Losing a massive amount of weight, whether through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery, is a huge accomplishment. However, it can be difficult for people who have lost weight to feel proud of their achievement when they are buried in a significant amount of excess skin left on their bodies. This excess skin can make it difficult for them to find clothing that fits, make them susceptible to infections, and generally make them feel uncomfortable both inside and out.
Dr. Korman is skilled at performing body lifts, which effectively removes excess skin so patients can finally enjoy their weight loss. Get started today by contacting Dr. Korman at one of three four Bay Area locations to request a consultation.
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Before and After Photos
What is a Body Lift?
The body lift is an operation to remove large amounts of skin and fat from the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, and back. This is a procedure designed mainly for men or women who have lost large amounts of weight and are left with saggy and unsightly skin above and below the waist. Sometimes breasts and arms can be combined with a body lift.
The body lift is part of a general area in plastic surgery called body contouring. It is very important for patients to meet with Dr. Korman to evaluate if they are a candidate for the operation or whether a tummy tuck, liposuction, thigh lift, or other procedure is better suited for them. Dr. Korman has had much success with the body lift in contouring of the body, but it is vital to understand the operation and to determine if it is right for the patient. Some patients only need a tummy tuck; others require the extended tummy tuck. Those that have lost over 100lbs will often need the body lift.
Dr. Korman has appeared on “20/20″ along with one of his body lift procedure patients who was profiled in the show. Dr. Korman’s offices are located in Mountain View, Carmel, San Jose, and San Francisco. We are pleased to service patients from the greater Bay Area. In addition, many patients come from all over the country and the world to see Dr. Korman for the body lift.
As with all body contouring procedures, the body lift usually includes some amount of liposuction. At a consultation, Dr. Korman will review with the patient which procedure(s) is right for them. Consultations are complimentary.
Good Candidates
Patients who have lost an extensive amount of weight (generally over 100 lbs.) and are experiencing extremely saggy skin on the butt, thighs, stomach and hips may want to consider a body lift. This procedure is able to contour the body with the removal of large amounts of skin and fat. However, not every patient is the ideal candidate for a body lift and may benefit more from a tummy tuck. Patients considering a body lift need to have a consultation with Dr. Korman to discuss the entire process and review if this is the best surgery to reach their goal. In some cases single procedures such as a tummy tuck or thigh lift will achieve the desired results. For those interested in reviewing the body lift procedure with Dr. Korman, contact one of his offices today to schedule a consultation.
Body Lift Techniques
Depending on where the patient has excess skin, Dr. Korman may perform an upper body lift, mid body lift, or lower body lift.
Lower Body Lift
A lower body lift, or belt lipectomy, focuses on removing skin from the buttocks, hips, and thighs. Large folds of skin in these areas can cause chafing and lead to extreme discomfort. This procedure will not only remove the excess skin, but will also improve contour around these areas, lifting the buttocks and slimming the thighs with liposuction if necessary.
Mid Body Lift
A mid body lift, or torsoplasty, is the type of body lift Dr. Korman finds his patients most frequently benefit from. This procedure corrects issues addressed in lower body lift, while also addressing the abdomen. This helps create smooth contour and equal proportion throughout the body.
Upper Body Lift
An upper body lift typically combines an arm lift, breast lift or gynecomastia reduction, and remove fat rolls from the back. This is one of the lesser performed types of body lifts. However, Dr. Korman frequently combines facets of the upper body lift with mid or lower body lifts in order to improve patient’s overall contour. When combined with elements from the mid and lower body lift, it may be considered a full body lift.
Preparation
Prior to undergoing a body lift, it is important that the patient is at a stable and healthy body weight. This means that they should have a consistent diet and exercise routine that they will be sticking to in order to maintain their weight loss results. Future significant weight fluctuations could severely impact the patient’s results.
If applicable, the patient will be asked to quit smoking prior to the surgery date, as this could interfere with their ability to recover. They should also avoid drinking in the weeks leading up to surgery. The patient may be asked to alter any medications they are on before surgery.
Finally, the patient should make arrangements for another adult to pick them up and drive them home after their procedure, as they will not be permitted to drive themselves. They will also be instructed to fill any medications prescribed by Dr. Korman in advance.
Procedure
A body lift is a highly customized procedure, so no two procedures will be exactly the same. It is typically performed under general anesthesia. Depending on the extent of the procedure, patients may be permitted to return home on the same day of the surgery. In some cases, the patient will be asked to spend one night under the supervision of our staff.
Upon arrival, the nurses will clean the patient’s skin and put them in a medical gown. Then, the doctor will mark where he will be making his incisions. Once the doctor and the patient are ready for surgery, an anesthesiologist will administer the anesthesia and the patient will be asleep for the duration of the operation.
Dr. Korman will begin by performing liposuction on the predetermined areas. Then, he will make the incisions in the predetermined locations. Muscles will be tightened with sutures as discussed. Finally, excess skin will be removed and the incisions will be closed with sutures. Following the procedure, the patient will be taken into a recovery room for monitoring. Bandages, compression garments, and drains will be applied as necessary.
Recovery
Depending on the extent of the patient’s procedure and their occupation, they may need to take anywhere from two weeks to two months off from work to recover. Patients will experience some discomfort, but they will be provided with pain medication in order to help. Other common side effects include bruising and swelling.
For the first couple weeks, patients should:
- Get plenty of rest
- Take short, easy walks
- Empty and measure drainage fluids
- Wear compression garments at all times, except in the shower
- Shower, do not bathe, and wash gently
Dr. Korman will make several follow-up appointments for the patient to come in so that he can make sure that they are healing according to plan. At approximately the two week mark, he will ask the patient to come in so that he can remove their drains and sutures. Dr. Korman will let the patient know when they are able to return to their regular routine, including exercising.
Consultation
Patients interested in a body lift should first request a complimentary consultation with Dr. Korman. During the consultation, Dr. Korman will go over the body lift procedure in detail. He will ask the patient about why they believe they would be a good candidate for a body lift and what they hope to achieve. It is important that the patient has realistic expectations for the procedure.
Dr. Korman will also ask about the patient’s medical history. If the patient had bariatric surgery, he will likely need to speak with the patient’s bariatric surgeon prior to approving them for a body lift. The patient should also inform Dr. Korman of any medical conditions they have, medications they take, allergies, and prior surgeries.
Dr. Korman will evaluate the patient’s areas of concern on their body, typically taking measurements and photographs. Depending on the outcome of his examination, he may recommend that the patient is a better candidate for a less invasive procedure, such as a tummy tuck or liposuction alone.
At the time of the consultation, Dr. Korman can provide the patient with a price estimate. However, it is important to understand that because body lifts are customized to each individual patient, the price will vary. Typically, body lifts are considered elective procedures and are not covered by insurance. In some cases, if the patient is suffering from a medical condition as a result of their excess skin, insurance may help pay for the cost of the procedure. Request a consultation at one of our four Bay Area locations in order to get started!