Upper Body Stretching
Also known as body stretching or back stretching
Upper body lift surgery may consist of one or more procedures, including arm lift, breast lift (or gynecomastia) or back fat removal. Loose, sagging skin after excessive weight loss or liposuction is removed to achieve a firmer, smoother shape and increased self-confidence.
Am I a good candidate for an upper body lift?
First of all, you should be in good physical condition for an upper body lift. If you have lost a significant amount of weight, have loose, sagging skin or want to improve your body contours, you can benefit from the advantages of this procedure. Here are some common reasons why you might want an upper body lift:
You have lost significant weight through dieting or have had bariatric surgery.
If your skin has become loose and in need of correction after liposuction of the fat pockets on your upper torso.
The fat layer under your loose skin is relatively thin.
You do not smoke. Smoking slows the healing process and increases the risk of serious complications during and after surgery. If you smoke, you should quit six weeks before surgery.
Your weight is stable for at least six months with no further expected weight loss. For best results, the body contour correction procedure should not be performed for two years following the start of any heavy-weight-loss program. This time allows your skin to recover as much as possible and your nutrition to be optimized to help you in the healing process.
You do not have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease and are in good health. People in poor health are not good candidates for body contouring. Ask your family doctor or other doctors who are familiar with your medical condition for a plastic surgery opinion.
If you are in good general health, have a positive attitude and realistic expectations, you are most likely a good candidate for this procedure.
People who decide to have an upper body lift also have plastic surgery for upper arm lift, abdominal tightening, breast lift and after excessive weight loss.
Advantages of Upper Body Lift
Your clothes will fit better and your body will look slimmer.
Loose skin that causes diaper rash and rashes will disappear.
The surgery will soften bulges and folds, which will increase your self-confidence.
Disadvantages of Upper Body Lift
There are quite large scars that your doctor will need to cover or conceal.
It is a demanding plastic surgery procedure with a long recovery period.
You will probably need one to three days of specialized nursing care at home or in the hospital.
How is the Upper Body Lift Procedure Performed?
In upper body lift surgery, patients are usually given general anesthesia. Your experience largely depends on which procedure you choose to have performed:
Arm Lift
People who want an arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, can have fat removed from their arms with liposuction. If you want to reduce the loose skin on your arms, your doctor will make an incision along the back of your arms or in the armpit. For patients with excessive weight loss, this incision extends from the armpit to the elbow, possibly from the upper chest wall to the back. The excess skin will then be removed through this incision.
Breast Lift
If you are interested in a breast lift, your plastic surgeon will likely make three incisions: one around the areola, one extending from the lower tip of the areola to the bust line (inframammary fold), and one under the breast, following its natural lines and folds. The surgeon will then remove all excess skin and reposition the nipples and areola to a higher position on the chest. This is the most common method for a breast lift; however, your surgeon may dispense with one or more of these incisions depending on the structure and shape of your breast. For men, see our gynecomastia article.
Back Lift
Those who want to remove the fat folds around the back and waist have incisions made on both sides of their waist or (in women) on the sides of the bra line (where the folds are located). The excess skin is removed from this area and the incisions are closed with absorbable sutures or adhesive or tape.
What are my options?
Depending on the area of your body you want, you can choose upper arm lift, breast lift, fat removal surgery in the waist area or a combination of these procedures. Your plastic surgeon will help you decide which procedures are best for you.
What can I expect on the day of surgery?
Your surgery may be performed in an accredited outpatient hospital or in an office-based operating room. Your surgeon will give you an estimate of how long your surgery will take based on the details of your procedure.
You will receive medication to keep you comfortable during the surgical procedure. Local anesthesia with sedation may be an option, but general anesthesia is more commonly used for this procedure. An anesthesiologist or nurse will be available to check the sedatives and general anesthesia and to monitor you during the surgery. After you have fallen asleep, a breathing tube will be placed in your mouth to make sure that your airway is secure during the position changes involved in the body lift.
For your safety during surgery, many monitors are used to monitor and control the heart, blood pressure and oxygen circulation in your blood.
Your surgeon will follow the surgery plan discussed with you before surgery. Once the surgery has started, your surgeon may change the technique or use a combination of many different techniques to achieve the best result. It is important that you feel comfortable and trust your doctor to make these decisions.
When you wake up you may see the following:
Surgical drains will be placed to remove any fluid that has accumulated inside the incisions.
You will wear a surgical gown that controls swelling, supports loose tissue, softens and smooths the skin. This garment can be worn during or after surgery.
After surgery you will be taken to an observation area where you will be closely monitored.
Before you are discharged (you or someone else who will look after you) should be familiar with draining and re-preparing the drains.
If you have a skilled nurse, or if you spend a few days in a hospital or complementary care center under the supervision of a skilled nurse, you may be discharged on the day of surgery if you and your plastic surgeon agree that you do not have a condition that requires immediate attention. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to go home alone or stay at home without another adult accompanying you. Follow your doctor's advice regarding this decision.
Immediately after Upper Body Lift ?
Depending on the severity of your surgery and the number of procedures you have had, you may be asked to stay in the hospital for a few more days to recover, although many patients are discharged after a few hours.
After upper arm lift surgery, you may need to wear cloths around the incision sites for dressing.
After a breast lift, you will probably find that there is gauze over your breast and a small number of drainage tubes that can be removed in a few days.
If you have had fat removed around your waist, you will wear a surgical garment that covers the incision sites and you will need to avoid lying on your back until healing is complete.
Recovery Period
Regardless of the procedures performed in your upper body lift, you will need to rest and avoid strenuous movements for a few weeks; however, it is good for your recovery to get out of bed and move around from time to time to avoid problems with blood clots.
If you have had a brachioplasty (upper arm lift), you will most likely be advised to keep your hands elevated (above the level of the heart) for several strengthening periods after the procedure. Your arms will regain normal function within two to three weeks.
Surgery for targeted fat folds in the waist area usually requires seven to ten days off work. You can resume your normal activities after four to six weeks.
The procedures involved in an upper body lift are very varied, so it is of the utmost importance that you follow your doctor's instructions exactly to get maximum benefit with minimum complications. Consult your doctor immediately if you have any post-operative anxiety or if pain and swelling persist after more than two weeks.
How long will it last?
The results of an upper body lift are long-lasting but are greatly affected by changes in the body. If you have gained or lost weight after the upper body lift procedure, you may find that some of the results you have achieved as a result of the procedure are less effective; however, maintaining a healthy body weight will ensure that the results you have achieved will last for many years. It is important to remember that sagging skin is a result of natural aging, certain areas of your body may not remain as taut as they were immediately after surgery.
Limits and Risks Involved
Upper body lifts rarely have significant complications.
All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Some of the possible complications that can be encountered in all surgeries are as follows:
Adverse reaction to anesthesia
Hematoma or seroma (may require removal of blood accumulated under the skin)
Infection and bleeding
Change of feeling
Surgery scars
Allergic reactions
Damage to structures in sub-regions
Unsatisfactory results that may require further action
Other risks associated with upper body stretching are given below:
Visible scars at the incision sites.
Swelling and redness around the affected areas of the body.
Asymmetry of the breasts or loss of sensation around the nipples after breast lift surgery.
By paying attention to the advice and recommendations of your board-certified plastic surgeon, you can ensure that certain risks are minimized before and after upper body lift surgery.
