Body Lift

A body lift is an advanced body contouring procedure that treats excess skin and fatty tissue in the lower and upper body areas to give patients more aesthetically pleasing figures. With a stellar reputation for cosmetic surgery in the Naples area, Dr. Paul M. Gardner and Dr. Leo M. Baccaro tailor the body lift procedure to meet their patient’s needs and achieve the most aesthetically pleasing results possible. They aim to help their respective patients reach their beauty potential while providing personalized, compassionate care through a safe procedure.

In order to be considered good candidates for this cosmetic surgery, patients typically need to follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen and maintain a stable weight, ideally for six months to a year. Patients who have undergone weight loss surgery are not eligible for body lifts until one year after their procedure — a preventative measure our surgeons adhere to for the promotion of patient health.

Dr. Gardner and Dr. Baccaro offer three types of body lifts:

• Upper body lift
• Lower body lift
• Total body lift

Patients who are concerned with the appearance of their breasts, chest and mid-back area can opt for an upper body lift. During the procedure, the plastic surgeon creates an incision across the midsection of the back and gently extract excess skin and fat. The surgeon meticulously sculpts the upper torso area to narrow the waistline and smooth the appearance of the back. He may also a perform breast lift — a breast enhancement procedure that raises sagging breasts to a more youthful-looking position, depending upon the patient’s desires.

Lower body lift surgery is one of the most requested procedures made by new mothers to treat the physical tolls that pregnancy can place on the body. This surgery involves sculpting the appearance of the thighs, stomach, buttocks and hips to achieve slimmer, tighter figures. At Naples Plastic Surgery, the procedure begins with an incision along the outer thigh area and buttocks, as well as an incision across the lower section of the abdomen. Then, the surgeon carefully tightens the lower body area by removing excess tissue and suctioning out fat, if needed.

A total body lift is a combination of both lower and upper body lifts, as well as any other body contouring procedures a patient may request, such as an arm lift or breast lift. Dr. Gardner and Dr. Baccaro typically perform total body lifting surgery in multiple procedures at their practice in order to minimize the risk of complications.

Unlike most plastic surgery procedures, a body lift requires that patients be admitted to the hospital for two to three nights following the procedure. Body lift is an invasive surgical procedure, so there are risks for complications. After the procedure, Dr. Gardner or Dr. Baccaro will carefully outline a list of instructions in order to encourage healthy recovery periods and minimize any risks.

Once patients are released from the hospital, patients should rest for four to six weeks before returning to normal daily activities. Our surgeons provide patients with compression garments and dressings until most of the swelling subsides, typically within six weeks.