Recovering from Lower Body Lift Surgery

Shedding the extra pounds can have a significant impact to a person’s health, however, one downside is the formation of excess skin especially around the midsection, upper arms, and bra line.  This problem is particularly common for those who have lost 100 lbs. of excess weight or more.

Because the redundant skin is quite common among massive weight loss patients especially in the midsection, lower body lift is one of the most recommended plastic surgeries for them.  With this procedure, surgeons can target the excess skin along the abdomen (just like in a tummy tuck), and lift the sagging thighs and buttocks.

With this procedure, it would be like receiving tummy tuck, thigh lift, and butt lift all at the same time.  But one downside is the relatively long and painful recovery which is common with any invasive plastic surgery.

Lower body lift requires the use of a circumferential incision that results to a belt-like scar that fades over time.  This will cover the hips, back, and abdomen of a patient, allowing plastic surgeons to excise the redundant skin, lift the sagging buttocks and thighs, and contour the midsection of the body.  

Because the surgery is conducted under general anesthesia which puts a person to sleep, nausea and vomiting are quite common especially during the first to second day of recovery.  Meanwhile, some doctors recommend IV medications to control such symptoms particularly vomiting as it can put stress on the surgical incisions.

While some body contouring surgeries such as liposuction and tummy tuck are usually considered an outpatient procedure, this is not the case with lower body lift due to its invasive nature.  In fact, most plastic surgeons would likely recommend several days or weeks of hospital stay so the patients can receive immediate care in case a complication occurs.

In most cases, patients are only discharged from the hospital once they are already comfortable with oral pain medications.  But still, they should avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for several days to prevent wound reopening and promote faster recovery.

Despite some discomfort, patients are advised to take a short, gentle walk and/or perform light activities to prevent blood clotting and encourage their body to heal faster.

To minimize swelling and promote quicker recovery, plastic surgeons require their patients to wear compression garments that provide not just support but also encourage the skin to heal closer to the body, further defining the midsection.

Importance of Skin Removal After Major Weight Loss

Plastic surgery, particular body lift, plays an important role in helping previously obese patients live a more normal life.  In this procedure, surgeons remove the “redundant” skin which commonly occurs around the midsection—particularly the abdomen—,upper arms, back or “bra-line” for women, and thighs.

The skin and tissue laxity also results to sagging breasts and deflated-looking buttocks.

Because of the extreme disfigurement experienced by previously obese patients (they either lost weight through bariatric surgery or natural methods), body lift is seen not as a mere cosmetic procedure but as an important surgery that can make the body appear as normal as possible.

In fact, many insurance companies consider some forms of body lift as a reconstructive surgery and cover some of the surgical costs.  By contrast, they do not provide coverage for any cosmetic surgery which is elective in nature.

To be considered a reconstructive surgery, a body lift should be performed not just to correct or at least improve the appearance of the disfigured body; but primarily, it should be used to address skin irritation, foul odor and poor hygiene caused by the trapped sweat, and chronic back pain because of the extra weight of the hanging skin.

Tummy tuck and lower body lift, if performed to MWL patients who are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, are generally covered by health insurance.  But unfortunately, other forms of body lift, particularly those targeting the upper arms, breasts, thighs, and buttocks are usually not included in the coverage. 

Even when multiple body lift procedures are performed, about 5 to 15 percent of MWL patients will need postoperative revisions, although most of these are minor “touch-ups” to correct residual deformities and other complications.  It is important to note that complication rates are not equivalent to failure rates.

Despite the risk of scarring and the need for postoperative revisions (in some cases), majority of MWL patients are satisfied with the result; in fact, several studies have found that most people who had body lift enjoyed better performance in physical exercise, professional and sexual integration, sexual life, and behavioral improvements.

The good thing about having body lift after major weight loss is the result can last a lifetime—as long as the patients will maintain a normal weight through proper diet and regular exercise.

Because food has been a source of comfort for previously obese people at some point in their lives, some plastic surgeons work closely with psychologists or behaviorists to help patients stick to a healthy lifestyle and maintain the result of body lift.

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