A body lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to reshape the entire figure after significant weight loss or multiple pregnancies. It removes excess skin and fat around the abdomen, flanks and buttocks to restore a flat stomach, shapely buttocks and slim waistline.
What is a body lift?
The body lift, also known as a circular tummy tuck or total abdominal lift, is a procedure that acts on the entire trunk. It has several effects:
- Tighten the skin on the belly, flanks and back.
- Correct excess fat, love handles and saddlebags.
- Lift and shape the buttocks.
- Bring the rectus abdominis muscles closer together (diastasis cure) for a flatter stomach.
The body lift improves not only physical appearance, but also lifestyle and self-confidence.
Who is the Bodylift procedure intended for?
The body lift is primarily intended for people with excess skin and circular fat in the trunk area. This excess skin and fat is often the result of significant weight loss or multiple pregnancies.
Main indications include:
- Massive weight loss: after bariatric surgery (sleeve, by-pass) or drastic diets, when the skin remains loose and hanging over the abdomen, flanks and buttocks.
- Post-pregnancy skin slackening: wrinkled tummy, distended abdominal muscles and loss of shape in the buttocks.
- Aging skin or liposuction sequelae: sagging skin, lack of tone and ptosis of the buttocks.
The body lift helps to reshape the figure, tighten the skin, refine the waistline and reshape the buttocks.
What are our different body lift techniques?
Lower body lift
The lower body lift focuses on the abdominal area and buttocks. This technique is ideal for patients with marked excess skin after weight loss or multiple pregnancies.
Objectives:
- Tighten the skin on the stomach and flanks.
- Eliminate rolls and love handles.
- Lift and reshape the buttocks (often combined with liposuction).
Benefits :
- Flat tummy and restored buttocks.
- Slimmer waist and harmonized silhouette.
Upper Bodylift
The upper body lift addresses excess skin on the back and upper flanks. It is particularly well suited to patients with sagging skin on the upper body after massive weight loss or age-related skin slackening.
Objectives:
- Tighten the skin on the back and sides.
- Smooth creases and enhance waist contour.
- Complete the effect of a lower body lift for a 360° silhouette.
Benefits:
- Smooth, harmonious spine.
- Redesigned silhouette from the waist to the top of the buttocks.
Bodylift lower vs. upper
| Features | Lower body lift | Upper Bodylift |
| Treated areas | Belly, flanks, buttocks | Back, upper flanks |
| Main objective | Tighten the tummy, reshape the buttocks | Tighten back and upper flanks |
| Associated techniques | Lipoaspiration, diastasis treatment | Lipoaspiration if necessary |
| Operating position | Dorsal and ventral | Ventral mainly |
| Operating time | 3 to 6 hours | 3 to 4 hours |
| Scars | Abdominal and periumbilical girdle | Back belt and side connector |
What are the steps leading up to your bodylift?
1. Consultation with the surgeon
- Examination of stomach, buttocks and thighs.
- Assessment of skin and muscle relaxation.
- Presentation of techniques and expected results.
- Detailed quotation.
2. Pre-anaesthetic consultation
Complete medical check-up and blood tests to check your suitability for general anaesthesia.
3. Preparation before surgery
- Smoking cessation (2 months before and 2 months after).
- Weight stabilization for at least 6 months.
- Antiseptic showers in the days leading up to the operation.
What is the procedure for your body lift?
The procedure lasts 3 to 6 hours, depending on the associated procedures (diastasis cure, liposuction, buttock reshaping) and the type of bodylift. The latter is performed in several stages, depending on whether you are having a lower, upper or combined bodylift:
1. Pre-operative-operative markings
- Performed in the upright position to plan the exact location of scars.
- Allows scars to be positioned in undergarment areas or in natural skin folds.
2. Premiphase: prone position
- Removal of excess skin from the back and buttocks.
- Remodelling of buttock volume if necessary thanks to excess fat.
3. Secondth phase: dorsal position
- Removal of excess abdominal and flank skin.
- Lipoaspiration and diastasis cure if necessary for a flat stomach.
- Repositioning or preservation of the navel.
4. Closure and drains
- Placement of drains to prevent haematomas and seromas.
- Suture wounds with absorbable sutures and carefully concealed circular scars around the abdomen and back.
5. Immediate post-operativediat
- Wear compression girdle 24 hours a day for 4 to 6 weeks.
- Monitoring of drains and care of home dressings.
What are the post-bodylift after-effects?
- Drains : removed after 5 to 7 days.
- Dressings : applied at home for 2 to 3 weeks.
- Wear a compression girdle day and night for 8 weeks to support healing and shape the silhouette.
- Time off work : generally 15 to 28 days, depending on the type of body lift and professional activity.
- Resumption of sport : 4 to 8 weeks, after agreement with the surgeon.
- Pain and swelling: moderate, treated with analgesics.
- Final results : visible after 6 to 12 months.
Hospitalization and convalescence
The hospital stay for a body lift generally varies between 2 and 5 days, depending on the extent of the procedures performed and the possible presence of drains.
Walking is recommended from the very first days to prevent thrombo-embolic complications. Home care includes follow-up of dressings, scar cleaning and monitoring of drains if necessary.
Contraindications and precautions
Certain conditions must be met before a body lift can be considered:
- Stable weight: patients must have reached and maintained their ideal weight for at least 6 months to guarantee a lasting result.
- Smoking cessation: at least one month before and two to three weeks after surgery to reduce the risk of complications related to scarring.
- Discontinue certain medications, such as aspirin, anticoagulants or vitamin E, with medical approval, to limit the risk of bleeding.
- Full medical evaluation : blood test, pre-anaesthetic consultation and medical history to rule out any anaesthetic or surgical risks.
- Oral contraception: to reduce the risk of thromboembolism, it is often advisable to stop taking oral contraceptives one month beforehand.
Certain severe conditions, such as significant unstabilized overweight, uncontrolled chronic diseases or active skin infections, may contraindicate the procedure.
Risks and possible complications
Like all surgery, a body lift entails risks that it is important to be aware of:
Risks associated withgeneralanesthesia:
Allergic reactions, cardiovascular or respiratory complications (rare).
General surgical risks :
- Post-operative hematoma or bleeding.
- Surgical site infection.
- Seroma: accumulation of fluid requiring punctures.
- Delayed or impaired healing, particularly in smokers, diabetics and overweight patients.
- Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, prevented by preventive anticoagulation.
Risks specific to the body lift :
- Partial or temporary loss of sensitivity in certain areas of the skin.
- Enlargement or poor quality of scars.
- Partial recurrence of skin ptosis in cases of thin skin or skin damaged by repeated weight changes.
Post-operative monitoring and compliance with medical instructions considerably reduce these risks.
Before / After photos of our patients in Paris
Our rates in Paris
- Full Bodylift: from âŹ15,000 (including surgical and anaesthetic fees).
- Additional procedures: liposuction, diastasis cure or buttock remodeling on request.
- Health insurance coverage: possible if the abdominal apron covers the pubis and follows massive weight loss or pregnancy.
Insurance and coverage
In certain cases, the bodylift may be partially reimbursed by the health insurance scheme, subject to certain conditions. The patient must have an abdominal apron partially covering the pubis and/or a functional sequela after massive weight loss or pregnancy.
To be reimbursed for a body lift, you need to obtain a prior agreement from your health insurance fund. The medical advisor decides whether or not to approve the request.
If covered, clinic fees are covered and surgical and anesthetic fees are partially reimbursed.
In the absence of coverage, no reimbursement will be made by health insurance or mutual insurance companies.
