Circumferential Bodylift
Body Lift Surgery
A body lift improves the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports fat and skin. Excess sagging fat and skin are removed, and the procedure(s) can improve a dimpled, irregular skin surface, which is commonly known as cellulite.
A body lift may include the abdominal area locally or extend around the sides and into the lower back area, the buttocks, the groin area, and the thighs.
Aging, sun damage, pregnancy, significant fluctuations in weight, and genetic factors may contribute to poor tissue elasticity that can result in sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs.
Body lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and body lift techniques may be recommended.
Body Lift Cost
A surgeon’s fee will be based on his or her experience, the type of procedure(s) used, and geographic location.
Most health insurance does not cover body lift surgery or its complications, but many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans, so be sure to ask.
Body lift surgery cost may include:
- Anesthesia fees.
- Hospital or surgical facility costs.
- Medical tests.
- Post-surgery garments.
- Prescriptions for medication.
- Surgeon’s fee.
When choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for a body lift, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about surgical procedures
Can I use my insurance and get these prices?
Payment is due 14 calendar days prior to your surgery date. If, after the cutoff, your account is not settled, your case must be postponed.
How quickly can I have surgery?
How will I meet my surgeon?
If I had a car or work accident, would you work with my employer or attorney for payment?
What if I get sick right before my surgery?
You could develop a respiratory infection, a urinary tract infection, COVID, or some other condition that may necessitate postponement. There is no penalty when this happens.
What’s Included:
- Facility fee
- Graft and hardware costs (if needed)
- Surgeon and assistant surgeon fees
- Anesthesiologist
- Time in the recovery unit (at no additional charge)
- Initial consultation visit
- One post-operative visit
*Please note: If you choose not to proceed with surgery after the initial consultation, or if you delay your procedure for more than 6 weeks, you will need to update your consultation at a cost of $375.
What’s not included:
- Lab testing before and after the surgery, as needed
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), depending on age. If you had one elsewhere in the past 6 months and it read “normal”, we can forego this expense.
- Imaging costs. X-rays and MRIs can be obtained anywhere.
- Physical therapy services
- Medications you’ll need (oral or IV antibiotic infusions if an infection arises)
- Wound care
- Bracing supplies
- Additional doctor visits (a pre-operative visit with the surgeon, in person, and any required post-op follow-ups after the suture removal to monitor your progress
- Additional surgical intervention if a complication arises
- Additional imaging or hospital care if a blood clot develops
Body Lift Candidates
In general, body lift candidates include:
- Individuals with significant soft tissue looseness in one or multiple body areas.
- Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase the risk of surgery.
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what body lift surgery can accomplish.
- Non-smokers.
- Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and fitness.
Body Lift Consultation
During your body lift surgery consultation, be prepared to discuss:
- Your surgical goals.
- Medical conditions, drug allergies, and previous medical treatments.
- Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
- Previous surgeries.
- Your body lift surgeon will also:
- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
- Examine and measure your body; this may include detailed body measurements.
- Take photographs.
- Discuss your body lift options.
- Recommend a course of treatment.
- Discuss likely outcomes of body lift surgery and any risks or potential complications.
Body Lift Preparation
In preparing for body lift surgery, you may be asked to:
- Get a lab test or a medical evaluation
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
- Stop smoking
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
- Body lift surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital.
Body Lift Procedural Steps
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The Incision
One common technique of complete lower body lift uses incisions similar to a bikini pattern to tighten the abdomen, groin, waist, thigh, and buttocks in one procedure. A circumferential incision around the body removes an apron of excess skin and fat and repositions and tightens tissues. Body lift procedures are surgical procedures, and they require extensive incisions. Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as surgical judgment. Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimsuits.
Step 3 – Closing the Incisions
Deep support sutures within underlying tissues help to form the newly shaped contours. Sutures, skin adhesives, tapes, or clips close the skin incisions.
Step 4 – Results
The results of a body lift are visible almost immediately. It may take as long as one to two years for the final results to fully develop. Get more information on body lift results.
What to expect after your surgery
Body Lift Recovery
During your body lift surgery recovery, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions after the procedure is complete. Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, how to care for your drains, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heartbeats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.
Body Lift Risks and Safety Information
Body lift surgery risks include:
- Anesthesia risks.
- Bleeding (hematoma).
- Infection.
- Poor wound healing.
- Fluid accumulation (blood or serum).
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation.
- Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis).
- Pain, which may persist.
- Recurrent looseness of skin.
- Persistent swelling in the legs.
- Asymmetries.
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications.
- Possible need for revisional surgery.
- Skin loss.
Can I Travel to St George for Surgery?
Yes, and we’ll help you make all your arrangements.
- We have arrangements to try to obtain free flights through a non-profit volunteer pilot organization. We can do this with 10 days’ advance notice in most cases.
- We have discount codes for the Holiday Inn in town. This hotel is 1.5 miles from the surgery center and 2 miles from our clinic.
- We’ll arrange to send your after-surgery medications to your hometown pharmacy for pickup before you leave.
What if I would rather drive to St George?
No problem, we can help with those plans as well. When you have surgery with us, we’ll need to make sure you’re safe and comfortable after surgery. We’ll arrange cold compression therapy that requires an AC/DC adaptor/transformer and frequent stops to stretch and refill the ice reservoir on the road.
We’ll ask about the vehicle you’ll travel in to ensure you have a way to elevate and stretch out in the vehicle on the road while someone else does the driving.
How are follow-up and initial consultations handled?
In-person and telehealth consultations are possible with the surgeon to whom your case is assigned. The initial visit is included in the surgical package and is valued at $375.
We can also obtain the flights from the volunteer pilot nonprofit if you’d like to come for initial and follow-up visits in person. One follow-up visit is included in the surgical package at a value of $175. Any additional visits are charged at the time of service to your credit or debit card.
Transparent Pricing Guide
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