Body Contour Lift

+ What is a Body Contour Lift?

This is a surgical operation designed to improve the appearance and contour of the upper buttock and lower back, hip and flank area of the trunk by removing fat and skin from the lower back and hip areas. The tightening of the skin will lift the buttocks, tighten the flanks, and removes the folds of excess skin and fat.

A body contour lift treats skin and fat. No muscle treatment is involved in this procedure.

+ Who can have this operation?

The typical patient who is a candidate for a body contour lift procedure has excess skin or, skin and fat, over the hips and flanks, often with a sagging buttock that has not responded to weight loss and/or exercise.

This applies to both men and women.

It is most commonly seen in massive weight loss patients where the fat has disappeared from their weight loss, but the excess skin and tissue sagging has remained.

+ Why does this happen?

In men and women who are very heavy, the skin over the flanks, hips and buttock has been significantly stretched. The skin has stretched beyond its capacity to recoil. After massive weight loss, the resulting fat loss leaves an absolute excess amount of skin ,in certain areas of the body like the abdomen, breasts, arms, hips and flanks, thighs and face.

Over the hip and flank areas, multiple sagging folds of skin may result in addition to sagging of the buttock tissues.

This excess skin may be accompanied by residual fat that did not disappear from the weight loss.

No amount of further weight loss or exercise will correct this deformity. Only a large weight gain (which is undesirable) will refill the areas of previous weight loss, thus refilling up the overstretched skin with subcutaneous fat.

+ When can a Body Contour Lift be done?

The timing for a body contour procedure is most often planned after the patient has reached a stable weight and has been able to maintain that weight for a considerable period of time.

Most often, this procedure is staged. A Tummy tuck procedure is often done before (or occasionally at the same time, which is called a belt lipectomy) the Body Contour lift.

The effects of a tummy tuck will often change the shape and contour of the remaining trunk because of further weight loss.

After 6 months, or more, of healing after a tummy tuck, a body contour lift can then be done.

+ Do I have to lose weight before a Body Contour Lift?

If the patient feels they are overweight and wants to lose an additional amount of weight before proceeding with surgery, this is fine provided that the patient can maintain this new life style by permanently keeping this lost weight off.

What is critical is not to lose weight through an aggressive diet and exercise regime before a body contour lift that is not sustainable.

Dr. Giuffre advises that the patient comes into body contour surgery at a weight that is a “no brainer weight,”: a weight that is stable, that the patient has maintained for months or years based on their current life style. There will be no extra ordinary effort for the patient to maintain this weight after surgery. The surgical result with then be maintained without changing the patient’s life style.

+ What if I lose weight after surgery?

This is not unusual. The tummy tuck and body contour lift procedures often assist the patient in their regular and exercise activities resulting in a higher daily calorie burn.

A weight loss after the tummy tuck and body contour lift procedures will not affect the result of the tummy tuck or body contour surgery, but will reduce other areas of body fat over the breasts, arms, buttocks , face etc.

+ Is Body Contour surgery covered by AHS (Alberta Health Care) if I get a referral from by GP?

The Body Contour procedure is considered a cosmetic procedure by AHS, and is therefore not covered even with a referral from the Family Physician.

+ I am a massive weight loss patient. Can I have a Tummy tuck, and is it covered by AHS (Alberta Health Care)?

In order for AHS coverage, the procedure must have a functional component to it. The Body Contour procedure is considered a cosmetic procedure by AHS, even after massive weight loss, and is therefore not covered even with a referral from the Family Physician.

Patients that have lost a considerable amount of weight may also have cosmetic issues with excess skin and fat involving the upper arms, upper thighs, back, hips and buttocks, breasts and face.

*Please refer to respective sections under the FAQ for each of these procedures.

+ Do I have to go to sleep (General Anesthesia) to have a Tummy Tuck?

A General Anaesthetic is required in all cases.

+ How long does the operation last?

Approximately an hour and one half to two and one half hours.

+ Where is the surgery done?

Dr Giuffre uses a private surgical suite adjacent to his Meadowlark Health Centre Office(#176) for his cosmetic procedures.

Please see https://www.meadowlarksurgicalcosmetic.com

+ Where is the incision for the Body Contour lift?

The incision is placed just below the belt line, in the upper buttock area, from one hip to the opposite hip.

If a tummy tuck has been done previously, the outer fifth of the abdominal scar is re-excised and tightened along the flank, in addition to the lower back, buttock and hip areas.

+ Will there be a scar?

Yes. Any incision in the skin, regardless of where in the body, will heal with a scar. The scar will mature (the scar color goes from red to pink to white, and the scar softens and becomes pliable) which can take 1-2 years. Medical paper tape placed directly over the incision, and changed weekly for 3 months, will help speed up the process of scar maturation.

The scar will be on the belt line just above the buttock from hip to hip.

+ Will I have stitches?

Yes, the stitches are under the skin and will absorb (disappear by themselves). No sutures are removed.

Occasionally, surgical clips are also added to reinforce the incision. These are removed at 5-6 days after surgery.

+ What happens surgically in a Body Contour Lift?

Before the surgery, with the patient standing, the surgical plan is made by drawing on the outer abdomen and flank, hip and upper buttock areas. The amount of skin and fat excision is planned.

A photograph is taken. The patient will receive a copy of the preoperative photograph at the 6 week check with Dr. Giuffre.

Once the patient is asleep (General Anaesthetic), the patient is positioned, and the incisions are then made.

The excess skin and fat is removed, skin flaps are elevated.

Liposuction may be used to remove extra fat in the hip and back area.

The incisions are then closed with self-dissolving stitching under the skin, (occasionally surgical clips are used).

There is typically no drainage tubes placed in the surgery site.

+ What happens after my surgery?

You will have a firm felt binder like dressing on for the first day after surgery. You will go home with this.

You will be seen the next day after surgery where all of the dressings will be removed.

You may then shower. No further dressings are required.

You are discouraged from having a bath, hot tub, or swimming for 6 weeks following surgery.

You are encouraged to walk the day of surgery to avoid the risk of blood clots in your legs (during the surgery you will have had special sequential stockings on your legs that maintains normal leg circulation).

If there is a drainage tube, it will be removed when the drainage is 25 cc’s in 24 hours for one or two days.

Once the drainage tube is removed, you are encouraged to wear a Spanx garment or abdominal binder to support the surgery site for 6 weeks.

Arrangements will be made to see Dr. Giuffre at 6 weeks postoperatively.

+ Is the Body Contour procedure painful?

Before waking from the surgery, Dr. Giuffre will inject a long acting local anesthetic into the surgical area to decrease any immediate discomfort from the surgery.

When the freezing wears off, the patient will require postoperative analgesic medication (pain killers) for up to a week. The discomfort typically subsides after the first two to three days following the surgery.

**Patients taking prescription pain killers should not drive a car, operate machinery, or sign significant documents while taking this medication.

+ Do I go home the same day as Surgery?

Yes, you will have to arrange a ride and aftercare with a responsible adult.

You are not permitted to leave unaccompanied or in a taxi.

+ I live out of town. Should I stay overnight?

If your driving distance from Edmonton exceeds 90 minutes, you should make arrangements to stay overnight in Edmonton. The surgical centre does not have an overnight care facility.

You will then be seen the following day for dressing removal and assessment by Dr. Giuffre and his staff.

+ Can I contact my surgeon the day or night of surgery if I have a concern?

Yes, Dr. Giuffre provides his home phone number to his cosmetic patients in case there are patient concerns.

In the rare instance that a patient requires hospitalization, Dr. Giuffre has admitting privileges to all of the major hospitals in Edmonton.

+ When do I see my surgeon after surgery?

You will be seen the day following surgery by Dr. Giuffre and/or his nursing staff, and again within the week following your surgery by Dr. Giuffre.

Further follow up arrangements will be made at that time.

+ When can I shower?

A shower is okay after the first dressing change, which is usually done the next day after surgery.

It is okay to get the incision wet from a shower, however, Dr. Giuffre recommends that you avoid a hot tub, bath, swimming pools, lakes or ocean swimming for 6 weeks following surgery.

+ In what position can I sleep?

In any position that is comfortable for you.

+ When can I resume relations with my partner?

6 weeks is recommended.

+ What should I do to minimize scarring?

Vitamin E oil and Bio oil are not proven to positively impact scar healing.

Dr. Giuffre recommends medical paper on the incision for 3 months, changed weekly by the patient.

+ How long should I plan to be off work?

The typical time off work is two weeks. If your work is extremely strenuous and involves heavy lifting, the time off work will be longer.

+ How long am I off sports and my workouts?

No sports or strenuous activity is permitted for 6 weeks. Patients are to avoid strenuous activity that increases their heart rate and blood pressure. This could produce bleeding inside the surgical site. The rule of thumb is, if you are sweating from the activity, you are over doing it and you are placing yourself at risk.

+ What about eating and drinking after my Body Contour Lift?

Regular food and drink consumption, as the patient did preoperatively, is recommended.

+ Are there before and after pictures?

Yes. Every patient that Dr. Giuffre operates on, for cosmetic reasons, will have a preoperative photograph taken.

At the 6 week check up with Dr. Giuffre, his patients are given an 8 x 10 preoperative photograph.

Postoperative photos are also taken in some instances.