WHAT IS body contour lift (overview)

A body contour lift is a surgical procedure performed to improve the appearance and contour of the upper buttock and lower back, hip and flank area of the trunk by removing fat and skin from the lower back and hip areas. 

 

The tightening of the skin will lift the buttocks, tighten the flanks, and remove the folds of excess skin and fat. A body contour lift treats skin and fat. No muscle treatment is involved in this procedure.


AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A body contour lift?

The body contour lift procedure is ideal for a patient with excess skin or, skin and fat, over the hips and flanks, often with a sagging buttock that has not responded to weight loss and/or exercise. It is also important that the patient be healthy overall, with no major medical conditions that may be affected by surgery. 

It is most commonly seen in massive weight loss patients where the fat has disappeared from their weight loss, but the excess skin and tissue sagging has remained.surgery.

Dr. Giuffre advises that the patient comes into the arm lipectomy surgery at a weight that is a “no brainer weight”: a weight that is stable that the patient has maintained for months or years based on their current life style,


Body Contour Lift CONSULTATION


Brief summary of what is discussed and process of a consultation for body contour lift with Dr. Giuffre


Dr. Giuffre will determine which procedure is best for you after a physical exam and a discussion of your goals for surgery.



PROCEDURE

A body contour lift procedure generally lasts one to two and a half hours depending on the extent of removal required and is performed under a General Anaesthetic. Dr. Giuffre performs the surgery in a private surgical suite adjacent to his Meadowlark Health Centre Office.

During the body contour lift procedure, Dr. Giuffre places the incision  just below the belt line, in the upper buttock area, from one hip to the opposite hip. If a tummy tuck has been done previously, the outer fifth of the abdominal scar is re-excised and tightened along the flank, in addition to the lower back, buttock and hip areas. Next, he will remove excess fat using liposuction, and then trim and tighten the excess skin and suture it into place.  

Once fat is removed and skin is tightened, the incision will be closed with sutures that will be absorbed by the body within a week or two. The incision scar will mature (the scar colour goes from red, to pink, to white, and the scar softens and becomes pliable) which can take 1-2 years

 

 

RECOVERY AFTER body contour

Before waking from the surgery, Dr. Giuffre will inject a long acting local anesthetic into the surgical area to decrease any immediate arm discomfort from the surgery. When the freezing wears off, the patient will require postoperative analgesic medication (pain killers) for up to a week. The discomfort typically subsides after the first two to three days following the surgery. Patients taking prescription pain killers should not drive a car, operate machinery, or sign significant documents while taking this medication.

You are encouraged to walk the day of surgery to avoid the risk of blood clots in your legs (during the surgery you will have had special sequential stockings on your legs that maintains normal leg circulation). If there is a drainage tube, it will be removed when the drainage is 25 cc’s in 24 hours for one or two days. Once the drainage tube is removed, you are encouraged to wear a Spanx garment or abdominal binder to support the surgery site for 6 weeks.

Recovery time ranges from one week to a few weeks. You should limit strenuous activity for at least four-six weeks. Dr. Giuffre will give you specific instructions for your individual recovery. 

You will have to arrange a ride and aftercare with a responsible adult. You are not permitted to leave unaccompanied or in a taxi. If your driving distance from Edmonton exceeds 90 minutes, you should make arrangements to stay overnight in Edmonton. The surgical centre does not have an overnight care facility. You will then be seen the following day for dressing removal and assessment by Dr. Giuffre and his staff.

Dr. Giuffre provides his home phone number to his cosmetic patients in case there is a patient concern.  In the rare instance that a patient requires hospitalization, Dr. Giuffre has admitting privileges to all of the major hospitals in Edmonton.

You will be seen the day following surgery by Dr.Giuffre and/or his nursing staff, if there are any future requests for an appointment, they are made directly with Dr. Giuffre's office and an expedited visit is arranged.


Body contour RESULTS

Summary of generalized results a patient can expect. Would be good to circle this back to the customization of the treatment and expected results that Dr. G would discuss in a consult.


Body contour risks

With any surgery there are surgical and anesthetic risks.


Aside from the rare risks of an anesthetic event, some of the general and specific surgical risks for this procedure would include:


  • Scarring

  • Infection

  • Decreased sensation to the lower back, hips and flanks for at least 6 weeks

  • Discomfort

  • Time off work and exercise

  • Bleeding (hematoma)

  • Seroma (fluid collection after the drain is removed)

  • Tissue loss in patients who smoke

  • Asymmetry

  • DVT (blood clots in the legs)


**This list is not complete.


During the consultation with the patient, Dr. Giuffre will outline and explain each of the risks in detail

 

FAQS

Do I have to lose weight before a Body Contour Lift?

If the patient feels they are overweight and wants to lose an additional amount of weight before proceeding with surgery, this is fine provided that the patient can maintain this new life style by permanently keeping this lost weight off.

What is critical is not to lose weight through an aggressive diet and exercise regime before a body contour lift that is not sustainable. 

Dr. Giuffre advises that the patient comes into body contour surgery at a weight that is a “no brainer weight,”: a weight that is stable, that the patient has maintained for months or years based on their current life style. There will be no extra ordinary effort for the patient to maintain this weight after surgery. The surgical result with then be maintained without changing the patient’s life style.

Is Body Contour surgery covered by AHS (Alberta Health Care) if I get a referral from by GP?

The Body Contour procedure is considered a cosmetic procedure by AHS, and is therefore not covered even with a referral from the Family Physician.