Can I do a Lower Body Lift and Upper Body Lift at the same time? If not how long do I have to wait between procedures?

Hi Ahmedbenhamidaa, The 360 circumferential lower body lift removes skin and fat from the abdomen, pubic region, hips, and buttocks.  Typically, the 360 lower body lift can take 5 to 8 hours to complete.  This procedure is performed under general anesthesia.  The recovery period is different for every patient, but is usually 3 to 4 weeks.The upper body lift removes excess skin and fat from the chest, lateral breast, and back.  Typically, this procedure can take 3 to 4 hours under general anesthesia.  I would suggest staging the 360 lower body lift and the upper body lift for several reasons.  First of all, I think the anesthesia is a little too long.  To reduce the anesthesia and surgical  time, I would suggest staging the procedures. Secondly, during the 360 lower body lift, the buttock is pulled up and relies on the blood supply of the lower back.  During the upper body lift, the back is pulled up and relies on the upper back for its blood supply.  Due to pull of different vectors and the added risk of blood supply, I do not think it is a good idea to combine the upper and lower body lift.I would wait 4 to 6 weeks between procedures. Please be sure you a board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in lower and upper body lifts as well as with weight loss patients.Good luck. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen 

Generally it is safer to do these procedures separately to ensure that the blood supply between the two surgical sites is maintained.  I generally suggest a 6 month wait but there will be variability depending on each surgeon's preference.

I would separate them by about 3 months or so in most circumstances.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

A lower body lift is a series of procedures that is performed through a circumferential incision.  In my practice, I perform a monsplasty, abdominoplasty, outer thigh lift, buttock lift, liposuction, and buttock augmentation with lower back fat during a lower body procedure.  An upper body lift on the other hand is performed to improve the upper back and the chest region.  It can include a bra-line upper body lift, a J-upper body lift (for outer chest reduction), or a reverse tummy tuck in order to correct for lower chest/upper abdominal laxity.  Depending on the experience of your plastic surgeon and their personal philosophy, it is possible to combine a lower body and upper body lift procedure.  However, this depends on the upper body lift complexity and your needs.  Certainly in the past, I have performed a lower body lift with a bra-line upper body lift. 

Although lower body lift has a strict definition, the upper body lift does not. The lower body lift addresses the abdomen, outer thighs and buttocks. When significant weight loss occurs all structures of the upper body can be affected. Procedures to improve the contour of the arms, breasts and back may all be necessary.I do not combine lower body lift procedures with "upper body lifts". The procedures are lengthy and I instruct my patients to use their upper body to compensate for the core muscles during the immediate healing process. This makes recovery easier and the overall experience more "pleasant".Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in body contouring after significant weight loss.Good luck and I hope this was helpful.

It is recommended that these procedures are done seperately. Having two seperate surgeries will ensure adequate blood supply to the surgical sites. Recovery will be much easier as well. The amount of time you have to wait between surgeries will depend on your surgeon's preference but will generally be 3-6 months.

Hi and thanks for your question. Body lifts are extensive surgical procedures but yield dramatic outcomes in properly selected patients. However, upper and lower body lifts are done separately to preserve adequate blood supply to the trunk and avoid excessive tension. See a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Pladtic Surgery. Best of luck!

A lower body lift is a combination of a abdominoplasty or tummy tuck(TT) with a buttock lift and an upper body lift can be different parts of the back area. Yes, these can be combined safely but really depends on the person and where the excess is to be removed from. I don't want a narrow separation between the two areas for that may cause healing problems. If they were not done at the same time, then they could be done fairly soon, even after a month, depending on healing. I do try and combine procedures esp in my post-bariatric large weight loss patients to decrease their expenses as well as recovery but not jeopardize the final results!