Body Lift in Houston and Sugar Land, TX

What Is A Body Lift?

Individuals who have lost a dramatic amount of weight due to gastric bypass surgery or dieting often discover that their skin has lost its ability to reconform to the body. Many times, these patients have developed uncomfortable skin flaps around the midsection, buttocks, and upper thighs that need to be addressed surgically for both aesthetic and medical reasons. A body lift procedure can remove excess skin and fat, giving your body that toned look you want.

Body Lift Surgery

Undergoing body lift surgery with Dr. Altamira in Houston, Texas can reveal your new, slimmer figure from beneath excess skin and tissue. He begins with a careful incision around the midsection, positioned below the belt line. After releasing the skin from the underlying tissue, Dr. Altamira lifts the bottom portion of the body by stretching the skin, smoothing skin flaps on the lower abdomen, hips, and buttocks, and trimming away excess skin and fat. Often, he will use liposuction techniques to help sculpt and refine your new figure. He then repeats the process with the upper portion of the body, contouring the abdomen and back area. Once all areas have been tightened, the incision is closed. Body lift is a life changing procedure for those who have chosen to have it done, finally giving them the graceful body proportions and curves that they have worked so hard to achieve through weight loss. View the amazing results of body lift plastic surgery performed at our Houston, Texas practice in our photo gallery.

Who Is A Candidate for Body Lift Surgery?

Ideal candidates for body lift surgery are patients in overall good health interested in eliminating the looseness of the skin and excess fat. This procedure is most commonly beneficial for patients who have recently lost a significant amount of weight and the excess skin on their body has become unresponsive to natural weight loss methods. As long as you can maintain a stable weight and have realistic expectations for the results of your procedure, you can benefit from a body lift.

What Are Contraindications for Body Lift Surgery?

Contraindications for body lift surgery are any underlying health conditions that may increase the risks of surgery or make it difficult for the body to heal while in recovery. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, bleeding disorders, arthritis, or lung disease, a body lift procedure may not be recommended.

How Long Will The Body Lift Surgery Take?

On average, a body lift procedure will take at least five hours. The procedure may take longer depending on the patient’s needs, medical history, and aesthetic goals.

Are There Risks With the Body Lift Surgery?

While patients will experience common side effects such as soreness, tenderness, swelling, and pain while moving during recovery, there are a few less common risks that may result from the body lift procedure that patients should be aware of. These include:

  • Infection in surgical wounds.
  • Excessive bleeding.
  • Temporary or permanent loss of skin sensation.
  • Deep vein thrombosis.
  • Asymmetries.
  • Allergic reactions to anesthesia.
  • Blood clots.
  • Scarring.

What Is Recovery Like After Body Lift Surgery?

Recovery from a body lift surgery will require some time. On average, most patients are able to make a full recovery after a full six weeks of healing. While most patients return to work within three weeks, they may still experience some discomfort at this time. Wearing compression bandages, preparing your home for easy mobility, prioritizing rest, and following the aftercare guidelines as recommended by Dr. Altamira will ensure a complication-free recovery.

How Long Will My Results Last?

Patients can expect to enjoy the results from their body lift for several decades. However, a body lift will not prevent the natural aging process from occurring. Because of this, it’s important that patients maintain a stable weight by sticking to a healthy diet and committing to an exercise routine that can optimize the appearance of their results. While it may take two years or more for the final results of your body lift to become noticeable, with the proper care, many patients maintain their results for a lifetime.

Schedule A Consultation

To learn more about the body lift procedure, contact us at (713) 271-9000 to schedule a consultation to find out if you are a good candidate for surgery. Dr. Altamira has plastic surgery offices located in Houston and Sugar Land .