Body Lifts

Plastic Surgery in Charleston, SC

If you wish your body were firmer, smoother, and with a better contour, a body lift can help. A body lift is a surgical procedure that improves the shape and tone of tissue that supports your skin and fat. Excess skin and fat are removed, and the result is a better body shape. Virtually any body part can be reshaped, but body lifts most commonly requested are arm lifts, buttock lifts, and thigh lifts. Body lifts also help people who have had major weight loss and now have significant hanging skin.

If your figure is not what you desire, a body lift may be able to help. Please contact Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse at Port City Plastic Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina today.

Many Procedures

There are many kinds of body lifts. People are most familiar with tummy tucks and breast lifts, but other parts of the body can be reshaped in a similar way. Other common lifts requested are arm lifts, buttock lifts (or butt lifts), and thigh lifts.

Arm Lifts

No matter how many weights you lift, you may still experience what some people describe as "bat wings": loose hanging skin in the upper arms. Sometimes, even weight loss leaves your skin loose and unable to retract. An arm lift, or "brachioplasty," reshapes and tightens the underlying tissue in the arms. Excess fat and skin are removed, and when the suture is closed your arms will have a more slender appearance with significantly less sagging.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin and/or fat. It is not a procedure to reduce cellulite. Sometimes, cellulite can be treated with SmartLipo™, and sometimes SmartLipo™ is sufficient to tighten excess skin. During your consultation, Dr. Widenhouse will discuss your options with you to determine whether this might be a reasonable choice for you. If you do not require too much lifting, a medial thigh lift may be used. In this type of lift, an incision is made in the groin area. More significant lifting may require the incision be extended around the hip. Typically, these incisions can be placed so that resulting scars will be concealed by most clothing and even swimsuits.

Buttocks and Thigh Lift (Tongol Lift)

An option for some people is the Tongol Lift, which uses incisions that are concealed between the buttocks. The procedure allows for some tightening of the thighs and buttocks without the longer scars that sometimes are necessary for more traditional forms of body lifts. It is sometimes used in conjunction with liposuction to maximize results.

Body Contouring after Major Weight Loss

If you have experienced a period of significant weight gain, losing the weight can seem like the hardest fight of your life. But the battle may not be over. Even after weight loss you may not have achieved the look you desire. The trim and healthy appearance you desire is blocked by loose skin that remains a disheartening reminder of the weight you have lost. But surgical body contouring can help by removing excess skin and remaining fat or other tissues that contribute to skin laxity. In addition, the tissue that supports your skin can be reshaped and tightened to allow you to clearly see the results of your weight loss.

If you would like to learn more about body lifts and other forms of body contouring procedures, please schedule a consultation at Port City Plastic Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina.