Dr. John D. Stover DDS, MD, PhD
TRIPLE BOARD CERTIFIED:
Diplomate, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Diplomate, National Board of Dental Anesthesiology
Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii
Most comprehensive cosmetic surgical procedures in Hawaii
SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Body Lift
A Lower Body Lift combines the Tummy Tuck sculpture of the stomach, and Buttock Lift sculpting the entire body in a band about the waist or a Belt Lipectomy.
What is Belt Lipectomy or Body Lift?
The body lift is basically a combination of a tummy tuck and a butt lift. Depending on your circumstances, the tummy tuck and buttock lift may need to be performed separately. Dr. Stover will evaluate you at your consultation and discuss the risks, benefits and alternative treatments.
The incision is typically made below the beltline in a circumferential fashion around the waist. The incisions for these lifts are closed with dissolvable sutures and drains are usually placed to remove excess fluid that accumulates in the first week after surgery. The incisions are covered with tape and a compression garment is worn for 4 weeks to help reduce swelling and assist the skin in contracting to the new body contour. The drains and tape are usually removed one week after surgery. Sometimes the drains may need to stay in longer if your body is producing excess fluid from inflammation after surgery.
Recovery following Body Lift surgery
Expected recovery is between one to two weeks. It is important to begin walking the day after surgery to prevent blood clots from forming in the deep veins of the leg. You can resume light exercise after two weeks and more vigorous exercise after six weeks. Some bruising is normal after surgery. This usually goes away in the first few weeks.
Your incisions will be noticeable immediately following surgery but they will gradually fade and flatten for up to a year after surgery. You will also have some puckering around the incision after surgery. This will smooth out over a month or two. If your skin has lots of stretch marks or is extremely thin, this is a sign of poor skin elasticity.
Minimizing scars after Body Lift surgery
Patients with poor skin elasticity may be more prone to widening of the scar after surgery. Sometimes patients elect to do a scar revision procedure 8 -12 months after initial healing to improve the appearance of the scars. Your skin will also be firm and numb at the outset. It will soften and normal sensation will return gradually. Permanent numbness of the skin in the surgical are is not common but can sometimes occur.
Patients need to have realistic goals and loose tissues that are sagging in one or multiple body regions. Individuals need to be in good health without multiple medical problems, impaired healing, bruising, or bleeding difficulties.
Body Lifts are available in Hawaii through Dr. John D. Stover's Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii. Dr. Stover is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with offices in Kona, Hilo and Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Stover continually updates his knowledge, skills and practice in the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures, which has made him one of Hawaii's top-performing cosmetic surgeons.
