Body Lift
Offered at our convenient location in San Antonio, TX
A body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy, is a procedure that is performed to remove excess skin and fat to help you achieve a slimmer, smoother, and tighter silhouette. Many factors can lead to loose skin and stubborn fat deposits, such as hormonal fluctuations, changes in weight, pregnancy, and more. A body lift can effectively address each of these issues, leaving patients feeling more confident.
Dr. Wendie Grunberg is a double board-certified plastic surgeon and the medical director and founder of Alluring Aesthetics, one of the leading cosmetic practices in San Antonio. Known for her personable approach and attention to detail, she has helped thousands of patients achieve transformative results.
To schedule a personal consultation at our office and explore your body lift options, please contact us online or call our office at (210) 714-5390.
Contents
About Body Lifts
A body lift is a body-contouring procedure that excises sagging or loose skin and removes excess fat to effectively lift and tighten multiple parts of the midsection and lower body. This procedure often combines various procedures, such as the tummy tuck, lower body lift, and back lift, and is typically performed after significant weight loss. (1) Body lifts are highly popular and are praised for their remarkable results, with hundreds of thousands of body lifts performed each year. (2) Dr. Grunberg can comprehensively transform multiple regions of the body during a body lift, addressing concerns regarding the thighs, abdomen, and buttocks, helping her patients achieve a more toned and youthful-looking figure.
Benefits
Patients see several advantages when receiving a body lift from Dr. Grunberg, including:
- Improved Contours: A body lift can effectively eliminate excess skin and tighten underlying muscles and tissue, enhancing your overall silhouette.
- Raised Confidence: Patients often report an improvement in their self-esteem and confidence after a body lift.
- Enhanced Comfort: Removing sagging or drooping tissue can help alleviate discomfort or irritation caused by chafing.
- Weight Loss Maintenance: Those who have lost a significant amount of weight can maintain their new size more easily when excess skin is not hindering progress.
- Long-Lasting Results: When combined with a healthy lifestyle, the results of a body lift can last for years.
- Personalized Outcomes: Each procedure is fully tailored to each patient’s concerns and anatomy, ensuring customized results.
- Better Fitting Clothing: After undergoing a body lift, many patients find that they have access to a wider variety of better-fitting clothing.
Candidates
Suitable candidates for a body lift include those with excess skin and fat around their body who wish to remove it for a more proportionate and desirable figure. Patients are often those who have lost a significant amount of weight, have undergone pregnancy, or are experiencing the effects of aging, but anyone looking for a comprehensive procedure is welcome to consider a body lift.
All interested individuals should be in good overall health and free from any underlying medical conditions that could impair healing. Patients should hold realistic expectations regarding what this procedure can accomplish. Patients who are still on a weight loss journey should maintain a stable weight for several months before treatment.
Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Grunberg will ask you about your medical history, concerns, and desired treatment goals before evaluating your overall anatomy. Using this information, she will determine if you are eligible for a body lift and which procedures will best help you achieve your ideal aesthetic. Pre- and post-operative instructions will also be provided, as well as a cost estimate for your procedure.
To schedule your consultation with Dr. Grunberg, please call her San Antonio office at (210) 714-5390 or submit our online contact form.
Preparation
In preparation for your body lift, you will receive a set of pre-operative instructions from Dr. Grunberg. These instructions may vary depending on the procedure being performed, but following them is essential for minimizing complications and achieving optimal results.
Patients are generally asked to do the following:
- Discontinue using medications and supplements with blood-thinning properties
- Quit smoking for several weeks before and after the appointment
- Avoid alcohol before and after the procedure
- Fill prescriptions ahead of time
- Arrange transportation home from the procedure
- Take time off from work to focus on healing
Procedure
Each procedure begins with the administration of general anesthesia. The incisions used depend on which combination of procedures is performed. In many cases, Dr. Grunberg makes a circumferential incision around the lower torso, typically extending across the lower abdomen, hips, and lower back. Through this incision, she removes excess skin and fat.
Throughout the procedure, Dr. Grunberg may perform liposuction to refine body contours or use fat grafting to enhance shape and balance proportions. If needed, she reshapes and repositions the navel for a natural appearance. Once she achieves the desired results, she closes each incision in layers to support optimal healing. You will then rest and be monitored by the experienced team.
Recovery
Recovering from a body lift tends to be more extensive because these procedures address multiple areas at once. While recovery may take slightly longer, the results are often transformative! Most patients return to work within a few weeks, but you should refrain from engaging in any physical or high-intensity activities until you have been cleared by Dr. Grunberg. Throughout your recovery, you may be asked to return for follow-up visits so that our team can monitor your progress and ensure the results match your goals. Dr. Grunberg will provide more detailed post-operative instructions to you during your consultation.
Results
You may be able to see a dramatic change immediately after your body lift, but the effects of your procedure will improve as you continue to heal. You will be able to enjoy a slimmer, tighter, and contoured figure, as well as an overall more youthful-looking appearance. Patients often find that certain clothing items look and fit better. While scarring is inevitable, it will likely fade over time and become less noticeable.
Corresponding Procedures
Dr. Grunberg can ‘stack’ several procedures during a body lift for more refined and cohesive results. Stacking procedures encompass receiving multiple different cosmetic procedures in one sitting. Stacking procedures come with certain benefits, such as undergoing a singular recovery period rather than several recoveries.
If you are interested in learning more about the other procedures that may be stacked with your body lift, we encourage you to read Dr. Grunberg’s blog!
Cost of Body Lifts in San Antonio
The cost of a body lift can vary depending on several factors, as each procedure is personalized to address each patient’s concerns, making it difficult for our team to provide an early cost estimate. Dr. Grunberg will disclose the pricing of your body lift during your consultation, once she has established each procedure detail. Additionally, Alluring Aesthetics offers various financing options to help each patient achieve their goals without a financial burden. Our patient coordinators will be more than happy to discuss these options further with you during your consultation.
To learn more about the cost of your body lift, please contact us online or call our office at (210) 714-5390.
FAQ
What is a body lift?
A body lift is a comprehensive procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat while simultaneously tightening the remaining skin. These procedures aim to reshape specific areas of the body, typically within the midsection and lower body.
Who is an ideal candidate for a body lift?
Ideal candidates for a body lift generally include those with loose or excess skin and stubborn fat deposits. Oftentimes, patients experience these concerns due to substantial weight loss, pregnancy, or aging. Candidates should also be in general good health and nonsmoking or willing to quit for an extended period.
How long will the results of my body lift last?
The results of a body lift are long-lasting, as long as a healthy lifestyle is maintained.
How long will the recovery period last after a body lift?
Each patient’s recovery timeline will vary depending on the type of procedure performed, but recovery generally spans over several weeks. Patients can often return to work after a few weeks, depending on the physical demands of the job. If a patient has a more active job, they may need to take more time off. Your surgeon will let you know when you can return to normal activities.
Can my body lift be combined with another procedure?
Yes, patients are more than welcome to stack procedures. For more information, we encourage you to discuss this option with Dr. Grunberg during your consultation.
References
- Carloni R, Antoine De Runz, Chaput B, et al. Circumferential Contouring of the Lower Trunk: Indications, Operative Techniques, and Outcomes—A Systematic Review. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2016;40(5):652-668. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-016-0660-7
- Mayo J, Cape JD. Belt Lipectomy. PubMed. Published 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK604202/
- Langer V, Singh A, Aly A, Cram A. Body contouring following massive weight loss. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2011;44(1):14. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0358.81439