Monday, April 8, 2013

Pros & Cons Of A Body Lift

For those considering plastic surgery to make their body look younger, there are a few things you need to know. A lower body lift, which is also called a belt lipectomy, can involve contouring a new abdomen, thighs and buttocks. An upper body lift involves the breast, chest and middle back. If both surgeries are combined it is known as a total body lift. They are considered major surgery and can have complications; on the plus side, the result is a pleasing and attractive body. Your body can get flabby and saggy as you age. This is a natural occurrence, but some people, primarily women, find it hard to lose the youthful image they once had. It gets harder to lose weight after menopause, yet their minds are still young and active.


Confidence








A slimmer and firmer appearance is the primary advantage of a body lift. While it might take a few months for the final results to become fully apparent, you will have less flab and weigh less, giving you more confidence and higher self esteem and a better self image. Some claim a body lift makes them look 10 years younger.


Wardrobe


This newly contoured body allows you to wear different fashions than you have worn in years and look good in them, which is another reward that many women talk about. With a newly shaped body, women can try new, younger looking fashions.


Complications


There can be complications from the surgeries, depending on how you have your body lift done. Some procedures tighten the stomach by pulling the skin up and trimming. Others may involve liposuction for fat removal and a combination of contouring surgeries. There is always the risk of infection, nerve damage and deformity from scarring.


Cost


A body lift can be quite expensive, depending on the extent of the surgery. If you figure a tummy tuck alone can cost a few thousand dollars, then you have to add other surgery fees, in addition to the hospital operating room fee, anesthetist and surgery medications. You will also need a compression garment after the surgery. In most cases, a body lift can cost anywhere between $12,000 and $50,000 depending on the extent of the surgery. The more complicated, the more cost. In rare cases, insurance might pay for 100% of the surgery, if medical necessity warrants it. This would need to be proven as a health endangerment issue, although it is possible that excessively obese patients that have lost large amounts of weight may be the most ideal candidates for insurance coverage, especially if they are prone to heart problems due to carrying the excess weight of the saggy skin.


Surgery


You can expect the surgery to take up to eight hours. The results are long lasting; however, the best results are on patients with loose skin without too many fat deposits. A body lift is not the best way to lose weight, obviously. Like other plastic surgeries, such as face lifts, the results are not permanent, but typically you can only go through the procedure once. Recovery can mean several nights in the hospital, four to six weeks before returning to normal activities and up to 90 days for the swelling to completely go away. It is not a procedure to be taken lightly.

Tags: body lift, depending extent, depending extent surgery, extent surgery, lose weight