Body Lift Transgender Surgery in Thailand

MTF and FTM 360 Body Lift. See Before and After Photos

Body Lift is a plastic surgery procedure performed by surgeons to remove excess skin, fat, and tissue after a patient has gone through substantial weight loss or loss of elasticity. This type of cosmetic surgery can significantly improve the shape and tone of the underlying body tissue, depending on the location of the excess skin. 

During a Body Lift procedure, the surgeon will remove excess skin and fat from the marked area to achieve the patient’s body goal. The procedure can also result in smoother and more youthful-looking skin. These physical changes can help improve a patient’s image and boost self-confidence. 

Body Lift does not help with weight loss. However, it can help significantly improve a patient’s body appearance following weight loss surgery, such as bariatric surgery. It can also help patients who have experienced significant weight loss or those lacking in tissue elasticity and skin elasticity.

Body Lift Surgery can be performed in the following areas:

• Abdominal area, locally or extending around the sides and into the lower back area
• Buttocks, that may be low, flat or shaped unevenly
• Groin that may sag into the inner thigh
• Thigh, including the inner, outer, or posterior thigh, or circumferentially
• Upper arms, including the armpit region

Other factors, such as aging, sun damage, pregnancy, and genetics, may contribute to poor elasticity and result in sagging arms or excess skin. 
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However, it should be noted that Body Lift surgery is not intended to remove excess fat. This is why surgeons often recommend liposuction in conjunction with this type of cosmetic procedure.
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Liposuction, also referred to as Lipoplasty, is a procedure used to remove fat from the body using a device called a cannula. In cases where the skin can resume its normal shape even after weight loss, liposuction may be the right procedure. However, in cases where the skin has lost elasticity, plastic surgeons may recommend Body Lift procedures in conjunction with Lipoplasty. 

Truncal Body Lift or Belt Lipectomy

A Belt Lipectomy or Truncal Body Lift is used to remove excess skin or fat in the lower torso area. This type of cosmetic procedure addresses sagging skin on the abdomen and circumferentially around the torso or “belt” line of an individual.
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A Truncal Body Lift is often considered an extensive tummy tuck that continues around the sides and onto the lower back. This type of surgery may result in a tighter midsection. 

During a belt lipectomy procedure, the plastic surgeon will remove excess skin and fat from the patient’s lower abdomen. The surgeon will then sew the tissue that’s left back together to make a smoother contour.

If you experience significant weight loss after surgery, belt lipectomy can remove the excess skin to help you regain your self-esteem.

Who are good candidates for Body Lift Surgery?

In general, a good candidate for a Body Lift procedure must be a patient who’s weight has been stable for the past six months. The candidate must also be a non-smoker and be a healthy individual.

There are other factors to consider before undergoing Body Lift surgery. The patient should have:

• Undergone bariatric surgery or had a major fat loss
• Realistic expectations
• Excess or sagging skin around the abdomen area
• Several weeks to recover
• Accepted that there will be a circumferential scar around the waist
• Candidates with a stable weight

Advantages of Body Lift Surgery

Body Lift surgery has many advantages:

• Patients feel better about how they look
• It can improve the individual’s self-confidence
• It tightens extremely loose or saggy skin
• Most recoveries only take weeks
• The effects of the surgery are long-lasting as long as fitness is maintained

What are the risks of Body Lift surgery?

Body Lift surgery is considered safe and effective by the health community. But like other procedures, this type of major surgery comes with some risks that are:

• Unfavorable scarring and/or skin discoloration
• Excessive bleeding
• Skin or fat necrosis
• Poor wound healing
• Wound separation
• Blood clots
• Anesthesia risks
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Persistent edema
• Fluid accumulation
• Persistent pain
• Temporary or permanent change/loss of skin sensation due to nerve injury
• Unsatisfactory aesthetic results requiring additional surgery
• Asymmetry
• Recurrent looseness or sagging of skin

It is important to call a doctor immediately if the patient experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, and unusual bleeding following the plastic surgery.

Preparing For A Body Lift Surgery

In preparing for the Body Lift procedure, the patient may be required to:

• Consult a plastic surgeon
• Get a lab test and physical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust current medications
• Stop smoking
• Avoid medications that may increase bleeding, including Aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or herbal supplements

Before the surgery, a patient may be scheduled to consult with a surgeon. During the consultation, the plastic surgeon will discuss a number of things related to body lift surgery. These may include the possible complications, techniques, and anesthesia options to the patient.

It is during this time that the patient should advise the surgeon of important factors that may affect the results of the surgery. This includes drug allergies, current health status, pre-existing health conditions, and any previous surgeries.

Questions to ask your surgeon before Body Lift surgery

Dedicated plastic surgeons will take care to answer every question that a patient may pose before and after performing any procedures. It is often advised for a patient to list the questions on a paper in advance of the consultation.

Some key questions to ask a plastic surgeon before body lift surgery include:

• Are you a member of the Society of Plastic Surgeons?
• Are you board certified in plastic surgery?
• How many years of experience do you have in plastic surgery?
• Do you have specific experiences with related surgeries, such as bariatric surgery, thigh lift, or body contouring procedures?
• Are the results I am seeking realistic?
• What are the limitations of lipectomy?
• Will there be visible scarring?
• Would I need pain medication during my recovery period?
• What is the treatment plan?
• What type of techniques would be most appropriate to remove fat deposits and help me achieve the desired result?
• What are the risk factors of lipectomy?
• How much do body lift procedures cost in Thai baht?

Body Lift Procedure

Body Lift Surgery requires extensive incisions, the length and pattern of which depends on the amount and location of the sagging skin to be removed. 
There are certain steps that surgeons follow when performing this procedure.

• Anesthesia will be administered for the patient’s comfort. The medication is given by intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. 
• The surgeon will make incisions similar to a bikini pattern to tighten the abdomen, waist, groin, thigh, and buttocks of the patients. 
• The surgeon opens the incision and removes excess fat and skin. 
• The surgeon repositions and reshapes the tissues in the target area 
• The surgeon will close the incisions by both absorbable stitches positioned at a deeper layer of the skin, to tighten and support the new body shape and then close the outer layer of the skin with the removable stitches.

Post-operative Care And Recovery

Most patients are hospitalised for several days following the procedure. This helps doctors observe the patient’s condition and ensure that there are no surgical complications. 
During the recovery period, the patient is asked to:

• Wear a compression garment for up to eight weeks. This helps support the body and decrease swelling.
• In some cases, the patient may be required to wear leg stockings and get a heparin injection to avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot that forms in the deep veins, usually in the legs.
• Sleep with the torso slightly elevated.
• Move the body or take a walk the day following the Body Lift procedure to prevent DVT
• Avoid strenuous activities following the surgery for at least six weeks
• Wear comfortable clothing
• Attend all follow-up appointments, as recommended by your healthcare provider
• Take the stitches off 7 to 10 days after the surgery
• Keep your incision wound clean and dry
• Patients who feel discomfort or pain at the surgical site may seek the advice of their surgeon