Body lift

Body lift surgery is a procedure used to remove excess skin which remains after rapid weight loss. As the popularity of gastric bypasses grows, the number of people requiring their stretched-out skin removed has greatly increased. Body lift surgery differs from other cosmetic surgeries in that it means removing excess skin from any part of the body where it's necessary. Commonly affected areas include the breast, the thighs and arms.

The operation will usually be performed in a hospital however in some cases it can be performed at an outpatient surgical centre. Surgery is generally done using general anaesthetic and can last from four to eight hours depending on the amount of work required. Although surgery differs depending on which areas need attention, doctors tend to deal with the stomach area first as this area is usually the most affected rapid weight loss.

The surgeon will carefully remove the extra skin by making incisions in the affected areas of the body. If treating the abdomen, a horizontal incision will be made along the pubic area. After all the tissues are lifted from the muscles underneath any excess skin and sometimes fat is removed. In many cases the abdominal wall muscles will be tightened. The remaining fat and skin will be pulled down and sutured in position. If fat removal is required then liposuction is often used in conjunction with this procedure before removing the excess skin. Extra care must be taken in order to reduce the appearance of scars or make sure they're in a concealed area. Scars will almost certainly occur as part of this surgery and although they'll never completely disappear, over time their appearance will fade.

Body lift surgery is a serious procedure and afterward you will need a great deal of recovery time. Usually patients stay in hospital for a few days following surgery. Also they may need to wear special support garments, which will help promote healing and it's usually suggested that you avoid strenuous activity for a few weeks afterward.

With this major surgery there's a possibility of several complications occurring. One of the most common problems involved in body lifts is fluid or blood accumulating under the skin (haemotoma). There is also a risk of an adverse reaction to anesthesia or developing infection after surgery. Bruising and swelling are also sometimes reported. Nerve damage can occur at several stages as can blood clots. You may also experience skin separations which will require more surgery to correct. Many who undergo body lifts also require follow-up surgery to address other areas. These typically include arm lifts, breast lifts and surgery involving the inner thigh.