If you’re struggling with sagging skin and tissue due to aging, genetics, weight fluctuations, or pregnancy, a body lift could be the solution you’ve been looking for. This body contouring procedure, offered by Donna Krummen, MD, FACS, can help you achieve a firmer physique.
Dr. Krummen is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in personalized procedures that restore your body’s natural shape and tone, helping you feel more confident in your skin.
What Is a Body Lift?
A body lift is a surgical procedure to restore the shape of the underlying tissue that supports the fat and skin of the abdomen, buttocks and thighs. Excess sagging fat and skin are removed from multiple areas to give you a “body lift.”
Many patients need combination of an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and a posterior lift to achieve the necessary body sculpting. For some, an armlift, thighlift, or liposuction may also be beneficial. One surgery does not fit all!
What Is a Full Body Lift?
A full body lift combines multiple surgeries to enhance your body contours, typically after significant weight loss. If you have loose skin and minor fatty tissue in multiple areas, Dr. Krummen might suggest dividing the procedure into two parts: an upper body lift and a lower body lift. This approach allows for a more targeted and effective transformation, addressing all your specific needs.
What Is Included in an Upper Body Lift?
An upper body lift is a personalized procedure, so it may look different for you than it does for someone else. The purpose of the upper body lift is to improve the contours of the arms, breasts, chest, and back.
Incisions for an upper body lift may be made in a few different areas based on where you have excess tissue. Dr. Krummen always makes incisions where scarring will be as discreet as possible. For example, upper arm lift surgery creates scars on the inner part of the arm. These may run from your armpit to your elbow area and should only be visible when you raise your arms overhead.
What Is Included in a Lower Body Lift?
The lower body lift addresses extra fat and skin from your midsection down. This procedure can tighten your abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, and lower back.
Liposuction may be included in both an upper and lower body lift as needed to remove stubborn pockets of fat.
How Is Recovery After a Body Lift?
Recovery from a body lift looks different for everyone because the procedures are customized. You may have more or fewer surgeries than others or need to remove more or less tissue. You may not need liposuction where another person will. Your age and general health can also impact your recovery.
As comprehensive as a body lift sounds and as dramatic as the results are, the short-term recovery can take just a couple of weeks. If you work a sedentary job, you may return to work after about 10 to 14 days. If your job is more active, you may need three to four weeks off. If you do strenuous work, you may need six to eight weeks off.
During the early stage of body lift recovery, you can expect to feel sore, tender, and tired. You will need to walk several times a day. At first, you may walk around the house for just five or 10 minutes. As you gain energy and comfort, your walks can increase in time and distance. Walking helps prevent blood clots from forming due to inactivity. Prescription medication and rest will help you manage post-surgical discomfort.
Before your surgery, our team will review your post-op instructions and answer any questions you have. You will also receive written instructions to follow after your body lift procedure.
Benefits of a Body Lift
Here are some of the amazing benefits you can look forward to after a body lift of any kind:
- Enjoy a more toned look by removing excess skin and fat.
- Daily activities become more comfortable with reduced discomfort and chafing.
- Your clothes fit better, giving you more confidence in whatever you choose to wear.
- Lasting results, especially with a commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
- You’ll have higher self-esteem and feel happier with how you look.
- Your procedure is tailored to your body and needs.
- Address multiple areas of your body in one procedure.
Why Choose Krummen Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery for Body Lift / Post-Weight-Loss Surgery?
- Designed for multi-area skin laxity. A body lift addresses loose skin and soft-tissue descent across the abdomen, buttocks, hips, and thighs rather than treating one small pocket of fat.
- One surgery does not fit all. The practice specifically emphasizes individualized combinations. Some patients need abdominal and posterior lifting, while others may benefit from additional arm lift, thigh lift, or liposuction.
- Experience with the component procedures. Dr. Krummen performs tummy tuck, liposuction, arm lift, thigh lift, breast surgery, and other contouring procedures, which is important when building a staged or combined post-weight-loss plan.
- Focus on stable, natural body proportions. The goal is to remove redundant tissue and improve the way adjacent areas transition into one another, helping the body reflect the patient’s weight-loss achievement without over-tightening a single region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Body lift candidates typically have substantial loose skin after major weight loss, pregnancy, aging, or repeated weight fluctuations and are at a stable, maintainable weight with realistic expectations about scars and recovery.
A tummy tuck focuses primarily on the abdomen. A lower body lift extends treatment around the torso to address additional areas such as the hips, buttocks, and outer thighs.
Not always. The safest plan depends on the total surgical time, amount of tissue removal, medical history, recovery demands, and which areas are most important to the patient.
Large weight changes after surgery can stretch tissues again and alter the contour. Stable weight also allows more accurate planning of how much excess skin truly remains.
Schedule A Sclerotherapy Consultation Today!
At your consultation Dr. Krummen will address your personal goals, your health history, as well as everything you can expect during surgery and recovery afterwards. Contact our office at 513.985.0850 to schedule a consultation today!
