Is a Body Lift Painful?

Patients are numb throughout the procedure due to the sedation. Post-surgery, patients have reported mild discomfort, bruising, and swelling, but that is to be expected. Patients must follow post-operative instructions to ease their recovery. Furthermore, Dr. Slocum’s team can provide prescription pain medication as needed.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Dr. Slocum will have patients return to the practice a few days after surgery to remove drains, if any. He will then have patients return at the one-week mark to remove sutures and monitor recovery. At every appointment, Dr. Slocum will let you know ahead of time when to schedule the next one to fit into your schedule.

How Long Until I See Results?

You will notice an immediate change in your shape as a significant amount of tissue is generally removed during surgery; anywhere from 5-20 lbs of tissue can sometimes be taken off. The time it takes to see the finished results of a body lift can vary from person to person. It truly will take 2-3 months to heal fully; in some cases, the swelling can take up to a year to resolve. The results are cumulative, and patients can rest with the knowledge that their body image will only improve with time.

Can I Combine a Body Lift with Other Procedures?

It depends on the procedure. Due to the length of time in the operating room, there are limitations to the additional procedures that can be performed. Many patients who undergo a body lift in Portsmouth also seek additional body contouring procedures to achieve their desired overall aesthetic. If you also desire other procedures, such as an Arm Lift or Thigh Lift , these can be performed at a separate surgery. We recommend that you bring this up at your initial consultation with Dr. Slocum so that he can include your combined procedure goals in his surgical plan.

What Are the Risks Associated with a Body Lift?

A body lift in Portsmouth, Dover, Boston, and greater New England has some associated risks and side effects, such as: Asymmetry Bleeding Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications Fat necrosis Fluid accumulation (Seroma) Infection Wound separation (dehiscence) Numbness or other changes in skin sensation Pain Slow wound healing Possibility of need for revisionary surgery Recurrent looseness of skin Skin discoloration and swelling Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible, or produce irritation that requires removal. Unfavorable scarring Anesthesia risks Please contact our offices or Dr. Slocum immediately if you experience any of these or any unexpected long-lasting reactions.

Portsmouth, NH

Body Lift

Introduction to Body Lift (Circumferential)

A body lift, also known as a Circumferential Belt Lipectomy, is a surgical procedure to tighten and lift various areas of the body, including the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and hips. A body lift can be done after significant weight loss or when a patient wants to improve their shape, as it is a very powerful way to tighten loose skin and address poor tissue elasticity. By its very nature, a body lift is tailored specifically to each patient, depending on their needs. If you are interested in restoring the normal contours of your body and achieving a drastic result in one surgery, you should consider a body lift in Portsmouth, NH, from board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Slocum.

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Body Lift Results

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Athletic woman in a white sports bra and high-waisted bottoms, gracefully posing with arms raised, bathed in sunlight inside a minimalist space - Body Lift in Portsmouth, NH

Achieve a Balanced, Refined Look

What is a Body Lift?

A body lift is a highly sought-after option for those who deal with excess tissue on the legs, stomach, and sides (flanks or love handles). Excess skin and fat can be a challenge for aesthetics, hygiene, and functionality. The skin can sag and get in the way with age and weight loss after pregnancy, weight loss surgery, or even those using medications like Ozempic. A body lift aims to trim away sagging skin, remove stubborn areas of fat, and tighten the excess skin in various parts of the body. Therefore, a body lift is a combined procedure for dealing with various target areas. Normally, the ideal candidates for a body lift have skin laxity on the stomach, back, buttocks, or thighs following massive weight loss. We invite you to learn more and arrange a consult with Dr. Slocum today.

What Are the Benefits of a Body Lift?

Our patients who have received a body lift in Portsmouth, Boston, and the greater New England area have enjoyed a boost in their self-esteem as well as relief in their functionality. Some other benefits shared by past patients include the following:

Better clothing fit
Lifted, improved appearance of the buttocks
Orthopedic relief
Removal of excess fat
Removal of excess skin
Tightened abdomen
Toned contours

Who Are the Best Candidates For a Body Lift?

A body lift is the right step for those who are at a baseline weight after following a healthy diet and exercising for an extended period. This procedure should not be used as a substitute for weight loss surgery. Below are some characteristics of the ideal candidates for a body lift in Portsmouth:

Excess fat
Low self-esteem due to body image
No underlying medical conditions
Post-pregnancy stubborn weight
Realistic Expectations
Sagging skin
Stable and healthy weight
Tissue inelasticity

Let’s Get Started

What’s The
First Step?

The first step to getting a body lift at Seacoast Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Slocum at our Portsmouth, NH, location. During this appointment, it is key to bring all your questions about the surgery and its associated risks, benefits, and expectations. This is a time when Dr. Slocum will ask you about your medical history and any chronic conditions, including hypertension or diabetes. Patients need to be honest and upfront with the surgeon to ensure patient safety and vitality. For instance, sometimes body lift procedures also include liposuction, which can be risky for hypertensive patients. In that case, this might not be the ideal procedure for you.

Dr. Slocum will conduct a detailed examination of the target areas of concern, outlining where he will create incisions and detailing the process and recovery expectation for you.

If you both agree to proceed, he will design a surgical plan, which you can use to schedule your surgery at our patient concierge.

What to Expect on the Day of Body Lift Surgery

On the day of your body lift in Portsmouth, Dr. Slocum and his team will welcome you and get you settled in the surgical suite. The team will review the surgical plan again to ensure you are comfortable and do not have any new concerns. Dr. Slocum wants to make sure that you are carefree as you are wheeled into surgery. Finally, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia so that you are pain-free during your procedure.

Once sedated, Dr. Slocum will begin his masterful work of making incisions in areas that will lead to camouflaged scars. Depending on your goals and what was discussed in the consultation, he may combine a body lift with other procedures, such as liposuction. Sometimes, depending on your goals, you might also need to consider an arm lift or a breast lift as additional procedures.

Once he is done, he will close the incisions with dissolvable sutures; some patients may also need drains if he judges that fluid build-up might impede recovery.

A body lift, on average and without delays, can take four to five hours.

Body Lift Recovery

Given the length of the procedure, you will be watched in the recovery room intensively by Dr. Slocum’s staff to make sure you recover fully from anesthesia. Patients are recommended to have a family member or friend drive them home, as sedation can take time to wear off fully.

Patients are encouraged to take 3-4 weeks off from work and rest. While gentle walking is recommended to avoid the formation of blood clots, patients are also encouraged to avoid vigorous exercise for at least 4-6 weeks.

Further, to assist with on-track recovery, patients must keep their compression garments on and follow any other post-operative instructions to prevent the intensification of scars, encourage recuperation, decrease unwanted symptoms, and shield against infection.

Fair & Transparent Pricing

How Much Does a Body Lift Cost in Dover or New Hampshire?

The cost of a Body Lift in Portsmouth, Boston, and the greater New England area depends on a multitude of factors, including but not limited to the complexity of your case, the area of the target being considered, the surgeon’s, and the anesthetist’s fees. In general, the price of a body lift is around $9,000-$12,000. Patients are recommended to schedule their initial consultation to receive a treatment plan, which can then be priced out to arrive at a final cost.

SPS Expertise

Why Choose Dr. Slocum?

Alexander Slocum, Jr, MD/PhD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with years of research and medical experience behind him. He founded Seacoast Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics to reflect the excellence in patient care and rejuvenation that he has always championed. Your body lift in Portsmouth is sure to be in the hands of excellence should you choose Seacoast Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics.

Dr. Slocum is a member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Aesthetic Society for American Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).

Body Lift FAQs

You will notice an immediate change in your shape as a significant amount of tissue is generally removed during surgery; anywhere from 5-20 lbs of tissue can sometimes be taken off. The time it takes to see the finished results of a body lift can vary from person to person. It truly will take 2-3 months to heal fully; in some cases, the swelling can take up to a year to resolve. The results are cumulative, and patients can rest with the knowledge that their body image will only improve with time.
It depends on the procedure. Due to the length of time in the operating room, there are limitations to the additional procedures that can be performed. Many patients who undergo a body lift in Portsmouth also seek additional body contouring procedures to achieve their desired overall aesthetic. If you also desire other procedures, such as an Arm Lift or Thigh Lift, these can be performed at a separate surgery. We recommend that you bring this up at your initial consultation with Dr. Slocum so that he can include your combined procedure goals in his surgical plan.
A body lift in Portsmouth, Dover, Boston, and greater New England has some associated risks and side effects, such as:
- Asymmetry
- Bleeding
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Fat necrosis
- Fluid accumulation (Seroma)
- Infection
- Wound separation (dehiscence)
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Pain
- Slow wound healing
- Possibility of need for revisionary surgery
- Recurrent looseness of skin
- Skin discoloration and swelling
- Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible, or produce irritation that requires removal.
- Unfavorable scarring
- Anesthesia risks
Please contact our offices or Dr. Slocum immediately if you experience any of these or any unexpected long-lasting reactions.

Schedule a consultation

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