgery by someone else is not a suitable candidate. Also, if you have a significant medical history, it is essential that this is disclosed during the initial consultation with a full body lift surgeon in Manchester to establish whether you will be a suitable candidate for the operation.
How Much Does A Full Body Lift in Manchester Cost?
The cost of a full body lift will depend on what is required for the individual patient, as each procedure can differ quite significantly. Following a consultation with a body lift surgeon in Manchester, a full quote will be provided, including the hospital, surgeon and aesthetic fees.
What To Expect During Your Body Lift Consultation
The success of the consultation depends on your openness and honesty in relation to what troubles you and your expectations of the full body lift surgery. You will be asked questions about your health, desires and lifestyle, to establish whether you will be a suitable candidate for the operation. Circumferential body lift surgery can be tailored to your needs and the potential outcomes and the risks and complications will be discussed with you in full during a consultation.
The full body lift operation removes excess tissue from the abdominal and back/flank area, so the type of rejuvenation needs to be tailored to the individual. Various types of body lift procedures are available with us in Manchester and may be combined with liposuction. It may involve lifting the whole abdominal skin, repositioning of the belly button and tightening of the abdominal muscles. For patients following significant weight loss, other adjunctive procedures may be required alongside the full body lift.
During a consultation in Manchester, a body lift surgeon will discuss the risks and limitations to help you choose a procedure that will meet your expectations.
Preparing For Full Body Lift Surgery in Manchester
All circumferential body lift procedures require a general anaesthetic. Your health is of prime importance and any cosmetic surgery should be postponed if you are unwell for any reason. It is important that if anything changes with your health that you make contact with us as soon as possible. To best prepare yourself for the full body lift surgery in Manchester, you should stop smoking 6 weeks before surgery and also stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements during this time.
We will be in contact if any preoperative tests are required. It is important that you prepare for abdominal discomfort following the full body lift surgery in Manchester, and you will need to be off work for at least 2 weeks, or longer depending on the nature of your job
The Full Body Lift Surgery
Full body lift surgery in Manchester often takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours. Usually, an incision is made just above the pubic region and extends from hip bone to hip bone on the front and then extends around the flanks into the buttock cleft. The incision, therefore, goes completely around the body.
The position of the incisions for a circumferential body lift depends on where the excess tissue is and what you are trying to achieve. The skin and excess tissue are removed and the internal lining of the body is tightened. Usually, the fascia or lining above the tummy muscles are tightened providing a much firmer abdomen without direct damage to the muscles. This provides an improved abdominal contour. Classically the skin is then stretched down and the excess removed. It is usual to relocate the tummy button through a separate incision. The incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches and the skin is repositioned. It may be necessary to use drains and it is always necessary to be placed in a compressive dressing.
After Your Full Body Lift Surgery in Manchester
You will usually return to the ward within an hour following body lift surgery in Manchester and you will be encouraged to mobilise. You will usually not have a catheter and you will be able to eat, drink and mobilise as soon as the anaesthetic wears off. You will feel swollen and have generalised discomfort that will usually require analgesia.
You will be able to go home the next day after your full body lift surgery in Manchester and should keep the wounds dry for the next week. You should arrange for someone to pick you up following surgery and have some support at home on discharge. You will be reviewed in the clinic and the wounds checked after a week.
You should avoid excessive straining in the first week and should continue to wear a support garment for 4-6 weeks after circumferential body lift surgery. You will be able to resume light exercises after a week and normal exercise by 4-6 weeks. You should begin to massage the scar once healed. The pictures show a patient pre op at one week when there is significant bruising and swelling through to the 6 week period where the scars have healed and the result at 6 months.
Risks And Complications of Full Body Lift Surgery
The vast majority of patients are delighted with the results of their body lift surgery procedure although common complaints include numbness, bruising, swelling especially around the scar line and a slight difference between the two sides. Uncommon complications include infection, haematoma, delayed healing/skin necrosis/skin loss, seroma formation and thickened scar. There are uncommon risks of general anaesthesia such as respiratory/cardiac compromise and deep vein thrombosis.
Sensation usually changes following total body lift. Although numbness is uncommon, sensation can take a number of months to return. Urological, bowel and sexual function may be altered in the immediate postoperative period. It is very uncommon for any long-term functional complications and none have occurred in my practice.
The scars following full body lift surgery can be red for a number of weeks/months after surgery and it can take some time before the scars start turning pink or purple and then start fading into a white line. It is unusual to develop abnormal scars and unusual to have irregularities requiring a scar revision. Any revisions in the scars should not be considered for at least a year following surgery. The scar is often not symmetrical and the scar can move slightly with time. The abdomen can become lax with time and the result can fluctuate with fluctuations in weight.
Circumferential body lift surgery may not address all the excess skin around your trunk and flanks and it may be necessary to perform further surgery at a later date.
Full body lift surgery usually takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours, depending on the nature of that particular procedure, such as how much excess skin and fat needs to be removed and also what the patient is trying to achieve. Again, during a consultation with your full body lift surgeon in Manchester, more accurate time frames can be discussed.
Yes, we do. To see a range of before and after examples of patients, see our full body lift case studies .
Full recovery from a body lift in Manchester can take 6 weeks. You will need to take at least two weeks off work, depending on the type of work you do. You will also need to restrict normal exercise for around 6 weeks, depending on the specific advice of your body lift surgeon. If during the recovery time you have any concerns, make contact with your surgeon as soon as possible.