A body lift, also known as a belt lift, is a procedure to tighten the entire lower half of the body. A body lift is usually necessary after significant weight loss. The cost of a body lift ranges from 7,000 to 15,000 EUR, depending on the extent of the procedure and the surgical effort involved.
Here you will find further information as well as a selection of specialists and centers offering body lifts.
A body lift is a surgical procedure that is often sought after significant weight loss. It is performed to remove excess skin and tighten the skin.
Most patients are people who have suffered from morbid obesity requiring medical treatment. A consistent change in diet and lifestyle, as well as surgical procedures such as
can result in significant weight loss. Since the skin cannot adapt quickly enough to the slimmer body shape, excess skin often remains in varying degrees (“empty shell”). Not only does this look unattractive, but overlapping and chafing skin can also cause sores and skin infections.
The vast majority of patients therefore seek effective corrective plastic surgery following significant weight loss.
A key component of a body lift is usually the tightening
These various tightening procedures are usually performed during a single operation.
The improvement in quality of life resulting from the new body contour following such corrective surgery can be enormous. Unfortunately, long scars often remain after the procedure, but these can usually be concealed by underwear or swimwear (bikini area).
Choosing the right timing is crucial to the success of such corrective procedures.
Ideally, at the time of surgery,
In some cases, the decision to undergo a body lift may be made earlier. This may be the case if severe skin problems or other medical conditions cannot be brought under control.
Before the procedure, the patient should seek detailed consultation from an experienced specialist. The patient must be fully aware of the possible consequences and risks, as well as the benefits of the procedure.
The surgeon’s qualifications and experience are of great importance for a body lift. Patients who have undergone significant weight loss often have certain nutritional deficiencies that can cause wound-healing problems.
Exercise and a change in diet can help shed the pounds. This often results in excess and sagging skin © zinkevych | AdobeStock
A body lift is a major surgical procedure. It is performed on an inpatient basis, meaning the patient must spend some time in the hospital. The procedure can only be performed under general anesthesia in the presence of an anesthesiologist. In the days following the procedure, the patient receives effective pain medication as part of postoperative care, e.g., via a so-called PCA pump.
Most surgeons begin the body lift with an abdominoplasty. To do this, the surgeon dissects the skin and subcutaneous fat tissue from the underlying muscle fascia through a long incision in the lower abdomen. The navel is excised and left attached to the abdominal wall.
The abdominoplasty can also be combined with
. Liposuction can also be integrated into the procedure.
The surgeon removes the excess skin, closes the abdominal incision, and repositions and reshapes the navel.
The patient is then repositioned onto their stomach. The surgeon can then begin tightening the buttocks and performing an outer thigh lift. He typically lifts the severely sagging tissue in the buttocks. Fat grafting to the buttocks may also be performed to create a more pleasing contour.
After the wounds are closed, circumferential scars remain. In most cases, however, patients can later conceal the scars with underwear or swimwear.
After a body lift, the patient should wear a tight compression garment for six weeks to three months. It should extend from just above the knees to just below the rib cage.
If non-absorbable sutures are used, the stitches should be removed after approximately 14 days.
For the first six weeks, the patient should avoid physical exertion and sports. They should also avoid direct sun exposure on the scars for six months, as this can cause the scars to discolor.
No surgery is without risk. Even with the utmost care, complications can occur during or after a procedure.
Bleeding may occur during the surgery. While it is rare for blood loss during a body lift to require a blood transfusion, this possibility can never be completely ruled out. Even more rarely, blood transfusions can lead to the transmission of pathogens such as the HIV virus or the hepatitis virus. To reduce the risk of infection, donating your own blood may be advisable. You should discuss this with your doctor.
In rare cases, pressure-related damage to soft tissues or nerves may occur during surgery. Both typically resolve within a few weeks after the procedure.
Possible complications following a body lift include
The appearance and development of scars vary from patient to patient depending on individual predisposition. In some cases, raised, thick, and painful scars (keloids) may develop. Such scars sometimes require corrective surgery.
Every physician listed in the Leading Medicine Guide has attained the highest level of training and certification within their respective medical specialty society. Furthermore, we contacted this physician based, among other factors, on their case volume (surgeries, treatments, and therapies), which we determined by cross-referencing various publicly available sources. Following discussions with the selected physicians and the directors of the medical facilities, as well as a subsequent internal review, they were admitted to the Leading Medicine Guide.
The quality assurance of the Leading Medicine Guide is further ensured by 8 admission criteria. Each member must meet at least 6 of them:
