Boston Body Lift Specialists
New England Center for Plastic Surgery and Medispa
Body Lift
Our Boston plastic surgery specialists at New England Center for Plastic Surgery and Medispa have helped many Boston body lift patients to redefine and beautify their shape and profile. Please read the following paragraphs to learn more about the body lift procedure.
What are body lifts?
A body lift is surgery performed to correct excess loose and sagging skin and irregular contours of the:
- Abdominal area, locally or extending around the sides and into the lower back area
- Buttocks, that may be low, flat or shaped unevenly
- Groin that may sag into the inner thigh
- Thigh, including the inner, outer, or posterior thigh, or circumferentially
- Upper arms, including the armpit region
Surgical body lifting improves the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports fat and skin. Excess sagging fat and skin is removed to treat conditions caused in part by poor tissue elasticity. Body lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and body lift techniques may be recommended.
Body lifting procedures may be appropriate for individuals who are of stable weight that is reasonably proportionate to their height and body frame. In addition, it is recommended that women considering future pregnancies postpone an abdominal body lift since pregnancy may diminish results. Body lift procedures may be performed on adults of any age who have realistic goals in mind for improvement of their body contour.
Good candidates are:
Individuals with significant soft tissue looseness in one or multiple body areas
- Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring
Where do I begin?
A consultation with Dr. Marshall or Dr. Savage is the fist step to learn how body lifting procedures can improve your body contours. A consultation is designed to fully educate you about your body lift in a non-pressured environment and will include:
- A discussion of your goals and an evaluation of your individual case
- The options available in your body lift surgery
- The likely outcomes of body lifting procedures and any risks or potential complications
- The course of treatment recommended by our surgeons
Drs Marshall and Savage will also answer any questions you may have.
My body lift
Your body lift will be individualized to your specific conditions and the regions to be treated. Conditions that may be improved by a body lift include:
- Dimpled or uneven soft tissue
- Lax, loose skin
- Excess fat and tissue
- Sagging body contours
Many conditions can contribute to tissue that is weak and lacking in tone or firmness, and to uneven or sagging body contours. These most commonly include:
- Weight changes, especially substantial weight loss, such as occurs following gastric bypass surgery
- Stress on the skin and underlying tissue that may result from pregnancy
- The natural process causing skin and tissue to lose elasticity and tone over time
- Sun damage and other environmental factors that contribute to premature aging of the skin
- Heredity or the genetic make-up that determines one’s body type and skin qualities including
cellulite
- Childhood and teenage obesity resulting in premature loss of youthful skin tone
There is no other method of body contouring that can restore body shape, skin appearance, and skin tone as effectively as a body lift. Body lifts are surgical procedures and the require incisions; in some cases, incisions may be extensive. Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as personal preference and surgical judgement. Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing.
Other body contouring procedures may be performed separately or in the same surgical session as a body lift, including liposuction and tummy tuck, breast lift or male or female breast reduction. However, not all patients are good candidates for combined procedures. Your case will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Recovery Process
Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. Initial wound healing may take 7 to 14 days, after which time sutures will be removed if necessary. As the body recuperates, the patient can expect some swelling, pain, and discomfort. Medication can be prescribed to relieve any pain caused by the procedure. Normal light activities can generally be resumed within two weeks. With proper diet and exercise and following your surgeons instructions, the striking results of the surgery will be long lasting.
In addition to body lift procedures, our physicians at the New England Center for Plastic Surgery and Medispa offer other body contouring procedures. Please visit these pages to learn more about how Drs. Marshall and Savage help Boston liposuction and tummy tuck patients.
