Exercise Goals Before a Body Lift?

I am a personal trainer who has a client that has lost 100+ lbs through hard work and weight loss surgery. She is 31 , 5"5 , 162 lbs and is in good health. She is planning on getting a "body lift" (several procedures including a tummy tuck) in October. What goals should I have for her training routine leading up to the surgery? More weight loss? Increase muscle mass?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Erika LA Trainer

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Preparation for Body Lift

Thanks for your question. The best thing you can do is to encourage your friend to optimize her nutrition. In fact, it would be helpful for her to see a nutritionist. Protein supplementation ( to improve healing potential) and multi-vitamins would be helpful. In addition, cardiac exercise will also better prepare her for surgery as well. Dr. Basu Houston, TX

Physical Conditioning Before Body Lift

Glad to see a trainer here ! I enjoy and encourage my patients who have trainers to get involved before and after surgery. Cardio conditioning (decreased resting pulse rate, shortened recovery) is probably the best thing I have seen patient do before surgery. Surgery is a stress and the physiologic response to training and conditioning can go a long way to counteract blood loss. I have seen my 50 year old "spin class queens" recover from body... more

Exercise Goals Before a Body Lift?

I think remaining fit is a great goal in itself, and will help toward an easier recovery. The one other thing that will help both surgeon and patient is to get the patient as close to her desired weight as possible. That more than anything else will determine that the correct amount of excess tissue will be removed, and that the correct amount of abdominal wall tightening is done. Thanks for your question, and for your concern about your client. more

Body Lift Preparation

I recommend that your client see a Nutritionist as soon as possible before her surgery. Also, she/he should have a complete physical with EKG and Labs. As for exercise, your client would benefit more from a cardio workout at this time.