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Body Lift

A body lift in Chicago, also known as a circumferential tummy tuck, is a post-weight loss body contouring procedure designed to help men and women who feel frustrated with excess skin and fatty tissue in the tummy, flanks, thighs and buttocks. By restoring slimmer contours to your post-weight loss figure, you can better showcase your weight loss success and feel more confident about your slimmer body shape.

Dr. Otto Placik is widely regarded as one of the best body lift specialists in Chicago. A board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Placik performs post-weight loss cosmetic surgery like body lifts as well as a range of other body contouring procedures to help men and women of the Chicago area look and feel their best at all stages of the weight loss journey.

Please contact us online or call our Chicago or Arlington Heights plastic surgery offices for more information on body lifts, including prices.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Chicago

Dr. Otto Joseph Placik Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Placik is a board certified plastic surgeon in Chicago and an active member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University where he also completed residencies in general and plastic and reconstructive surgery.

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About Body Lift from Dr. Placik

Large amounts of body weight can stretch the skin irreversibly, leaving men and women who have undergone dramatic weight loss with lingering folds of skin and fatty tissue. These concerns can not only lead to feelings of self-consciousness, but ongoing struggles with skin irritation and limited wardrobe options can also detract from feeling satisfied with your weight loss success. While proud and eager to celebrate the achievement of weight loss, many individuals are frustrated with the sequelae of loose skin and inability to wear the outfit that shows off the results of their efforts. Additionally, abdominal muscles that have separated as a result of excess body weight can’t be restored to their original, tighter position with exercise alone.

The best body lift results are seen when patients have reached their goal weight, whether through a healthier lifestyle or bariatric surgery, and want to improve the appearance of remaining skin folds, small amounts of fatty tissue, and loose abdominal muscles.

Chicago Body Lift Diagram

Body Lift

The exact approach Dr. Placik takes depends on your individual needs, but in general, a body lift in Chicago consists of variations of three procedures combined into one surgery or staged to accommodate desired goals:

  • Tummy tuck: With a circumferential incision around the abdominal belt instead of a traditional tummy tuck incision, Dr. Placik can remove a greater amount of skin and fatty tissue from the abdominal area while repairing separated abdominal muscles.
  • Thigh lift: Incisions made below the pubic region allow for contouring of the inner thighs to improve appearance and reduce chafing, while additional incisions can be strategically placed around the hips to lift and tone the outer thighs.
  • Unlike a Brazilian butt lift, which uses fat augmentation to accentuate the buttocks, the butt lift included in a body lift smoothes and tightens saggy skin while removing fatty deposits, often including liposuction for more comprehensive contouring if necessary.
  • Breast lifts are commonly requested to both improve the appearance of sagging breasts which have lost volume. Quite often a breast implant or the patient’s own tissue (fat injections or skin-fat flaps) may also be used to restore upper fullness of the breast while the lower portion of the breast may be reduced to eliminate the skin and gland that falls below the breast crease.
  • Arm lift procedures to treat hanging and loose skin from the arms can help you feel more comfortable and confident in shirts and clothing. The areas addressed will vary from one person to another and in the most severe cases extend from the forearm up to the arm and into the arm pit (axillary) region and then along the upper back and sometimes into the breast lift incisions. A variety of approaches and incisions are used depending on the pattern of skin laxity. While short scar arm lifts sound attractive, they may not accomplish the amount of correction desired.
  • Following massive weight loss, some individuals experience marked laxity of the face and neck which they find unwelcoming prompting them to seek face lift or neck lift. These individuals are saddened by their aged appearance which does not reflect the new vigor and vitality they feel after shedding their weight. In a select group, non-surgical interventions may also help to restore facial fullness
  • While women will typically experience loss of breast volume with sagging that is correctable with a breast lift and implants, many men complain of marked breast fullness for which they request male breast reduction. Pronounced breast enlargement may be accompanied by wide areolae, puffy nipples and skin laxity requiring more elaborate procedures.
Actual
Patient Not a Model

While a body lift typically includes aspects of all three of the above procedures, Dr. Placik’s approach will depend largely upon your cosmetic goals and areas of need. A body lift can be performed as a solo surgery, or in combination with upper body post-weight loss body contouring procedures.

A body lift is performed under general anesthesia either as an inpatient or outpatient procedure, depending on Dr. Placik’s recommendation. Patients normally require 1 to 2 weeks of downtime, followed by a gradual recovery period of avoiding certain movements and strenuous activities. Dr. Placik will give you detailed post-operative care instructions, including whether to use a compression garment and any specific activities to avoid.

Body Lift FAQ

Am I a good candidate?

The best candidates for a body lift have undergone dramatic weight loss, either through bariatric surgery or lifestyle changes, and want to enhance their weight loss success. Candidates should also be of good overall physical and mental health, and have realistic expectations about their results. Although a body lift can address excess skin and fat, men and women considering a body lift should be at or near their ideal weight prior to undergoing surgery, as the procedure is not a substitute for weight loss. Candidates should optimally have a BMI of 30 or less. Patients do require adequate nutrition and protein intake for satisfactory healing and should not be on a restricted diet at the time of surgery or during the recovery phase. Smoking is associated with an increased complication rate.

What should I expect during my consultation?

During your consultation with Dr. Placik, you can discuss your goals for body lift surgery as well as any other appearance concerns you may have. Dr. Placik will also perform a brief physical examination to help determine candidacy, and let you know if he recommends any additional procedures. You will be advised to refrain from tobacco and alcohol for a certain length of time before and after surgery to ensure a safer surgery and quicker recovery. In many instances, not all of the desired procedures can be accomplished in one operation and options for staging or combining surgeries will be reviewed.

Will the scars be visible?

As with all surgeries, the scars from a body lift are permanent. However, Dr. Placik takes special care to place incisions in discreet locations. Most patients report that their scars fade dramatically within the first year following surgery. Typically, body lift patients feel so pleased with their results that any resulting scars seem like a worthy trade-off.

How much does a body lift cost?

The cost of your Chicago body lift will depend on the approach that Dr. Placik takes during surgery, as well as whether any additional procedures were included. The total expenses will be inclusive of Dr. Placik’s surgical fee, anesthesiologist fees, and the use of the surgical center. Dr. Placik and his staff strive to provide value to each patient and can advise you on flexible cosmetic surgery financing options to help make your body lift procedure even more affordable.

What are the risks?

As with any surgical procedure, a body lift has some potential risks, such as bleeding, infection or scarring. Although rare, seroma can result from a build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity after a tummy tuck. This can be controlled with the use of post-surgical drains. Other complications could include blood clots, numbness, hematoma, nerve damage, or reactions to anesthesia.

Dr. Placik promises you his best possible care and attention. If you would like to schedule a private consultation to learn more about body lifts, please contact us online or call us at 847-398-1660.

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