Body Lift or 360 Abdominoplasty

Significant weight loss following bariatric surgery or diet and exercise can result in considerable loss of body fat. However, the skin that had been stretched does not recoil to a natural position as a result patients end up with considerable redundant skin and fat along the lower part of the body: the tummy, hips and buttocks.

Despite active exercise this redundant skin remains, there is a great surgical procedure as an answer to a better shapelier body. A lower body lift procedure is one of the passions of Dr. Sawan. After years of training and studying different techniques available worldwide Dr. Sawan designed a technique that will maximize the patient’s outcome for the best shape possible. By carefully evaluating the patient and the pre-operative photographs the procedure is tailored to the patient. This individualistic approach ensures taking patients expectations into account as well as careful evaluation of the body frame to redrape the skin and fat after the redundant tissue has been excised. The result is happier patients with the best curves possible.

Candidates for lower body lift

The best candidates for a lower body lift are:

• Non smokers
• Have reached their goal weight and are stable for at least three months
• Attentive to their diet and multivitamin intake
• Involved with the weight loss program including follow up
• Have minimum scars along the abdomen
• Committed to recovery and follow the instructions carefully
• Generally Healthy or with good  control of their medical problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes

The procedure:

After a careful evaluation and planning Dr. Sawan spends time marking the patient to maximize the buttocklift, outer hip and thigh lift and the flat abdomen.

Attention is given to minimize risks of bleeding or blood clots during the procedure.  The procedure is done under general anesthesia. Seasoned board certified anesthesiologists provide the anesthesia.

Dr. Sawan usually combines liposuction during the procedure to get the best contours. The surgery lasts between four to six hours. To avoid flat buttocks attention is given to this area during the procedure to evaluate the need for enhancement with the patient’s own tissue fat.
All the incisions are closed with layers of stitches and the skin is sealed with glue. This glue allows patients to shower 48 hours following the procedures.

Patients stay in the hospital overnight and are allowed to ambulate with help the following day.

Drains are used to help rid of excess fluid, typically two drains are used one drains the front and one drains the back.

Recovery:

Most patients will be off pain medications within a week. Return to mild normal activities is allowed within two weeks and exercise in six weeks. Usually all the sutures are dissolvable. Due to fluid accumulation in the first week most patients will notice weight gain until the fluid is disposed of by the body.

Can I combine the bodylift with other procedures?

Since these procedures depend on each individual’s exam and assessment this question is best reserved until a full evaluation and goals are assessed. In General Dr. Sawan suggests not combining the armlift with a thighlift since this would make recovery difficult for the patients. The arms or the thighs can be combined with a bodylift but this still depends on the examination of the individual patient.

Risks:

Like any surgery there are risks related to anesthesia and others related to the procedure itself. Some uncommon risks include bleeding, fluid accumulation, and wound separation (usually seen in over activity or poor nutrition), blood clots.

Dr. Sawan will discuss these risks with you at the time of the preoperative evaluation.

Click here to view our before and after photos »