What is the Best Preparation for a Successful Body Lift?

Thank you for the question.

The lower body lift is a major operation best  done  when you are close to a long-term stable weight and when you are in the best physical and emotional state you can be in. Most of the involved issues are common sensical  and include good nutrition, weight control, avoidance of nicotine products  etc. you will find that specific "dos  and don'ts" will  be reviewed with you during your preoperative visit with your plastic surgeon.

Some further words of advice may be helpful…

A few words of advice may be helpful:

1. Make sure you are doing the procedure for the right reasons (for yourself)  and that you have realistic expectations.  Be aware that an improvement in the “problem area” may not translate to an overall improvement in your life   situation.  You are bound to be disappointed with results of the procedure if your motivation for doing the surgery is not internally driven.

2. Time your surgery carefully; generally, it is not a good idea to have surgery done during or immediately after a stressful period in life (for example divorce or death of a loved one). The additional stress of surgery will undoubtedly be  more challenging to deal with if a patient's emotional reserves our already exhausted. Remember, that an improvement in your physical appearance will not translate to an improvement in your life situation.

3. If possible speak to patients who have undergone similar procedures and query them about the toughest times of their recovery period. Any practical hints previous patients can provide may be very helpful.

4. Make sure you are aware of potential complications that may arise how to reach your surgeon if necessary.

5. Make sure you have a strong and patient support system (several people if possible) in place who have time/patience to take care of you. Arrange for professional nursing if any doubt exists regarding the availability and/or stamina  of your caretakers.

6. Be patient with the healing process, understanding that it will take several weeks to months to feel “normal” again. It may also take many months/year to see the end results of your surgery.

7. Be prepared to distract your mind with things of interest such as books, magazines, and movies.

8. Expect less of yourself; do not go back to work, school or chores too early and let others take care of you (for a change).

9. Pick your surgeon carefully (a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon) and trust in his/her advice. Keep in close communication with your surgeon and do not hesitate to communicate questions/concerns and the   emotional swings that you may experience.

10. Resume all medications that you were using preoperatively when cleared by your plastic surgeon and stop the use of narcotics and sedatives as soon as feasible after surgery.

11. Keep in mind the end results as you go through the tougher emotional times after your surgery.

I hope this helps.

The lower body lift is one of the most extensive procedures performed in cosmetic surgery. For this reason, preparing for surgery in every possible way will not only improve your result, but the quality of the experience as well. It's important to prepare physically, medically, and mentally for this procedure.It's important to be in good physical condition before proceeding with this procedure. Ideally, results are best when patients are within ten percent of their ideal body weight. In  some cases, patients are unable to reach this goal. This group still benefits from the procedure. In addition, it's also important to maintain good nutrition, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy life style.It's also important to be medically ready for the lower body lift. Patients should be extensively evaluated to rule out other medical conditions. Areas of particular concern include cigarette smoking, blood pressure management and the patient's baseline hemoglobin.Mental preparation for the lower body lift is also extremely important and helps lower the anxiety levels before surgery. It's important that you have a comfort level with your anesthesiologist, surgeon and the surgical facility. It's essential that all your questions be answered so there are no surprises.Arrangements for post-operative care also need to be in order. It's important to have a care giver not only for yourself, but your children as well. Addressing as many of these issues as possible before surgery will significantly improve results and the quality of the experience.

There are many different steps in preparing for a body lift procedure. First is consult a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in body contouring procedures. Second is to make sure you understand your surgeon’s procedural plan. Third would be to understand all the risks and complications of your procedure. Fourth would be to have a history and physical and labs drawn by your primary care physician in order to ensure your body can endure your planned procedure(s). Next is to get on a nutritional supplement plan provided by your surgeon. Last but not least would be to make sure you have proper caretaking prepared for when you get out of surgery. There are so many other suggestions I could make for you, but it all depends on what procedures will be a part of your body lift.

I have included a link that may be helpful to you.