Body Lift Surgery in Sydney, North Shore & Central Coast

A body lift is performed under general anaesthesia and typically involves liposuction, removal of excess skin and fat along pre-marked incisions, and closure in layers with dissolving sutures.

Every patient’s body lift surgery is an extremely personalised experience, based on the individual’s unique requirements and desired outcome. Some patients may even have a treatment plan that will occur in stages, including several different procedures over a period of time. However, there are several commonalities in the procedure experience.

Before the procedure, all the planned incisions will be meticulously marked on your body and confirmed with you. The procedure will be performed under general anaesthesia, so you will be asleep for the entire operation. While you’re under anaesthesia, all of the planned incision marks will be checked again to confirm that we remove the pre-determined amount of skin and tissue.

Often, a body lift procedure will first include liposuction in order to break up fat and help ensure the preservation of important nerves and lymphatic channels. The planned incisions will then be made and the excess fat and loose skin will be removed. The tissue removed is typically weighed to quantify the amount of tissue removed and to optimise symmetry. Small drains will be placed and the incisions will be sewn up in multiple layers using dissolving sutures. Sterilised dressings will be applied to all suture locations as well as a surgical garment designed to apply light compression.

Post-surgery, Dr Reddy will come to check on you and ensure you’re comfortable and primed for your recovery.

Most patients stay in hospital for several days after a body lift.

This allows Dr Reddy to monitor your wound healing and make sure your recovery is on track. Before you are discharged from the hospital, Dr Reddy needs to confirm that you are comfortable, have enough mobility to function at home, and effectively oversee your aftercare.

Before you leave the hospital, you will be provided with a detailed instruction plan for your recovery, including 24-hour contact details to ensure that you’re relaxed and supported throughout your recovery period.

Recovery includes a first review with Dr Reddy 5 to 10 days after discharge, compression garments for a further 6 weeks, and regular follow-up visits that are included in the surgical fee.

About 5-10 days after being discharged from the hospital you will see Dr Reddy at our clinic, and again at regular intervals throughout your recovery period. During your first post-operative check-up, we will remove your dressings and advise you on how to tape the incision line. We will also advise the best practice to help minimise scarring. We do recommend that you continue to wear compression garments for an additional 6 weeks.

Further post-operative visits will continue until both Dr Reddy and yourself are fully satisfied with your results and level of recovery.

Routine follow-up visits will not incur a fee as they are included in the surgical fee.

Plan for 3 to 4 weeks off work (or 1 to 2 weeks for desk-based or home-based work), no driving for 3 to 4 weeks and no strenuous activity for 4 weeks.

We recommend that you avoid strenuous physical activity for the first 4 weeks after surgery and avoid operating a vehicle for 3-4 weeks following your body lift surgery. In order for you to drive, we advise that you need to feel unrestricted in your capacity to safely turn the steering wheel and comfortably wear a seat belt. Ensuring an adequate period of rest and recovery will help to ensure you don’t exacerbate bleeding, swelling, or bruising. Concurrently, we also recommend 3-4 weeks before returning back to work post-surgery. If your work is sedentary or you work from home, it is often feasible to return to work at the 1-2 week post-operative mark.

Discomfort ranges from minor to moderate, is strongest in the first week and is managed with medication prescribed by Dr Reddy.

Discomfort is common during this period and can range from minor to moderate, depending on the specific individual and the extent of the surgery undertaken. Discomfort will be strongest during the 1 week post-surgery, but can persist for several weeks after that. Dr Reddy will prescribe medicine to help alleviate any discomfort.

You will see a change in body shape straight after surgery, but final results are usually visible at 3 to 4 months, once swelling has settled.

Immediately following surgery, you will be able to see your new body shape, and the contour will be most evident once your dressings are removed. However, swelling and bruising will persist for several weeks. At 3-4 months after your operation, all swelling will have typically  subsided and you will be able to see the final results of your operation.

A body lift is a moderate-risk procedure, and Dr Reddy will go through all of the risks with you during your consultation.

A body lift is a moderate-risk procedure. All surgical procedures carry risks, including serious complications. These will be covered in detail with you during your consultation process. Some of the risks of surgery include:

• Bruising, Bleeding: Bruising is very common after surgery. This typically resolves within a two-week timeframe. Significant bleeding after surgery is uncommon. When it does occur, you may need further surgery to address this.
• Wound healing difficulties: The internal dissolving sutures can cause skin irritation and small eruptions in some cases. More significant delayed wound healing issues are not common but tend to affect certain sites, such as the axilla (armpit) and groin areas when body lift procedures are combined with arm or thigh lifts. Good nutrition with a balanced diet and favourable BMI typically serve to minimise post-operative wound healing issues.
• Infection: Infection can happen but is uncommon after body lift surgery
• Seroma: Seroma refers to a collection of fluid under the skin. In our experience, this is more common after arm lift and thigh lift surgery than with body lift surgery. Seromas are usually not dangerous. They are a reflection of the fluid that the body produces after surgery. The body typically reabsorbs this fluid, but in some cases, these fluid pockets persist. They are treated by aspirating the fluid under ultrasound guidance or at the bedside. Dr Reddy will explain what this involves if it is needed.
• “Dog ears”: This refers to the residual pleat of skin that may become evident at the end of your incision line. They can typically be avoided by good surgical planning.
• DVT: This refers to deep vein thrombosis and equates to a blood clot in your leg vein(s). This is uncommon after surgery as various measures are instituted during and after your surgery to reduce the risk of this. If it does occur, the treatment involves commencing blood thinning medication for a 3-6 month period. It is important to maintain mobility around the house during the initial recovery period at home to reduce the risk of clots. We also do not recommend extended car trips or flying within the first month after surgery in order to minimise the risk.

As a general principle, it is important to minimise your risks by ensuring that your health is optimal prior to surgery. Avoidance of nicotine (at least 6 weeks) pre and post-surgery is mandated. If you have Diabetes, you should ensure that your sugar monitoring and control are favourable. An optimal Body Mass Index is also recommended. Dr Reddy will discuss all the above risks and advise you on how best to prepare for surgery.

Body lift scars may be visible, but abdominal incisions are usually placed so they can be concealed below the pant line.

There is a possibility that the incisions will be visible. Whether the incisions are visible or not will depend not only on where they are made, but the various factors that influence scar appearance. If you have excess skin removed on your arms, there will be a slightly visible scar on the underside of the arm. If you get excess skin removed around the abdomen, these can be concealed below the pant line. In your consultation, Dr Reddy will discuss where the incisions will be placed with you.

Your results should last as long as your weight stays stable after surgery.

Gaining or losing a large amount of weight can change the contoured and tightened result.

The cost of a body lift depends on the type of body lift and how many areas are treated, and Dr Reddy’s clinic provides detailed costings after your consultation.

Costs vary with whether other procedures, such as a tummy tuck, thigh lift, arm lift or liposuction, are combined, and whether surgery is done in one operation or staged. Routine follow-up visits after surgery are included in the surgical fee. Medicare and health fund rebates may apply in some cases (see below).

Medicare and health fund rebates may apply when a body lift is performed to remove loose skin after significant weight loss, or to repair abdominal muscle separation of more than 3 cm.

Eligibility depends on your individual situation, and Dr Reddy will assess this at your consultation. Bring a GP referral to your appointment.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) treats the abdomen, while a body lift treats loose skin around a wider area, such as the waist, hips, buttocks and back, and can include a tummy tuck as one part of the operation.

A tummy tuck removes excess fat and loose skin from the abdomen and commonly tightens the abdominal muscle wall. A lower body lift (also known as a belt lipectomy or 360 body lift) continues around the lower torso to address the hips, buttocks and back as well. Dr Reddy will advise which approach suits your concerns.

The most important requirement is a stable weight: ideally stable for at least three months, with no further significant weight loss expected.

Dr Reddy also recommends reaching an optimal BMI before surgery. A more favourable BMI typically gives a more favourable visible result, reduces healing issues and allows more abdominal muscle tightening. Keeping a stable weight also helps your results last.

You can consider a body lift once your weight loss has finished and your weight has been stable for at least three months, with no further significant weight loss expected.

You should also be in good overall health, with any medical conditions such as diabetes well controlled. Dr Reddy will assess your timing at your consultation.

Whether a body lift is right for you depends on your goals, health and expectations, and is best decided with Dr Reddy at a consultation.

For some people, removing loose skin may reduce skin fold problems such as rashes and make hygiene, clothing fit and exercise more comfortable. It is also major surgery, with risks, a hospital stay and several weeks of recovery. Surgery cannot restore your skin to how it was before weight gain, so realistic expectations are important. Every patient is unique and results may vary.