How to Heal After a Body Lift

The body lift is a procedure used to eliminate excess loose skin that often develops after weight loss. Individuals who are able to maintain a healthy weight for six to 12 months are the best candidates. Most often, the goal of a body lift is to eliminate excess skin around the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and hips. Occasionally, a person may require a full body lift, which also removes skin from the upper body. If you are considering a body lift, it is important to fully understand what is involved in the recovery process.

Things You'll Need

• Pain medications
• Healthy foods and supplements
• Comfortable clothing
• Lotion or scar cream

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Instructions

Recovering From Body Lift Surgery

• 1

  Right before your surgery, create an environment in your home that will help you during the healing process. Go grocery shopping to ensure you have healthy foods at home. Obtain comfortable seating. Arrange for someone to help you out for two weeks after your surgery. Also be sure that you have loose, comfortable clothing to wear.

• 2

  Expect to be in the hospital for one to four days after the surgery. During that time you will be asked to sit up and walk. It is important that you sit up and walk as soon as possible after surgery, to avoid complications like blood clots. In the hospital, you will also be shown how to properly care for your incisions and drains.

  Immediately after your surgery, you will be put on pain medication. Most often, this is a drug like morphine that is administered through an IV.

• 3

  Make pain management one of your first priorities when you arrive at home. When you are discharged from the hospital, you will be given several pain medications. Additionally, you will have drains in your abdomen and possibly in other parts of your body, depending on what type of body lift you have had. Take the pain medications as prescribed for the first few days. You are likely to experience pain and swelling near the incisions, as well as drain holes. Pain medication will help you with this. Your surgeon may have other suggestions to help control pain and swelling as well.

• 4

  Know that the first two weeks after surgery tend to be the most difficult time during recovery. Expect to rest during this time. It is common to experience difficulty standing up or squatting. Gradually increase your range of motion. Walking for short periods of time is recommended to help your body's blood flow. After the first two weeks, the doctor will examine you to determine when the drains and sutures should be removed. You may have several appointments with the doctor one to four weeks after surgery.

• 5

  Follow a healthy nutrition plan during your recovery. Not only is a healthy diet vital to the healing process, but it can also help with any stomach issues that arise from pain medication. Continue to take any medications and nutritional supplements unless your doctor says otherwise. Your doctor or surgeon may also give you a special diet to follow.

• 6

  Wear the compression garment you will have been given. It will help reduce swelling and pain. Wear this garment at all times, except for when you bathe. Generally speaking, you will be able to bathe after leaving the hospital. Your surgeon will tell you when you no longer need to wear the garment.

• 7

  As time goes on and swelling is reduced, notice your scars begin to fade and look smaller. While your scars will remain, there are some treatments you can use to help reduce their appearance. Lotions with cocoa butter and vitamin E are often recommended to help with scars. You can also purchase over-the-counter scar creams to help.

• 8

  Expect your body shape to change dramatically during your recovery period. While most people are happy with the way their body looks, others may have a hard time adjusting to their new image. After surgery, you may find it beneficial to work with a therapist, clergy member or counselor to process your body's changes.