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Body Lift

Serving patients in: Paramus, Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Allendale, Woodcliff Lake, Montvale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Westwood, Ho Ho Kus, Park Ridge, Rivervale, Old Tappan, and surrounding areas.

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Body Contouring Procedures for Post-Weight Loss

Crafting a Sleek Silhouette

Following significant weight loss achieved through diet, exercise, gastric bypass, or gastric banding, patients are typically left with excess skin. This commonly includes excess skin of the abdomen, breasts, arms, and thighs.

We address all these areas through a range of body-contouring procedures offered at our New Jersey practice. Abdominoplasty surgery can help to remove and tighten loose skin about the abdomen. For extra skin folds around the back, an extended abdominoplasty can be performed. Thigh lifts and arm lifts are available to remove and tighten extra flesh of the upper legs and upper arms. Dr. Breslow understands that poor tissue elasticity requires a skilled surgical hand to remove excess skin and fat while reshaping the underlying tissue for a balanced, sophisticated result.

Body Lift At A Glance

  • Focus: Addressing the lower abdomen, outer thighs, and buttocks
  • Options: Lower body lift, upper body lift, or a circumferential body lift (belt lipectomy)
  • Duration: The surgical procedure typically lasts several hours depending on the areas addressed
  • Recovery: Most patients return to light activity within two to three weeks
  • Goal: A flatter stomach and a firm, toned appearance across the entire torso

The Fundamentals

What Is a Body Lift?

Body lift surgery is a comprehensive surgical procedure designed to address large areas of excess skin and fat. While a standard tummy tuck focuses only on the lower abdomen, a body lift provides a more complete solution. Options include a lower body lift, which targets the midsection, outer thighs, and buttocks, or a circumferential body lift (also known as a belt lipectomy) that treats the entire torso. The purpose is to remove hanging skin and tighten underlying tissue to create a smoother, more athletic profile.

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What Is the Body Lift Procedure Like?

The 360-Degree Contour

On the day of your surgery, the process begins with general anesthesia to ensure your complete comfort. Dr. Breslow then makes precise incisions, often in a pattern that circles the waist so that any visible scarring can be hidden by undergarments. Through these incisions, he will remove excess skin and fat and tighten the underlying muscles. In many cases, he may perform liposuction to address stubborn fat deposits and further refine the new body contours before closing the remaining skin.

Where Fitness Meets Fine-Tuning

What Conditions Does Body Lift Surgery Address?

The body lift procedure is designed for individuals who have experienced significant weight loss, whether through bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medications, or a healthy lifestyle. It addresses poor tissue elasticity, which leads to heavy, sagging skin. It also addresses stubborn fat deposits that remain after weight loss and corrects the separation of abdominal muscles to create a flatter stomach and a more stable core.

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Refining the Mid and Lower Body

What Areas of the Body Can Body Lift Surgery Address?

A body lift primarily focuses on the mid and lower body, including the lower abdomen, back, outer thighs, and buttocks. This approach ensures the entire torso looks balanced and toned from every angle.

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What Are the Benefits of Body Lift Surgery?

The Value of a Toned Reflection

The physical benefits of this surgery are immediate and profound. After the weight and bulk of excess skin and fat are removed, you will likely find that movement becomes easier and exercise more comfortable. Most patients also find relief from the skin irritation that often occurs within the folds of remaining tissue.

Beyond the physical, there is a deep sense of emotional freedom. You can finally enjoy the results of your weight loss in clothes that fit properly. We focus on results that look natural, avoiding an "operated-on" look in favor of a profile that feels firm, healthy, and authentically you.

Is Body Lift Surgery Right for Me?

A New Perspective on Your Shape

Body lift surgery is ideal for those who have maintained a stable weight for several months and are in good overall health. It is important to set realistic expectations and understand that, while this is a major surgical procedure, it offers a permanent solution for sagging skin. If you are committed to a healthy diet and have completed your weight-loss journey, this may be the ideal final step.

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Patience on theWay to Poise

Body Lift Recovery & Post-Op Instructions

The body lift recovery process requires patience and a focus on self-care. Most patients stay in a recovery facility or at home with assistance for the first few days. You will receive detailed post-operative instructions, including the use of compression garments to minimize swelling and support healing skin. Dr. Breslow may also use small tubes to drain excess fluid for the first few days. We will provide prescribed medications to manage any discomfort and will see you for a follow-up appointment shortly after surgery to monitor your progress.

  • Recovery time: 10-14 days out of work. Driving after 2 weeks, as long as off narcotics, No exercising for 6 weeks, then back to light exercise. Sleeping in a beach chair position (several pillows under the head and 1-2 under the knees for 2 weeks). Patients will require antibiotics until the drains are removed.
  • Swelling: The majority of swelling decreases within 4-6 weeks; up to one year to see final results
  • Scars: Along the entire back usually meet up with the hips, but below the underwear
  • Drains: Two along either side of the back, usually in for 1-2 weeks; cannot remove both at the same time
  • Follow-up visit: 1-2 days will be with a PA or nurse, 1 week with the doctor, 1 month with the doctor, and 3 months with the doctor, then 6 months and one year

If you would like more information about Body Lift, contact our Paramus, New Jersey office today.

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Body Lift Surgery Results

Embrace Your Defined Frame

While you will see an immediate change in your shape, the final results typically emerge once residual swelling subsides, typically over three to six months. Your new body contours will continue to refine as your scars fade.

The results of a body lift are intended to be permanent. The skin and fat removed during the procedure will not return. To maintain your toned appearance for a lifetime, it is essential to avoid significant weight fluctuations and continue living a healthy lifestyle.

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Why Choose The Breslow Center for Plastic Surgery for a Body Lift?

A Lasting Legacy of Shape

Serving patients in Paramus, Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Allendale, Woodcliff Lake, Montvale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Westwood, Ho Ho Kus, Park Ridge, Rivervale,Old Tappan, and beyond.

For those who have experienced significant weight loss, the achievement is often met with the frustration of sagging skin. We offer body lift surgery to provide a final, restorative step in your journey. Dr. Breslow draws on his two decades of expertise to remove excess skin and fat, ensuring your outward appearance finally matches the strength and vitality of your new life.

Choosing a surgeon for a total body lift requires a high level of trust. At The Breslow Center, we have spent 20 years perfecting these complex procedures for our neighbors in Bergen County. Dr. Gary Breslow is a board-certified plastic surgeon known for his technical mastery and ability to minimize visible scarring. We offer a sophisticated, luxury environment in Paramus where your safety is our first priority and your transformation is handled with the utmost care and empathy.

Body Lift

Frequently Asked Questions

A tummy tuck primarily addresses the front of the stomach. A body lift is more extensive, circling the entire waist to lift the buttocks and outer thighs while also tightening the abdominal area.

Most patients feel ready to return to a desk-based job within two to three weeks, though we recommend waiting longer before resuming heavy lifting.

The skin and fat removed during the procedure are permanently removed. However, to keep your toned appearance, it is essential to maintain a stable weight.

As with any major surgical procedure, there are risks, including infection and excess fluid buildup. Dr. Breslow takes every precaution and provides clear guidance during your follow-up appointment to minimize these possibilities