What is approx recovery time for a lower body lift without muscle tightening?

Question

I previously had a tummy tuck and now I am considering a lower body lift for loose thigh skin. I will not be having any muscle repair. My doctor told me I could be back to work (desk job) in a week. I am at my correct weight and in excellent physical health. Also, wondering if patients with "not too much loose skin" will also get some improvement of the inner thighs as well after a lower body lift. Thank you for your answers!

Jeffrey Rockmore, MD · Answer

Recovery from a lower body lift is usually about 2 weeks but may be shorter without muscle tightening. It’s important to remember that everyone heals differently and some people have a higher pain tolerance than others. I would speak with your doctor about the kind of procedure he is performing and communicate your concerns about your inner thighs. If that is a concern of yours, you may want to talk to him about performing a thigh lift at the same time as the body lift.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

The 360 circumferential lower body lift is an excellent operation to remove loose skin from the abdomen, hips, and buttocks. Usually, abdominal muscle tightening is performed during the lower body lift, but perhaps, during your tummy tuck, your muscles were already tightened. In regards to recovery time, I would give yourself 2 to 3 weeks to heal from a 360 circumferential lower body lift. Even without muscle tightening, I think one week to recover after a body lift is too short. However, every patient is different, and every plastic surgeon does things differently. Perhaps, your recovery will be sooner than two weeks. In regards to the improving your medial or inner thighs, the 360 circumferential lower body lift will improve your medial thighs only modestly. Without pictures, it is difficult to tell you exactly how much your body lift will improve your medial thighs. Without a physical examination and pictures, I would estimate that your 360 circumferential lower body lift would only improve your medial thighs by about 15 to 20%. Thank you for your questions regarding a 360 circumferential lower body lift, muscle tightening of the rectus muscles, recovery time, and inner or medial thighs. If you have any other questions regarding reconstructive plastic surgery after massive weight loss, please call my office. Whenever you are considering reconstructive plastic surgery, especially for 360 circumferential lower body lifts, please seek an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  I usually recommend two weeks off work after a lower body lift.  Perhaps you are not getting a full lower body lift?  If you have significant excess inner thigh skin laxity, then you may want to consider a thigh lift also.   Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Robert Drielsma, MBBS, BSc, FRACS · Answer

If loose thigh skin is your major concern then you may want to consider a thigh lift.  A body lift won’t adequately address excess skin on the inner thighs and thigh lift surgery is routinely performed as a secondary stage to body lift surgery.  In either case, two weeks off work is usually required and its six weeks before you can resume regular exercise.

Manuel Ventura Gonzalez, MD · Answer

Hello Beth
The recovery time after a body lift is mostly two to six weeks With surprising results come compensations and this surgery leaves great scars. It takes a lot of time to recover and often has to be divided into two surgeries. The first addresses the area of the stomach - performing cosmetic surgery of the abdomen and the second is directed to the back. These surgeries are carried out at least three months apart, as this is the safest and risk-reducing way. It is also better because the recovery time is shorter for each stage and the patient is not required to stay in the hospital overnight, in addition there is less risk of a blood transfusion.
The whole procedure can be done in one go, but the only advantage is that there is a recovery period instead of two. The time to take for recovery is the same.
Note: The most important thing now is to consult with a plastic surgeon who gives you all the guidelines and suggestions you need.
To Serve you Always, Dr. Manuel Ventura 
Certified,  Medical research institute of plastic surgery in sao bernardo do campo, sao paulo, brazil

What is approx recovery time for a lower body lift without muscle tightening?

Answers (5)

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