ABOUT Full Body Lift

Achieve a Sleek and Toned Contour with a Full Body Lift

 If weight loss, pregnancy, or other circumstances have left you with excess skin, a full body lift performed by Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S at our offices serving Long Island, Manhattan, and the greater New York City area can help you achieve the contours you desire.

As gastric bypass and bariatric surgeries grow in popularity, so has the full body lift. Coupled with regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle, a full body lift offers dramatic, lifelong results. Dr. Greenberg has years of experience performing this extensive and very specialized cosmetic surgery and can help you achieve the sleek and toned body you have always wanted.

Transform Your Contours Through a Body Lift Procedure

Following massive weight loss, either through bariatric surgery or through diet and exercise, patients are often left with loose, saggy skin. To tighten the skin and improve the contours of your body, Dr. Greenberg offers body lift procedures. He can commonly combine an abdominoplasty with other procedures such as thigh lifts, arm lifts, breast lifts, and facelifts.

What Is A Full Body Lift?

Extreme weight loss, pregnancies, or the natural aging process can cause excess, sagging skin and fatty tissue on the lower torso and upper legs. This occurs because the skin has been stretched and loosened, permanently affecting the skin’s elasticity. A full body lift—also known as a belt lipectomy—can remove this extra skin and fat from the belly, hips, buttocks, back, and outer thigh. During a full body lift,  excess skin and fat are removed and the contours of the body are lifted and flattened, allowing patients to restore their confidence and self-esteem.

Your Body Lift Consultation

Your initial consultation with Dr. Greenberg is a vital introductory step as you begin the full body lift process. Because body lift surgery is unique to every patient, Dr. Greenberg is able to customize the surgery to meet your specific cosmetic goals. During your time together, Dr. Greenberg will perform a thorough physical examination and discuss your full body lift options. At this consultation, Dr. Greenberg will also review your medical history to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Generally, full body lift candidates are those who have lost a significant amount of weight—usually 60 pounds or more—and who are looking to achieve a smoother, more toned silhouette. You may be a good candidate for this procedure if you:

  • Have droopy or excess skin and tissue around your midsection
  • Are at a healthy, stable weight
  • Are in good overall health and committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle
  • Are not planning on becoming pregnant in the future
  • Do not smoke or consume alcohol in excess
  • Have realistic expectations

Once your candidacy has been determined, Dr. Greenberg will address all of your questions and review the surgical techniques and anesthesia options to make sure you are completely comfortable with the full body lift procedure. In order to better understand your desired results, he can show you before-and-after photos and give his honest and professional opinion on how a body lift can improve your body contour. Dr. Greenberg will also discuss additional surgical procedures, such as a breast augmentation and butt lift, that can be performed in conjunction with your body lift to help you achieve your goals.

Dr. Greenberg or a member of his team will take a photograph of your body to keep on file as your “before” photo, allowing you to see your dramatic transformation once you have completely recovered from surgery. Dr. Greenberg can also introduce you to your team of dedicated specialists who will make your cosmetic surgery experience a comfortable and positive experience. Before leaving, you will receive information about the cost of the procedure and potential financing options to help you plan your procedure.

Your Body Lift Surgery

The body lift surgery consists of vertical tightening of the skin. Vertical tightening requires a thin incision around the entire waist. The skin is then pulled up or down and the excess tissue is removed from the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and back. A body lift may also include an upper arm lift, inner thigh lift, breast lift, facelift, liposuction and other procedures. Depending on the complexity of your procedure, body lift surgery could take approximately seven hours to complete.

Body Lift Recovery and Results

After the procedure is completed, Dr. Greenberg will apply bandages, compression garments, and incisional drains to help reduce pressure and prevent swelling. You will then be moved to one of our comfortable private recovery rooms where Dr. Greenberg will monitor your response to surgery for two to three days before sending you home. It is not uncommon to feel groggy, stiff, slightly bruised, and swollen for the first 24 to 48 hours, but medication can be prescribed to keep you comfortable.

Once you have been cleared to go home, you will need to have a loved one available to drive and stay with you for the first few days, as they can be the most difficult. If you have young children, we also recommend having someone available to help for the first six weeks until you are cleared to return to full activity. Below is a timeline of what to expect during your recovery:

  • Week 1: To help with discomfort and swelling, you will be encouraged to get as much rest as possible, while also taking short walks. The first three to four days are the most uncomfortable, but taking your medication as prescribed and following your detailed post-surgical instructions can help reduce your risk for complications and infection. It is imperative that you keep the surgical sites dry, so sponge bathing is all that is allowed during this time until you have been cleared to take a shower.
  • Week 2: Approximately seven to 10 days after surgery, Dr. Greenberg will remove the surgical drains and change out your bandages to ensure you are healing appropriately. Depending on your response to surgery, sutures may also be removed during this time. With the assistance of a family member, you can take a shower.
  • Weeks 3-4: Unless you have a physically demanding job, patients are typically released to return to work.
  • Weeks 5-6: Most patients can be released to full activity during this time. As swelling subsides, you will begin to notice and enjoy your newly reshaped body. Wearing your compression garments as prescribed can help you heal faster and enjoy your results sooner.

Your results will continue to improve for the first two years after surgery, so it is important to be patient with your body as it recovers. As long as you maintain a healthy, stable weight, you should be able to enjoy lasting results.

Coupled with regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle, a full body lift offers dramatic, lifelong results.

Full Body Lift Surgery

A Precise Body Lift Surgery Designed for You

A full body lift surgery can remove sagging skin and fatty tissue that results from extreme weight loss, age, and pregnancy. Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg performs each body lift procedure in his own private operating facility at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery in Long Island, NY. This surgery will be tailored to your exact contours and cosmetic goals. During a consultation, Dr. Greenberg can help you understand all the steps of your procedure and design a treatment that is personalized for you.

What to Expect During the Consultation
After completing the initial consultation, Dr. Greenberg will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. The plan will include:

  • Type of anesthesia you are most comfortable with
  • Amount of time you should take off of work
  • Your budget for surgery, including financing and insurance options
  • The areas of the body you would like to improve
  • Incision lengths and placement
  • The amount of tissue to be removed
  • Whether or not the procedures will be combined into one surgery or staged over the course of multiple appointments

The Full Body Procedure
A full body lift is an extensive treatment and typically involves a combination of procedures. The length of the surgery will be determined by the complexity of the surgical technique and whether you are having the procedures performed over several different appointments. In most cases, Dr. Greenberg will break the surgery into different stages that include treatments such as:

  • Mid Body Lift: Also known as a belt lipectomy, Dr. Greenberg will make the incision in your midsection across the waist. Once he firms your core muscles, trims unwanted fat and skin, and pulls the skin smooth, he will close the incisions and apply bandages. This technique can also include a tummy tuck for ultimate smoothing of your midsection.
  • Upper Body Lift: Dr. Greenberg can perform this procedure simultaneously with the mid body lift, or during a second surgery, depending on your individualized needs. For an upper body lift, he will typically place an incision into the underarm to tighten muscles, remove surplus fat and tissue, and trim excess skin. If necessary, the same procedure can be performed on your back.

Dr. Greenberg’s experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon combined with receiving care at one of our private, licensed ambulatory surgical centers, can provide you with unmatched care and superior surgery outcomes.

  • Breast Lift: An upper body lift can also include a breast lift. Dr. Greenberg will make an incision around the areola to the base of the breast, and along the crease to remove sagging skin and tissue. If desired, Dr. Greenberg can add implants for a breast augmentation. Once the upper body lift or breast lift have been completed, Dr. Greenberg will close the incisions and cover them with compression bandages.
  • Lower Body Lift: During this procedure, both a thigh lift and butt liftcan be performed. For a thigh lift, Dr. Greenberg will make incisions in your groin area to tighten and remove excess skin in your upper thighs. Depending on the type of butt lift, he will either make incisions across the top of the buttocks, base of the buttocks, or central crease of the buttock to lift, before tightening and removing excess skin. If desired, he can augment your buttock with a fat grafting procedure. A lower body lift is often combined with a mid body lift to achieve the most significant results.

Dr. Greenberg’s experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon, combined with receiving care at one of our private, licensed ambulatory surgical centers, can provide you with unmatched care and supeior surgical outcomes.

Cost of Full Body Lift

What Does a Full Body Lift Cost?

Some women and men achieve significant weight loss only to confront an unwelcome side effect: excess skin. Loose skin around the torso, legs, and buttocks can be eliminated with a full body lift by cosmetic surgeon Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S. Many bariatric and gastric bypass patients are interested in this procedure, also known as a belt lipectomy, but have questions about body lift cost. In Long Island, NY, throughout the state and on a national level, Dr. Greenberg provides answers to common plastic surgery questions and concerns.

Dr. Greenberg is a published book author, hosts a radio program, and is considered an expert consultant for news and feature stories on cosmetic surgery. He and his staff welcome new patients, so if you are exploring the idea of a body lift or other cosmetic surgical enhancement, contact Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery today.

About Full Body Lift Surgery
Weight loss of 60 pounds or more will often result in excess skin and pockets of sagging, fatty tissue on the body. Stretched skin can lose elasticity, and age and genetics can play a part as well. The problem is primarily seen on the abdomen, back, buttocks, and thighs, but can also affect the upper arms and lower face.

In a belt lipectomy, the doctor makes a thin incision around the waist, then gently tightens the skin and underlying tissue, removing the excess and any fat deposits. As long as weight remains stable, a full body lift permanently addresses excess skin, streamlining the body by ridding the torso and hip area of bulges and sagging. Contour is restored, so patients look better in their clothes and experience renewed body confidence.

Body Lift Costs and Financing
Body lift patients often ask if the procedure can be covered by medical insurance. In most cases, it will not be covered, though some insurance plans pay for a portion of cosmetic surgery considered medically necessary. Our office staff is able to coordinate with insurance, as well as offer options for financing, such as CareCredit℠.

Costs of a body lift vary with each patient, depending upon the extent of surgery needed to meet individual treatment goals. Some patients choose to combine other procedures with their body lift, such as an upper arm lift or a face lift. Dr. Greenberg is known for his remarkable skill and dedication to giving each patient the best possible results. Some plastic surgeons have lower fees, but many patients feel most comfortable in Dr. Greenberg’s experienced hands.

In most cases, body lifts will not be covered by medical insurance, though some insurance plans pay for a portion of cosmetic surgery considered “medically necessary.” Our office staff is able to coordinate with insurance, as well as offer options for financing, such as CareCredit.

Other factors effecting cost include:

  • Facility Fees – Dr. Greenberg’s Manhattan and Long Island locations include an in-office, ambulatory surgery center, where all of his procedures take place. This way, he is able to keep costs lower compared to cosmetic surgery performed in a hospital setting.
  • Anesthesia – A certified anesthesiologist administers sedation medication for patient comfort and safety.
  • Post-surgical Care – Patients will require some pain medication and may need other types of prescriptions and assistance to aid in the healing process.