The aim of a body lift or body surgery is to restore a harmonious shape to a body which has become unattractive.

Standard result after breast lift/enlargement and abdominal plastic surgery
(1st operation) and thigh lift (2nd operation).

Body surgery is prescribed for anyone with excess skin.  After excessive weight loss, the skin loses its elasticity and aesthetic correction may be necessary.

• upper/lower abdomen,
• breasts,
• back,
• arms,
• legs
• buttocks,

can all be corrected by a body lift.

INNOVATIONS IN BODY SURGERY

The traditional general anaesthetic is no longer necessary!  Therefore less risk!
In the past, correction of the body contour involved lengthy, severe, high-risk surgery.  Such an operation required a general anaesthetic and a stay in hospital - and a blood transfusion was often necessary.  

The long hospitalization and recovery period had repercussions on the patient’s socio-professional activities.  Recovering after an intravenous sedation is quicker!

Nowadays, with the discovery of intravenous sedation and tumescent infiltration, the traditional general anaesthetic is no longer necessary, loss of blood is limited and consequently the recovery period is reduced.

Technology, together with advances in sedation, makes extensive cosmetic surgery possible without the side effects of general anaesthesia. During an operation under intravenous sedation, you are asleep and you feel no pain.  

ABDOMEN 

Generally, after weight loss, the skin of the stomach slackens and becomes so flabby that abdominal plastic surgery is necessary.

There are various operation techniques for correction of the abdominal muscles and removal of the excess skin and fat.

Liposuctie

Liposuction or lipoaspiration consists in removing only the fat.  Small incisions of 3mm are made in the areas where the fat cells need to be removed.  The skin must still be elastic for the best results to be achieved.

Standard result after liposuction of the upper/lower
abdomen, hips and thighs and breast reduction.

Mini plastic surgery to the abdomen

Abdominal mini plastic surgery is a treatment for the lower part of the abdomen: the zone extending from the navel to the pubis.  The operation does not affect the upper abdomen area at all.  Mini correction of the lower abdomen consists in removing the excess skin and fat.  During this operation, the abdominal muscles may be re-tightened.  

When the excess skin is situated mainly in the lower abdomen, abdominal mini plastic surgery leaves scars at the level of the pubis and the bikini line.   

Standard result after mini plastic surgery to the abdomen.  

Abdominal plastic surgery

This operation consists in re-tightening the skin of the upper and lower abdomen, tightening the muscles and removing the excess skin and fat.  The skin of the lower abdomen is redraped downwards, therefore the navel is displaced and rebuilt.  

Scars left by abdominal plastic surgery are usually situated around the navel, in the pubis and groin areas and may extend towards the back.  

Standard result after abdominal correction: abdominal plastic surgery.
The patient is leaning forward in order to demonstrate relaxation of the skin.  

For more information on abdominal correction, click here!

BREASTS

For heavy or sagging breasts, a breast reduction or breast lift may be prescribed. Sometimes implants are necessary in order to obtain an attractive chest.

Standard result after breast lift with implants and abdominal plastic surgery.

For more information on abdominal correction, click here!

arms

The surgeon removes the excess skin by means of an incision in the armpit or on the inside of the arm from the armpit to the elbow.  

The incisions are generally situated in the least visible areas.  Each operation leaves a different scar. The particular characteristics of your operation will be discussed with you before the operation.  

Sometimes, for the removal of excess fat, liposuction is necessary in order to harmonize the shape of the arms and to avoid future loosening of the skin. 

Standard result after arm lift surgery.  

For more information on arm correction, click here!

THIGHS AND BUTTOCkS: 

• inner thigh lift
• outer thigh lift
• buttock lift with or without implants

Scars vary in accordance with the severity of the operation. The exact details will be explained to you during your consultation with the surgeon.  

Standard result after an inner and outer thigh lift, abdominal plastic surgery
and breast lift with implants. Two-phase operation.

torso

If the stomach, groin and back areas are remodelled during body contour surgery, the aesthetic surgeon will leave a scar in the groin area, extending to towards the spinal column.  The inner and outer areas of the thighs can also be corrected.

Standard result after abdomen and back correction surgery.

The traditional general anaesthetic is no longer necessary! Therefore less risk! Sedation with powerful sedatives injected intravenously is sufficient and more effective than a general anaesthetic.

Unlike the traditional general anaesthetic, whereby a tube is inserted into the throat and linked to breathing apparatus, you breathe independently.  During the operation you are asleep and feel no pain.

Several hours after the operation you feel well and you don’t suffer the side effects of a general anaesthetic.  

Thanks to intravenous sedation, it is now possible to have long and extensive surgical operations without taking unnecessary risks.

Recovery after body surgery under intravenous sedation is quicker.

the recovery period and post-operative care

Hospitalization

Liposuction, abdominal mini plastic surgery and arm lifts are a one-day treatment. You enter the clinic in the morning. After the operation, you rest in your room.  By the evening, you will be well recovered and able to return home or to your hotel.
Generally, for other types of body surgery, an overnight stay in the clinic will be required.

Aftercare

Drains, if you have any, are removed in the days following the operation. Suture stitches are removed approximately ten days after the operation.
Showers are permitted. However, it is recommended that you abstain from taking a bath for two weeks.  

Rest

It is recommended that you resume light daily activities as soon as possible.  Depending on the extent of the area operated on, between one and six weeks of rest are necessary before more physical activities are resumed.
With thigh and buttock lifts in particular, hip movements should minimized for two weeks.  You must take this into consideration when arranging any socio-professional activities.

The dressing

After the operation, it is generally recommended that you wear a compressive dressing for several weeks, to promote good scarring. Pressure should be avoided in zones which have been operated on.  

care of scars

The removal of excess skin always leaves scars.  As with all scars, for the first three months they are red and uneven.  They smooth out considerably over time (18 months).  This maturing process can be accelerated with massages and a special oil. This oil can be prescribed to you during your post-operative consultation.

After the operation, for the first 18 months, scars must be well protected from the sun by means of a total sunblock.  Scars can become enlarged. The risk of enlargement increases if the rest prescribed in the first weeks is not observed.

some side effects

An accumulation of lymph may occur.  In such a case, the doctor will need to make punctures in order to remove the lymph during the post-operative examination.

Skin sensitivity may change. Generally, skin sensitivity improves in the weeks following the operation.  

Scars may become enlarged during the months following the operation.  When scars are mature, it is possible to touch them up under local anaesthetic.  Hospitalization is not necessary for this type of correction.  

In certain rare cases, scarring does not occur as planned and the skin needs more time in which to heal.  The risk of this particular side effect is increased for smokers.

CONCLUSION

Every body contour correction operation is different.
The exact location of the scar, the details of the operation and the recovery period will be explained by the plastic surgeon during your consultation.  

For extensive operations, a second consultation (free of charge) may be necessary. With the right information and motivation, a body contour operation can bring you years of well-being.

The Wellness Kliniek is accredited with quality certificate ISO 9001 & 14001.

At our clinic, every stage of the operation and all materials used are assessed and tested with regard to effectiveness, quality, safety and patient satisfaction.