I am 6 months post-op of a full body lift and have so many questions no one can answer, so I hope someone here can help.

Question

I had a flat stomach back in January now the upper part of my stomach sticks out far more than my lower stomach, my mons pubis sticks out even farther, my back fat is very noticeable as well as my underarm fat (the section between your breasts and back). Wasn't like this in Jan. I was flat and very tight. I also have inner thigh issues. I was so specific in regards to my inner thighs and mons. It looks like nothing was done at all. During a full body lift are the inner thighs not touched?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question about the changes you noticed six months after your full body lift. It sounds like you're experiencing unexpected changes, especially in your upper stomach, mons pubis, back, and inner thighs. I understand how frustrating this can be, especially when the results initially aligned more with your expectations.

The upper stomach sticking out more than the lower stomach could be due to a few factors. One possibility is that swelling or fluid retention can still persist up to six months post-op, especially in areas that were surgically altered. Additionally, muscle laxity in the upper abdominal region that wasn’t addressed during the surgery might be contributing to the protrusion. If the lower abdomen was tightened but the upper wasn’t, this can sometimes create an imbalance in contour.

As for your mons pubis sticking out, this area is often addressed during a body lift, but depending on the technique and amount of tissue removed, there can sometimes be residual swelling or fat that affects the overall contour. If the mons was not adequately lifted or fat wasn’t sufficiently removed, this could explain why it sticks out more now.

Your concerns about back fat and the section between the breasts and back could be due to weight fluctuations or a natural redistribution of fat after surgery. This area, like the mons, can also retain some swelling for several months. Additionally, if these areas weren’t specifically addressed during the body lift, they may have become more noticeable as other parts of your body healed and tightened.

Regarding your inner thighs, it's important to note that a full body lift typically focuses on the midsection, lower back, and sometimes the buttocks and thighs. However, inner thigh correction usually requires a specific thigh lift procedure, which may not have been part of your body lift unless explicitly planned.

I recommend having a follow-up consultation with your surgeon to address your concerns and clarify what was included in your body lift. If the areas you’re unhappy with weren’t addressed, a revision or additional procedures like a thigh lift or mons pubis lift may be necessary to achieve the results you want.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Nicole L. Nemeth, MD · Answer

The changes you describe can be related to changes in weight&mdash;either up or down&mdash;and/or the effects of gravity on the healing process (especially if the skin is of poor quality).  The lower body lift does not address the inner thighs specifically.  Any concerns you have over your post-operative appearance should be discussed between you and your surgeon.

Good luck

I am 6 months post-op of a full body lift and have so many questions no one can answer, so I hope someone here can help.

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I am 6 months post-op of a full body lift and have so many questions no one can answer, so I hope someone here can help.

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