Body Sculpting after WLS. What would the downtime be between upper and lower body lift procedures?

Thank you for your question regarding an upper body lift and lower body lift in terms of surgical timing. I perform many procedures after significant weight loss. Usually, I start out on the lower body and then proceed to the upper body. In regards to your statement that the upper body may be better than the lower body procedure, this is completely patient dependent. Since both body parts bother you and you have the time, I would suggest you do the lower body lift first. A lower body lift would include a tummy tuck, pubic left, pubic reduction, hip left, hip reduction, and buttock lift and possible buttock reduction. This may or may not be combined with the thigh reduction. This procedure takes approximately 6 to 10 hours depending on exactly what needs to be performed. Then I would give yourself at minimum 1 to 2 months recovery before embarking upon the upper body lift. The upper body lift could include just breast reduction, back lift back reduction, and or arm lift or arm reduction or brachioplasty. Depending on what exactly needs to be done, this procedure can take anywhere between 4 to 8 hours. This is also done under general anesthesia and is performed on an outpatient basis. Give yourself at least 4 to 6 weeks to heal from the upper body lift so conceivably you could get everything done and would be healed within approximately three months. If there any complications or issues, this will delay your healing and your return to work. However, if you have 10 months to heal, that should be plenty of time to heal from an upper body lift and a lower body lift. Please do not combine the procedures, for this is too much surgery. In addition, I would recommend you do a lower body lift before the upper body lift because you need your arms to help your body ambulate and take care of the dressings from your lower body lift. Therefore I’d like to perform the lower body lift first. I hope this information helps.

I specialize in reconstructive plastic surgery after weight loss. If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy please contact my office. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 100 circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced, lower body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

I typically recommend waiting 6 months between procedures to allow time to heal from the first surgery and then recondition your fitness level prior to the second surgery. Plan for 6-8 weeks recovery time following the second operation prior to getting back to exercise without restriction. Time off work depends on how physical your job is. For office/desk work, I recommend 3 weeks off. For physically demanding work, I recommend 6 weeks off.

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss! It is a good idea to stage your procedures as you have elected. This will allow you to get the most out of the procedures you choose. Waiting at least 6 months between the stages is generally adequate, so the ten months you have planned is sufficient. It will take up to a year to see final results.