What is the Typical Recovery from a Lower Body Lift? Doctor Answers, Tips
Body Lift: Q&A
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What is the Typical Recovery from a Lower Body Lift?

I'm considering whether to get a tummy tuck or body lift and maybe some skin reduction on thighs if possible. I am currently a 157lb., 6'1", 27-year-old male, and I have lost ~100-110 lbs. over the past two years. I have some excess skin that has not responded to weight loss. It's worst in the abdomen/butt/thighs (mostly on the sides of the body). My major concerns are recovery time and danger of complications from the operation (is a body lift significantly more dangerous than a tummy tuck)? I wouldn't be able to miss more than 2 weeks of work. Thanks.

19 Doctor Answers | Asked by engineer506 in Washington, DC
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Recovery from Body Lift is More Demanding than an Abdominoplasty Alone

The lower body lift tightens the buttocks and back of the thighs, hips and outer thighs, and abdomen and inner thighs by removing a band of tissue circumferentially from the spine in back to the abdomen in front. This limits bending forward, bending backwards, and bending side to side. Frequently, 6 to 7 drains are placed under the skin to remove serum fluid, which may build up and stretch the skin. Sitting, lying, and transferring from one position to another is limited by the incision... more
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Body Lift Recovery

If your general health and fitness level are good, it is possible that you will be able to return to work during your second post-operative week, depending on your job description from a body lift. It is recommended that you not lift more than ten pounds for a few weeks. Furthermore, another requirement for returning to work is that you are no longer taking narcotic pain relievers. Whether you would benefit most from a tummy tuck or a body lift would be determined at your... more
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Recovery From a Lower Body Lift

Some people would recover from a lower body lift and be able to return to work in two weeks, but for many that would be cutting it too short. Being in good aerobic conditioning and having good nutritional status after weight loss can make recovery easier. Having good personal support and a relatively stress free time period can also enhace recovery. Most people experience fatigue for 4-6 weeks after the surgery even though they nay be able to perform... more

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Body lifting recovery

Thank you for your question. A lower body lift is a large surgery and would require more than 2 weeks off of work (In my opinion). It would be best to visit with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon who has experience with weight loss patients to get the best advice. It is best to schedule surgery when you have time off for proper recovery, otherwise you may cause unwanted post operative complications. Best Wishes!
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Lower body lift recovery time.

Thank you for your photos.  It appears you have a relatively small amount of skin which actually hangs although the skin may be loose in other areas.  If you are concerned about the loose/hanging skin of your abdomen, sides and the buttock area then a lower body lift, which lifts and rejuvenates the entire trunk would give you the best result.  I routinely do this as a single operation in approximately 4 hours.  There is one night in the hospital and recovery is 2 - 4... more
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Lower body lift

The surgery to perform a circumferential procedure usually takes me between 4-5 hours.  The recovery time for the patient is usually about 1-2 weeks. The drains may stay in as long as 3 weeks and come out in as little as 1 week on average.
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Abdominoplasty or Loer BodyLift

The picture you posted only shows your abdomen and based on this photo you look like a great candidate for an abdominoplasty. For the laxity you mention of your buttocks and thighs a Lower Body Lift would be the procedure of choice. However, as my colleagues have mentioned, a Lower Body Lift is much more involved and has a longer recovery. If you can not take more than two weeks for recovery I would suggest limiting your surgery to the abdominoplasty. You can have the thighs and... more
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Lower Body Lift Versus Tummy Tuck

The recovery form a lower body lift and a tummy tuck procedure are completely different.  A lower body lift encompases 5 to 6 procedures when done well by a plastic surgeon who specializes in this field.  Thus the recovery and the down times are much different.  Foir a tummy tuck, most patient will need about 2 weeks.  However, most of my lower body lift patients will take 3 to 4 weeks to recover before going back to work.  Also, the lower body lift has a higher... more
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Consider staging the surgery.

Hello, If you stage the surgery (meaning have less surgery at one time and potentially do the additional work later,) then your risk will be less and your recovery will be shorter. I do this routinely for larger scale operations with an excellent safety record. A two week recovery for a complete lower body lift seems short to me with all due respect to the other surgeons who answered here.   Best Regards,   John Di Saia MD
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Optimizing recovery after a body lift

Body lift procedure if done properly has a high safety profile for most patients.  You seem to fit that category, assuming you are not a smoker and not a poorly controlled diabetic.  Even if you add a tummy tuck (which in your case most likely would not involve much muscle work), you should be able to drive a care within a week, and back to office type of work within 10-14 days. In our practice we routinely do isolated lower body lifts on outpatient bases, with patients... more
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