If you are experiencing any of the following, you may be an ideal candidate for body lift surgery:

• Loose, sagging skin around your torso
• Diet-resistant excess fat around your torso
• Both excess skin and excess fat around your midsection

In addition, Dr. Jason will only perform a rhinoplasty on patients who meet the following criteria:

• Are in good health
• Do not smoke
• Are able to avoid any blood-thinning medications for several weeks
• Have been cleared for surgery by a primary care physician
• Have reasonable expectations and aesthetic goals

When searching for the best body lift surgeon to perform your body surgery, Dr. Roostaeian advises you to consider several key factors:

1. Credentials and Certifications: Research your prospective body lift surgeon online – not just on their website, but on industry credentialing sites such as www.surgery.org, which lists board certified plastic surgeons. Do not choose a cosmetic surgeon who is a member of the ABCS – they do not receive the extensive training and oversight that plastic surgeons do. Look for plastic/cosmetic surgeons like Dr. Roostaeian, who are ABPS and ASAPS members.
2. Before and After Photos: The doctor you choose to perform your body lift should be happy to show you an extensive array of standardized before and after photographs. Scrutinize them carefully, making sure the lighting is consistent and the various views are shown with detail. View enough body lift surgery pictures to determine whether or not the work is of high quality, with an aesthetic that matches your personal goals. Dr. Jason strives to provide patients with the highest quality of standardized body lift photographs so you can feel confident in your choice. Click here to view Dr. Jason’s gallery of before and after body lift photos. [LINK]
3. Office and Surgery Facility: Before choosing an aesthetic surgeon to perform your body lift surgery, closely evaluate the office staff, as well as the surgery facility. All of the staff should be helpful and friendly, and pleased to provide you with detailed information about their operating rooms and equipment. Dr. Jason and his staff are proud to be affiliated with UCLA, world renowned for state-of-the-art surgical facilities and patient care. Click to learn more about our top-ranked hospital.[LINK]
4. Personal Connection: Seeing eye to eye with your body lift surgeon is just as important as assessing their operating skills. Plastic surgery is a very personal endeavor, and Dr. Jason strongly believes in creating a connection with all of his patients prior to heading into the OR. 

Click to read Dr. Jason’s blog post How to Find the Best Plastic Surgeon.

Body lift costs vary considerably from patient to patient. The exact cost of rhinoplasty surgery will depend on the complexity of your procedure, and whether or not you plan to combine your lift with other procedures. You will receive a written quote following your consultation.

Yes, a body lift can be combined with other procedures of the breast or body, however the total length of anesthesia should generally not exceed 6-8 hours for elective procedures. Liposuction of the flanks or a breast lift with or without augmentation as part of a “mommy makeover” can at times be performed at the same time.  Dr. Jason was the lead author on a study, Comparison of Limited-Undermining Lipoabdominoplasty and Traditional Abdominoplasty Using Laser Fluorescence Imaging, published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal that objectively evaluated the safety of performing liposuction of belly fat at the same time as the tummy tuck portion of a body lift. This breakthrough procedure is able to achieve more dramatic results in a single procedure.

Dr. Jason advises that in order to achieve the best possible result in body contouring it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This should be started before surgery so that you can keep it going after surgery. Although you will have to take a break from exercise for a few weeks during your recovery, it important to maintain a well-balanced diet. Many of Dr. Jason’s patients are more motivated by their new body shape following surgery and want to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

When preparing for a body lift procedure, follow all instructions issued by Dr. Roostaeian, his office, and the staff at the UCLA Surgery Center. These guidelines include, but are not limited to:

• No food or drink prior to surgery
• Shower/cleanse the area prior to coming in for surgery
• Avoid certain drugs and supplements before and after surgery
• Arrange transportation
• Ensure you will have help around the house for the first few days
• Obtain prescription and non-prescription medications ahead of time, including pain meds
• Choose to wear loose, comfortable clothing
• Plan out sleeping and resting arrangements (Which side of the bed is easiest to navigate to/from? Do I have enough pillows to make sleep/rest comfortable?)
• Have frequently used items handy – you won’t be able to lift or strain right away

You’ll see the final results of your body lift after about six weeks, when all swelling has subsided. For a body lift scar to fully mature, however, it takes at least 6 months to a year. Over this time you will see your scars become barely visible, they will lighten in color and become softer to the touch.

After a body lift procedure with Dr. Jason Roostaeian, the majority of the swelling will likely subside within a week while some mild swelling may persist for a few more weeks. Within one week after surgery you will visit Dr. Jason as a follow up so he can check on your healing and answer any questions.

Your incisions will be healed and you can return to most activities by 6 weeks. Full activities such as strenuous workouts, running, etc. is best to wait until 3 months, when your scars have achieved full strength. For a body lift scar to fully mature, however, it takes at least 6 months to a year. Over this time you will see your scars become barely visible, they will lighten in color and become softer to the touch.

For the first 2 weeks following body lift surgery with Dr. Roostaeian, you want to avoid straining (lifting anything more than 5 lbs), or getting your heart rate/blood pressure up as this can lead to bleeding. After 2-3 weeks you should avoid mechanical forces that will stress or put tension on your healing incisions for 3 months. This means you should avoid high impact activities that lead to excessive movement of your body, such a running.  Listen to what your body is telling you at all times, for instance stop the workout if you experience any new discomfort. Remember, getting plenty of rest and reducing your overall activity will give you time to heal and speed up your recovery.

The scar from a body lift with Dr. Roostaeian is variable in length but typically below the bikini line and runs the full length of the stomach and hips (love handles) extending into the back. During your initial body lift consultation with Dr. Jason he will discuss what to expect based on your personal needs and surgery.

Please visit Dr. Jason’s rhinoplasty gallery to view examples of body lift scars.

Dr. Jason will perform your body lift procedure  at UCLA’s state of the art outpatient surgery center that provides an unparalleled level of safety. US News has ranked the UCLA Medical Center among the top 5 hospitals in the country for more than 20 years.  Following your procedure, you will be taken to the recovery suite where you will stay and be cared for and monitored  by UCLA’s excellent nurses overnight. You can take a shower after 2 days but baths, swimming, or soaking of your incisions should be avoided for 4 weeks.

Most patients require prescription narcotics for at least a few days after surgery. You can drive if you’re not taking prescription narcotics and most feel up for it 1-2 weeks after surgery. You can return to work within 1-2 weeks as long as it doesn’t require any significant physical activity or lifting.

It really depends on what you do for work. If you have a desk job you can typically return to work after 2 weeks. If your profession is more physically demanding, Dr. Jason recommends waiting at least 3 weeks before returning to work. Remember, you do not want to strain or lift anything that weighs more than five pounds for the first 2 weeks after surgery.

Patients who maintain a healthy lifestyle will enjoy the result of their body lift procedure for decades. Significant increases in weight, however, can stretch out the abdominal skin and muscles that were tightened.

Yes, you are able to get pregnant with no consequences to your newborn. However, the pregnancy will re-stretch the skin and abdominal muscles that were tightened and may require a revisional procedure. Therefore, Dr. Jason advises patients to wait until you are done with pregnancies before considering a body lift.