Body contouring procedures such as liposuction can make certain areas of the body smaller or “less full,” but if a truly more lifted, tighter, and youthful appearance is what you are looking for, then just as in facelift or tummy tuck surgery, both skin and fat must be removed and muscles tightened. The Complete Body Lift, such as the procedure featuring Dr. Ptak on Fox Channel 10, consists of a tummy tuck, buttock lift, inner and outer thigh lift, and liposuction of these areas – all in one sitting. Dr. Ptak was one of the first in Arizona to perform this procedure in 1994, with a high rate of success and tremendous satisfaction for hundreds of patients.
Does your excess skin and fat make it difficult to exercise or wear clothing comfortably? Love the way you look and feel: reclaim your smooth, attractive figure with a Body Lift. Call to schedule your private consultation today.
What is a Body Lift?
Every treatment plan is tailored to the unique goals and body of the patient.
A Body Lift is a custom-tailored procedure designed to remove and lift excess skin and tissue on a patient’s abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and back. The procedure, when performed by a highly skilled surgeon like Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, transforms a sagging, bulging, dimpled, physique into a smooth, tight, attractive shape. Every treatment plan is tailored to the unique goals and body of the patient. Some patients may receive a Complete Body Lift, which incorporates a tummy tuck and buttock lift with an inner and/or outer thigh lift. Liposuction may be performed to remove stubborn fat deposits and sculpt the body into a smoother, more ideal shape. The placement and size of incisions will depend on the presenting needs of the patient’s skin, muscle, and fat deposits.
Who is a Candidate?
The best candidates for a Complete Body Lift are men or women who have lost a very large amount of weight or experienced a loss of skin elasticity of the inner/outer thigh, hip, abdominal, or buttock areas, possibly accompanied by a large fat deposit and loose skin or muscle tone that won’t respond to diet or exercise.
A body lift is for anyone whose skin area is saggy, has an orange peel, flabby, and/or dimpled appearance. If your appearance improves dramatically when you lift the lax skin, you may be a candidate for a body lift. Anyone who is self-conscious about their lower body appearance can benefit from this procedure.
Good candidates for a body lift are individuals who are in overall good health and free of any medical condition which can affect their body’s ability to heal. Patients who are smokers will need to discontinue smoking at least two weeks to a month before and after their procedure. Candidates should have open but realistic expectations for the outcomes achievable with any cosmetic procedure. Ideal candidates for a body lift are those who have completed the majority of their weight loss. Fluctuations in weight can interfere with the results achieved during a body lift. Candidates who are dedicated to a healthy, active lifestyle will see the best, long-term results from their body lift.
Body Lift with Dr. Jeffrey Ptak Top Ranked Plastic Surgeon
During your body lift consultation, Dr. Ptak and his highly trained team will meet with you to discuss your personal goals for the procedure. Ranked amongst the top 10% of best plastic surgeons in the world, Dr. Ptak provides patients with natural-looking, profound transformation for ageless beauty. Together, you and Dr. Ptak will develop a plan for treatment that is appropriate for your body and goals. Dr. Ptak will examine your treatment areas and walk you through the various options that are available. Health risks, necessary pre-surgical preparations and planning are discussed in detail to ensure you are feeling comfortable and confident about the procedure. Dr. Ptak will also explain the available payment options for the procedure and the staff will assist with scheduling necessary appointments.
Complete Body Lift Procedure Information
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Dr. Ptak will show you what procedures are available to solve your particular problem. Wide variations in the design of the incisions to meet clothing or personal desires are possible. Lifting the inner thighs requires only short incisions extending from the anterior part of the thigh/groin crease around to the buttock crease. Lateral or anterior thigh lifts can be performed as separate procedures if desired. Lifting the entire thigh and buttock (circumferential lower body lift) will require much longer incisions that start in the buttock crease, extend around the groin, up over the side of the abdomen, over the flank and across the back. The buttocks can be lifted with upper or lower scars. A moderate amount of liposculpture can be performed in addition with acceptable risk and safety.
Dr. Ptak achieves beautiful, sculpted results of his patient’s bodies with the help of VASER technology, a minimally-invasive method of breaking down unwanted fat with safe, targeted ultrasound energy.
Postoperative Healing
The procedure usually takes 4–8 hours, depending on the extent of work required. For extreme cases and large amounts of tissue removal Dr Ptak may split one long procedure into two shorter procedures for patient safety. The patient is placed in a compression garment (similar to a long-line elastic support girdle) at the end of surgery to reduce swelling and assist in the natural shrinking and tightening of the skin. Smaller thigh lifts: initial discomfort is easily controlled with prescription pain medication. Larger thigh lifts: one or two nights care in a skilled nursing facility or hospital are usually required. This allows for IV pain control, intravenous catheters, etc. Drains are usually necessary for 5-7 days. Bruising and swelling usually subside within a month, but patients usually feel very comfortable with daily activities within 7-10 days. Strenuous activities are usually possible in 4-6 weeks, and almost all symptoms are gone in 3 months.
Body Lift Results
Changes to the patient’s body proportion are usually immediately obvious, but the final results will be apparent once healing is complete. The results of the body lift will be lifelong barring any significant changes in weight. Naturally, the effects of future aging may contribute to the development of sagging skin.
Other Options
Additional procedures that may enhance the body contouring result are:
Breast Procedures
Breast Augmentation: enhances the curvature and figure of women whose breasts are naturally smaller or uneven. Through surgical implantation saline or silicone gummy bear implants improve the shape and volume of the breasts.
Breast Lift
A Breast Lift is a cosmetic solution for raising, reshaping, and contouring breasts that are asymmetrical, have nipple-areolar deformities or sag. Sagging breast are often the result of past pregnancies, genetics, or aging and are not addressed by breast implantation alone.
Breast Reduction
Surgically removes excess fat, skin and glandular tissue from breasts to achieve a proportionate bust. Breast reduction also relieves issues caused by the weight and size of large breasts such as skin irritation, back pain, neck pain and bra strap indentations. Breast reduction treatments have an extremely high rate of satisfaction and can dramatically improve a patient’s quality of life.
Liposuction/liposculpture
Dr. Ptak considers Vaser liposuction to be an ideal liposuction modality that delivers superior body contouring results. Vaser employs a cannula that is worked through the fat layer while simultaneous ultrasound emitters deliver short, intense bursts of ultrasound energy that emulsify fat cells so they mix into the tumescent solution. This results in ease of fat removal, minimized impact on the patient’s body, improved recovery, and significant localized skin tightening. Vaser lipo also can be performed using only local anesthesia if the area is relatively small and the patient is comfortable with awake sedation, so you are awake and resting comfortably during the procedure.
Cost of Body Lift in Scottsdale
The cost of a body lift performed by Dr. Ptak will be determined at the end of the consultation and will vary based on a number of different factors. A body lift may be deemed medically necessary for patients who have experienced extreme weight loss and have significant amounts of excess skin. If the treatment is medically necessary, patients will need to speak with their insurers.
There are numerous financing options and payment plans available to assist patients in all cases achieve their aesthetic goals.
Body Lift FAQs
Can I receive a body lift after bariatric surgery?
Yes. Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight due to medically-assisted weight loss or bariatric surgery are often ideal candidates for body lift and highly satisfied with their results.
Will my stretched skin retract on its own?
Some may experience slight skin retraction and the recovery of your natural figure, but older patients or those who have experienced dramatic weight loss are less likely to do so. A body lift can tighten and remove skin which has been stretched beyond a point of natural retraction.
What if I plan on having another child?
Women who are considering another pregnancy are advised to delay their body lift until afterward. The physiological changes that occur during pregnancy can significantly impact or complicate the results of a body lift.
What if I lose more weight?
Patients should be within reasonable range of the ideal BMI. Body contouring treatments and the body lift are recommended after a patient has completed their weight loss goals.