Body Lift
Cincinnati Plastic Surgery Specialists in Body Lifts (Lipectomy)
Thank you for considering UC Health Plastic Surgery for your plastic surgery procedure. We offer a safe, comfortable atmosphere in our modern, state-of-the-art facility located in West Chester, Ohio, convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. We offer a friendly staff of nurses and administrative support to help with your scheduling issues and questions.
What is Lipectomy?
The body lift, also known as a lipectomy, is a surgical procedure that reshapes and “lifts” the lower body including the abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks by removing excess skin, cellulite, and sagging fatty tissue. It is used to improve the body’s contour following massive weight loss after childbearing or weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass, or may be performed to improve the results of liposuction. The body lift is often performed in conjunction with contouring procedures on other areas of the body. Patients considering lipectomy are strongly encouraged to see a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Procedure Benefits
- Remove excess skin, cellulite, and sagging fatty tissue
- Reshape the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks
- Flatten and tighten the abdomen
- Improve the body’s contour following massive weight loss
- Enhance body contour and symmetry
Private Consultation
Your surgeon at our conveniently located Cincinnati offices will evaluate your overall health to determine whether you are a candidate for lipectomy. You will discuss your goals and expectations, and your surgeon will explain the surgical options and other body-contouring procedures if appropriate. You should be prepared to discuss your complete medical history, including previous surgery, and any medications you are taking (including vitamins). You will also discuss the cost of the procedure, keeping in mind that this is usually an elective procedure which is not covered by most insurance companies.
Preparation
If you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, it must be controlled before you can undergo this procedure. For at least two weeks prior to surgery, you must stop taking any blood-thinning medications and herbal supplements. After you have scheduled a surgery date, you will make an appointment for pre-admission testing and a physical exam. The surgery should take place within 2 weeks after the results of these tests have been returned. You will receive guidelines on eating and drinking, taking vitamins and medications, and smoking. Smoking should be stopped 2-3 months before the operation because it reduces the blood supply to tissue. In fact, some surgeons will refuse to perform elective surgery on smokers due to this risk. You should arrange for someone to drive you home from our Cincinnati offices after your surgery and to help you out for a few days if needed.
Procedure Overview
The procedure is performed in 3-8 hours (depending on desired goals) in our surgical facility in West Chester. You will receive general anaesthesia. Your surgeon will likely begin on your abdomen, making a horizontal incision along the pubic area. Excess skin and fat are removed from the navel to the pubic area, and the abdominal wall muscles are tightened. The remaining skin and fat are pulled down and sutured in position near the pubic region, making sure the navel is in its proper position. Your surgeon will then repeat this procedure in the hips, thighs and buttocks, if necessary. In some cases, liposuction is first performed to remove large amounts of excess fat in the abdomen. After surgery, all incisions are closed with sutures and covered with a dressing.
Recovery and Healing Time
Depending on the extent of surgery, you may remain in the hospital for 1-3 days. You may be fitted with an elastic compression garment to reduce swelling and maintain skin contour until healing is complete. A small drainage tube may be inserted to prevent fluid build-up. You may feel some pain and burning, for which your surgeon will prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to prevent infection. Dressings are removed 2-3 days after surgery, and sutures are removed in 7-10 days unless they are self-dissolving. You may return to work and non-vigorous activities in about 3-6 weeks, depending on the extent of surgery. However, you should start walking around as soon as possible in order to reduce the swelling and prevent blood clots in your legs. Regular exercise may be resumed in about 6-8 weeks or as advised by your surgeon. An attempt is made to place the scars in inconspicuous areas easily hidden by clothing or bathing suits, and gradually fade over the next year. Your surgeon will schedule follow-up visits, and you should not hesitate to call your surgeon between visits if you experience unusual symptoms such as heavy bleeding or pain. The final results of your body lift should be obvious about 3 months after surgery. If you eat a healthy diet and adopt a regular exercise program, you will maintain and strengthen your new “uplifted” body.
Procedure Risks
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Swelling
- Redness
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Fluid accumulation
- Reduced sensation in areas treated
- Scarring
UC Health Plastic Surgery in West Chester, has three nationally recognized Cincinnati plastic surgeons.
Located north of Cincinnati, we serve West Chester, Mason, Loveland, Indian Hill and the rest of Greater Cincinnati and Dayton for all of their plastic surgery procedure needs.
