What is the Typical Recovery from a Lower Body Lift?

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 weeks.  Recovery is longer for the lower body lift vs the tummy tuck as the surgery is more extensive, but the overall correction of the trunk is better with the lower body lift.  If you work at a desk then returning to work in 2 weeks should be possible.  Complication rates are low if proper pre operative and post operative instructions, especially about walking, are followed.

Recovery from 'tummy tucks" and body lift surgery in men is very different than in women. This is because usually muscle tightening does not need to be done in men. Why? Because women are the ones who get pregnant and sacrifice their bodies for the sake of having a family! Pregnancy causes a lot of stretching of the muscles which often do not shrink back. These muscles are routinely tightened in tummy tucks for women. In men, even those that have lost a lot of weight, the tummy muscles can be strengthened through exercise. and core strengthening. Therefore these operations turn into just skin operations for men. Less muscle work means less pain. And this means an easier recovery. Depending upon your work you might be able to return after a week, probably two at the max. This doesn't mean that you will be completely healed. That will take a few months. Light exercise can uually resume by six weeks. it's always best to get your info straight from the surgeon so go treat yourself to a consultation. Good luck.

Your history and pictures suggest that you would be an excellent candidate for a body lift procedure. Lower body lifts remove excess abdominal and back tissue, tightens the abdominal muscles and lift the buttocks in an upward direction.Patients can anticipate limited physical activity for ten to fourteen days following surgery. I typically tell my patients bathroom and kitchen privileges initially with slow resumption of normal activity over the next two weeks. Patients can usually return to work in two weeks, if no strenuous activity or heavy lifting is involved. After six weeks, they can resume all their normal activities including heavy lifting.Patients typically wear an abdominal binder for three weeks following surgery. This minimizes swelling and increases comfort. Drains are placed at the time of surgery and are usually removed within two weeks of surgery. Pain management is extremely important, especially when the abdominal muscles are tightened. Most patients are initially given narcotic pain relievers and switched to Tylenol five to seven days following surgery.Patients with small children should have assistance with childcare for at least one week and patients should not drive while taking narcotics. For many patients, body lift surgery is a life changing experience. It's not unusual for patients to experience dramatic changes in their self esteem, self confidence and self image.

A body lift almost always accompanies a tummy tuck in a person who has lost 100 pounds or more. The previous excess weight expands the skin, making skin redundancy the norm in someone who has lost over a 100 pounds. The body lift portion of the procedure does not typically lengthen the recovery from tummy tuck surgery yet makes the first week or so a little more difficult because the incision is circumferential. The vast majority of patients should still be able to return to work in a couple of weeks. If this surgery is combined with thigh skin excision procedures, the recovery might be a little longer. Complications can occur where wound separation requires prolonged healing, but it usually does not affect the ability to return to work.

The answer is dependent on your procedures. Generally, 6-8 weeks of protecting your incisions should cover most uncomplicated situations with a body  lift. Even after this time, you will not be fully recovered, as there will be some lingering edema and the scars will be immature. Complete healing and final results will typically be apparent at 6 months; maybe even longer in some cases.  Complications after such cases are fairly common (mostly minor) but will often prolong recovery when they happen.  I would advise that it is very unlikely that 2 weeks is long enough for a procedure of this magnitude, and you should adjust your timing and plans accordingly.

The Lower Body Lift surgery, while more extensive than a Tummy Tuck, has a very similar recovery period.  Most patients are able to carry out their non-strenuous daily activities by 2-3 weeks after surgery.  The use of  sequential tension sutures for closure allows the procedure to be done without drains, which helps decrease discomfort during recovery time. Exercise is fine at after 6 weeks from the day of surgery.  Dr. B

Congratulations on the weight loss.  Two weeks off before returning to work is typically for my body lift patients.  A body lift is quite a bit bigger than a tummy tuck, and it has more risks as well as a longer recovery.  From what I can see in your picture you may be better off doing a tummy tuck now and then a later stage thigh and buttocks lift.

HiYou should be able to return to an office job in two weeks most of the time.  A physically demanding job would require more time to heal.Dr Rodger ShorttPlastic Surgeon OakvilleAss't Clin ProfessorDirector of Cosmetic Surgery Training,McMaster University

The recovery will be directly related to the amount of tissue to be removed, the pre-operative condition that the patient has before surgery and the blood  loss during surgery this conbination will give you the answer.  After reviweing your pictures you will recovery for your ordinary activities  if everything goes well in aproximatly 3 weeks after surgery

Dear Engineer 506:

Congratulations on your significant weight loss. You, like many others, have developed excess skin and fat of the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs. Since these are the areas you mentioned that are worst, I would suggest a body lift or a 360 body lift. This would address the abdomen, buttocks and thighs with the same surgery. If you undergo a tummy tuck, only your abdomen would be addressed.

The recovery time after a body lift takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks. The surgery is done under general anesthesia and takes approximately 6 to 8 hours. There can always be complications with whatever surgery is done. The risks with a body lift are slightly higher than with a tummy tuck but not significantly. The 360 Body Lift surgeries do take longer and the incision is longer. Therefore, the risks of wound breakdown and wound complications are slightly higher.

Approximately 80% of my patients are able to return to work two weeks after their body lift. I am assuming that your job as an engineer is mostly a desk job and does not entail a significant amount of lifting.

Please visit my website for more pictures on 360 body lifts.

Thank you and good luck.