YOU’VE heard of face-lifts, of course – but what about a body lift? If you’re like many people, this term doesn’t ring a bell. But with statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicating a marked increase in the number of procedures performed since 2000 – from 207 body lifts back then to more than 10,000 last year – you’re going to be hearing about them a whole lot more.
To understand a body lift, let’s talk first about bariatric surgery, also known as a gastric bypass. It’s an extreme weight-loss procedure, yet the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery estimates more than 200,000 Americans will undergo such an operation in 2008. Star Jones made waves in recent months by talking about her dramatic weight loss through this procedure.
Celebrity or not, losing a tremendous amount of weight is a life-altering experience – for your body and mind. And while the lighter lifestyle can make one healthier and happier, for many it’s only half the battle. After the surgery comes a lot of work.
Bariatric surgery is not a cosmetic procedure; it’s performed by a general surgeon to lower the health risks associated with obesity. But when your body suddenly sheds 80 or 100 pounds, much of the loose, baggy skin remains.
That’s where the body lift comes in; it addresses excess or sagging skin in a number of areas, including the midsection, back, chest, hips, thighs and buttocks.
The results? Pretty dramatic.
“The surgery often entails a 360-degree lifting and tightening of the midsection,” says Dr. Lyle Leipziger, chief of plastic surgery at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
“Surprisingly, a lot of patients say they had no idea they would have a problem with excess skin after losing so much weight,” says Leipziger. One 20-something patient went to see Leipziger after she developed an “apron” of hanging skin after her massive weight loss.
This patient was a perfect candidate for what Leipziger calls a partial body lift – a tummy tuck to get rid of the excess skin around her abdomen, as well as a breast lift and breast reduction. After the surgery, she was 10 pounds lighter.
The concerns about excess skin are deeper than cosmetic. After a gastric bypass, people often have trouble engaging in certain activities, or even walking.
Leipziger says a body lift usually takes place 12 to 18 months after bariatric surgery, when maximum weight loss has been achieved and the patient’s weight has been stable for three to six months.
After a body lift, people usually spend one to two days in the hospital and can resume daily activities within a month. Sometimes, insurance companies cover part of the cost.
Patients should seek out physicians certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ask about experience.
The operation should always be tailored to a patient’s specific needs and concerns, and it’s not for everyone. But for appropriate patients, a body lift can yield big results as their self-esteem soars.
Dr. Rock is the director of the Nonsurgical Foot and Ankle Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Reach him at