Buttock Lifts and Total Body Lifts

A body lift is a general term given to the group of operations that lift the loose hanging skin which follows massive weight loss. There are two main types of body lift namely the lower body lift and the upper body lift. The aim of body lift surgery is to return the trunkal/ body contour towards the normal range. Body lift surgery can make you feel better about yourself and boost your confidence following the considerable achievement of dramatic weight loss whether this is done by dieting and exercise or gastric bypass or gastric banding. Some people feel demoralised that despite great weight loss they remain unable to fit into smaller clothes due to excess skin. This surgery will address this issue.

It is very important that you point out all the areas of your concern to Professor Malata so that he can inform you of what can be achieved and what is not possible. He can then outline for you exactly what will be needed to achieve your objectives.

In body lift surgery it is important that you have lost all the weight you intend to lose and your weight has been stable for at least 3 – 6 months. For your safety Professor Malata does not undertake other surgeries combined with a lower body lift or an upper body lift (in order to reduce the risks during and after surgery).

The final results are not guaranteed and depend on your BMI, fat deposition pattern and the quality of the remaining skin-fat envelope; and continue to improve for 1 – 2 years.

Lower Body Lift

Lower body lift surgery such as the University of Iowa Belt Lipectomy procedure removes excess skin and fatty tissue from around the lower trunk combining a tummy tuck, buttock lifts and hip/flank lifts. It aims to improve the contour of a floppy/ overhanging abdomen, saggy flanks/ upper lateral thighs and saggy buttocks. Routinely Professor Malata tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. Sometimes it can attain a significant waist definition.

A buttock lift is the posterior part of the lower body lift.

Lower body lift is a major life-changing operation which carries many significant risks. The aim of the surgery is to return the trunkal/ body contour towards the normal range.

Risks of lower body lifts

All operations carry risks as well as benefits. A lower body lift is a major life-changing operation which carries many significant risks. The chance of complications following a lower body lift depends on the type of operation and other factors such as your general health. Professor Malata will explain how the risks apply to you. Detailed postoperative instructions will be discussed during consultation and a procedure-specific handout given to you by Professor Malata.

Some risks of a lower body lift (> 50% of patients)

Frequent

• Bruising and swelling of tissues: common

• Discomfort on movement

• Numbness: widespread, severe, can be long lasting

• Seromas (clear fluid collections): very common (30-50%) – serial aspirations needed

• Small areas of wound breakdown: common

• Delayed healing from wound breakdown/separation, skin loss, etc

• Scars: stretch, widen, lumpy, raised/ red, itchy

• Psychological distress - common: weeping, depression, anxiety, strains on relationships , body image problems

• Limited improvement of nearby areas: front of thighs, upper back rolls, mons pubis width

Infrequent

• Bleeding and hematoma: infrequent - 5-10%

• Infection (5%): infrequent: treated with antibiotics ± drainage

• Tissue loss (5%): skin or umbilicus [smokers, extensive undermining; T-cuts, previous scars]

• Contour irregularities: depressions, ridges, wrinkling

• General complications: chest infection, blood clots [DVT’s, pulmonary emboli (PE’s)], can be life threatening

• Revisional surgery: dog ears, residual asymmetry, dissatisfaction, mons pubis excess, etc

• Persistent redundancy of buttocks

• Feminization of the lower trunk in men.

• Long term effects of: ageing, weight changes, pregnancy, long scars

Alternatives to a lower body lift

• Surgery in stages: tummy tuck, thigh or flank lifts, buttock lifts

• Isolated areas only

• No surgery at all: baggy clothes

Upper Body Lift

Upper body lift surgery addresses excess skin & stretched and droopy tissues which cause drooping and descent of the lateral inframammary fold, lateral breast rolls, upper back rolls and inverted-v deformities both in front and the back of the upper trunk.

Often this surgery is done after the lower truncal contour has been improved (via a lower body lift). This is so that you can then achieve better balance in your overall body contour. The specific aims of upper body lift surgery are to:

1. eliminate upper arm excess (saggy, floppy upper arms)

2. eliminate horizontal chest excess (lax tissues from up and down)

3. eliminate vertical chest excess (lax tissues from side to side)

4. eliminate the lateral breast/ upper back rolls

5. create an appropriate breast contour depending on the sex and desires of the patient

An upper body lift is associated with significant scarring. It is also important to have realistic expectations of what can be accomplished postoperatively.

All operations carry risks as well as benefits. As in any cosmetic surgery, there are benefits, risks and the final results are not guaranteed. Upper body lift is a major operation which carries a number of risks. Professor Malata will explain how the risks apply to you. Detailed postoperative instructions will be discussed during consultation and a procedure-specific handout given to you by Professor Malata.

Some risks of an upper body lift

Frequent

• Bruising and swelling of tissues: common

• Discomfort on movement; tightness

• Numbness and “unusual” sensations/ paresthesiae: widespread, severe, can be long lasting

• Seromas (clear fluid collections): common especially on the back – treated by aspirations

• Small areas of wound breakdown: common especially in the axilla

• Wound healing problems from breakdown/separation, skin loss, etc

• Scars noticeable and can be problematic: stretched, wide, lumpy, raised/ red

• Psychological distress - common: weeping, depression, anxiety, relations, body image

• Limited improvement of nearby areas: depending on surgery done

• Symmetry of scars and contour are difficult if not impossible to achieve.

Infrequent

• Bleeding and hematoma: infrequent

• Infection infrequent: antibiotics ± rarely surgical treatment.

• Skin loss from necrosis

• General complications: chest infection, blood clots [DVT & PE (pulmonary emboli)

• Revisional surgery: dog ears, residual asymmetry, dissatisfaction

• Persistent redundancy of arms, lateral chest or upper back rolls

• Excessuve tightness of the arms with swelling of the tissues

• Long term effects from: ageing, weight loss/ gain, pregnancy, etc, long scars

Alternatives to an upper body lift

• Surgery in stages: arm lifts, lateral chest rolls, upper back rolls, breast surgery

• Isolated areas only

• No surgery at all: baggy clothes