SUMMARYBody contouring surgery results in animproved body contour, making it easier towear close-fitting clothes and swimmingcostumes. The procedures will improve yourself-confidence and allow you to be moreactive and participate in every-day life.

A patient guide to understanding

Body ContouringArm LiftThigh Lift Buttock Lift Lower Body Lift

North Shore Cosmetic Surgery is a group of PlasticSurgeons dedicated to providing a high standardof service to the North Shore.

All members are Fellows of the Royal AustralianCollege of Surgeons, Australian Society of PlasticSurgeons and Australian Society of AestheticPlastic Surgeons, and have been trained to thehighest possible standards.

www.infinityskin.com.au

BODY LIFT

A body lift treats loose skin in the abdomen, flanks,buttocks and thighs, and is a combination of anabdominoplasty, medial (inner) & lateral (outer) thighlift and buttock lift, removing skin all the way aroundthe body. This operation is common after largeamounts of weight loss, usually 30-50kg or more.

The body lift is a long operation under generalanaesthetic (often taking 8 hours), with a hospitalstay of 5-7 days. There is a prolonged recoverytime, with most patients taking 6 weeks off work,however the operation provides a dramatic and life-changing improvement in body contour.

PRACTICE LOCATIONS

North Shore Cosmetic Surgery provides acomprehensive range of cosmetic andreconstructive plastic surgery procedures,as well as a full range of the latest skin care,lasers and aesthetic treatments.

Dr Charles Cope

Level 1, 357 Military RdMosman 2088

Suite 507 SAN ClinicWahroonga 2076

www.drcharlescope.com.au

FOR ALL APPOINTMENTS CALL

9908 3033Prepared by

Dr Charles CopeMBBS BSc(Med) FRACS

BUTTOCK LIFT CONT.

A pressure compression garment must be worn for4-6 weeks after the surgery if liposuction and fattransfer is performed, which minimises the bruisingand swelling and helps produce an even contour.This garment is like a girdle, and can be worn undernormal clothes. Heavy activities and sport shouldbe avoided for 4-6 weeks.

INTRODUCTION

Body-contouring procedures are suitable for peoplewith loose skin following significant weight loss, or ifyou have fatty bulges that you just can’t get rid ofwith exercise.

After weight loss there can be a significant amountof excess skin in the arms, abdomen, thighs orbuttocks. This excess skin can causeuncomfortable chafing, making it difficult to fitclothes, and serves as a reminder of the past.

Loose skin can be removed with a number ofprocedures that leave scars hidden mostly in naturalcreases, and include upper arm lift, breast lift,abdominoplasty, medial thigh lift, buttock lift andlower body lift.

The surgery results in a more flattering contour,making it easier to wear close-fitting clothes andswimming costumes, and allowing you to be moreactive and participate in everyday life. Theprocedures will improve your self-confidence andoften the motivation and ability to exercise.

PRE-OPERATIVE ASSESSMENT

As in all cosmetic surgery, it is important for you totell your surgeon the specific areas that concernyou. An assessment will also be made of any looseskin, stretch marks, or cellulite, which may affectthe result.

It is important to discuss with your surgeon anypre-existing medical conditions which you mayhave, such as smoking and diabetes, as well asrisk factors for deep venous thrombosis (DVT orleg vein clots). You should tell your surgeon if youhave had problems with previous operations oranaesthetics, as well as any history ofbad scarring.

It is ideal for you to be as close as possible to yourtarget weight, as this optimises your final result.People contemplating significant weight loss arebest to defer surgery, as significant weight changeafter surgery can affect the result.

Your surgeon will discuss the operation with you,show you photos of other patients who have hadthe procedure, and will give you writteninformation about the operation. Both theexpected result as well as the risks of theoperation will be explained.

PREPARING FOR THE SURGERY

If you smoke it is important to stop smoking atleast a few weeks before the surgery – smokingsignificantly increases the chance of healingproblems after the surgery.

Aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications eg Nurofen,and some vitamins and herbal medications cancause increased bleeding and these also need tobe stopped 10 days before the surgery.

ARM LIFT

An arm lift uses either liposuction or liposuctioncombined with removal of loose skin to improvethe contour of the upper arm. If there is asignificant amount of loose skin then the looseskin is cut away, leaving a scar along the innerarm from the elbow into the armpit, andsometimes down onto the chest wall.

An arm lift involves a day surgery procedure, andis performed under general anaesthetic. Mostpeople return to work within 7-10 days followingthe surgery, and a pressure compression garmentmust be worn for a few weeks, which minimisesthe bruising and swelling and helps produce aneven contour. These garments can easily be wornunder normal clothes. Heavy activities and sportshould be avoided for one month.

MEDIAL THIGH LIFT

A medial (inner) thigh lift removes excess skinand fatty bulges on the inner part of the thigh,and is often combined with liposuction of thethighs. This provides a dramatic improvement incontour, and improves discomfort from chafing ofthe inner thighs.

The scar is usually hidden in the groin crease, butif there is a lot of excess skin then an incisionalong the inner part of the thigh is also necessary.The surgery involves a general anaesthetic, witha 2-3 day stay in hospital. Most people return towork within 2-3 weeks following the surgery. Apressure compression garment must be worn for4-6 weeks after the surgery if liposuction isperformed, which minimises the bruising andswelling and helps produce an even contour. Thisgarment is like a girdle, and can be worn undernormal clothes. Heavy activities and sport shouldbe avoided for 4-6 weeks.

A buttock lift gives a more youthful, pleasingappearance to the buttock by either removingloose skin and lifting the buttock into a higherposition, or by filling up the loose skin (usually inthe lower outer half of the buttock) with your ownfat (fat transfer or ‘brazilian butt lift’). Sometimesboth are necessary to give the optimal result. Iffat transfer is used the fat is taken fromsomewhere else on your body using liposuction,resulting in an improved contour in other parts ofyour body as well.

A buttock lift is a medium size operation, with 2-3 days or so in hospital, while the fat transfer canusually be performed as a day surgery orovernight stay procedure. Most people return tonormal everyday activities and work within 2-3weeks following the surgery.

BUTTOCK LIFT