Body Lipectomy (Body Lift)

When one loses a significant amount of weight, either as a result of diet and exercise or following bariatric surgery, it is not uncommon to have excess skin that hangs off the body and does not diminish no matter how much exercise you undertake. This excess skin can be heavy and become uncomfortable and cause health problems.

Body Lipectomy (also known as Body Lift or Truncoplasty) addresses body areas that exhibit loose, hanging skin. Body lifting procedures commonly serve to tighten the skin and eliminate the excess in the areas of the upper back, lower back, abdomen, upper arms and thighs.

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Overview

There are a variety of body contouring procedures performed in combination that can constitute a body lift, for example to the upper back, lower back, abdomen, upper arms, thighs.

The type that is best for you will depend on your goals amongst many other factors. Depending on the magnitude of the surgery and your health status, two or more episodes of surgery may be required.

The Surgery

Upper body lift:

An upper body lift addresses excess skin folds and fat rolls that extend from the axilla (underarm), lateral to the breast, around onto the upper back. This involves excision of skin and fat down to the fascia of the muscle, without undermining of the wound edges, to hopefully produce a scar that is hidden in the bra line and swimmers. It not only addresses folds in this upper back area but can also lift excess from as far down the back as the flanks. It can be combined with liposuction to improve contours further.

Skin folds and fat rolls can be very uncomfortable under bra straps and affect a patient’s ability to effectively exercise as they wish, apart from discomfort at rest. This is a common problem with age and weight gain, but also with significant weight loss. In the latter circumstance, a breast lift may be coupled with the upper body lift, as the scars from the latter are classically carried into the fold under the breast. Tissue from the axilla that would otherwise be discarded from an upper body lift can be recruited into the breast lift to replace volume depletion associated with weight loss.

Lower body lift:

Massive weight loss can result in circumferential (all the way around) folds, rolls and sagging skin in the flanks, buttock and upper thighs. These rolls and folds can rub in clothes and make exercising difficult and painful, and result in rashes and excoriation.

Excess folds may be addressed by a circumferential abdominoplasty which looks to remove the excess and flatten the contour for the 360 degrees.

A lower body lift on the other hand, looks to not only remove excess folds, but also lift the outer thighs and buttock to remove excess in those areas. The scar is placed to be hidden in under clothes and swimmers. This lower body lift can be done simultaneously with an abdominoplasty, or sometime after it.

For the procedures listed below click to see the specific information:

AbdominoplastyBrachioplastyThighplasty

Recovery

Upon completion of the surgery patients are usually placed in a compression dressing for up to six weeks post-surgery.  The dressing supports the area and helps to reduce swelling.

Drains may be placed in the wounds and instructions for use will be given.

Once recovered and ready for discharge, post-operative instructions covering wound care, medications and follow up appointment will be given.

Bruising and swelling are normal following the surgery and will subside over the first few weeks.  A moderate degree of discomfort may be expected for the few first days after the surgery.

Patients are encouraged to undertake light walking following the surgery to improve blood circulation, but strenuous activities must be avoided for up to six weeks.  Dr Perkins will advise when a return to the gym is possible depending on the specific surgery performed.

Recovery times for body lift will depend on which type of procedures are performed. Most typically require at least two to four weeks of healing and rest, but extensive procedures may require at least six weeks of recovery before resuming normal activities.

Risks

Even with the highest standards of practice, all surgical procedures carry a level of risk and the potential for complications. In addition, every individual will have a different risk profile depending on their general health, age and the complexity of the procedure.

During the consultation Dr Perkins will explain the possible complications and risks of the specific procedure/s to provide the necessary information to enable patients to weigh up the benefits, risks and limitations of the surgery. 

General risks involved in any surgery include post-operative infection, excessive bleeding, pain/discomfort, haematoma (blood collection), seroma (fluid collection), wound healing, DVT, fat embolus, adverse reaction to anaesthetic.

Specific risks include asymmetry, numbness, hypertrophic or keloid scarring.

Costs

Body lipectomy following major weight loss may qualify for MBS (Medicare Benefit Schedule) item numbers if specific criteria are met, making the procedure/s non-cosmetic.

As such, patients who qualify for MBS item numbers and who are in a private health fund with appropriate cover will have a proportion of the costs rebated by Medicare and the health fund.

All other body lift surgery is classified as cosmetic and as such no Medicare or private health fund rebates apply for the medical or hospital fees.

An estimate of costs will be provided following the consultation with Dr Perkins at his rooms in Kogarah or Miranda.