Having lower body lift surgery is quite a long and painful procedure. Therefore it is very important that you are completely satisfied that you have chosen the right surgeon to do the work. Having said that, it is a very common operation, but as with all surgery, it does come with some risks attached. Here are some of the potential risks that you should discuss with your surgeon before deciding to go ahead:

Although the incisions are usually hidden under clothing, the scarring is still significant and healing varies from person to person.

There is also a potential risk of fluid and excess blood collecting beneath the skin, which may need to be aspirated (drawn out) with a needle.

During the first couple of weeks you might experience infection and wound healing complications including skin loss (necrosis). However this is quite rare, but a number of patients have complained about these problems during this particular surgery procedure.

Other risks include blood clots, infection, asymmetries, prolonged numbness and delayed healing.

Recovery Time
This is quite a painful and long operation, lasting up to 6 hours. After the operation it will be fair to say that the least you can expect is moderate pain after the procedure.

When lying down, keep your head elevated above the level of your heart. Although it may be painful, try to walk as soon as you can. This will significantly reduce the swelling and prevent blood clots forming in your legs.

The swelling will be considerable and will take several weeks to settle down. You might even be inserted with surgical drains for a few days, which will draw, out the excess liquid and reduce the swelling.

For the first week following the surgery it is vital that you avoid bending or lifting. You will have several layers of stitches with body lift procedures. The body will absorb some of the stitches and some may need to be removed surgically. The deeper stitches will remain permanently. All of the external stitches will be covered by adhesive Steri-Strips, tape and surgical gauze.

Don’t worry if you see small amounts of oozing and blood, as this is quite common. Change your position at least every 30 minutes and moving around carefully will limit the stress on your incision lines.

You will usually be able to shower three days after your operation. Numbness in small areas on the thighs is possible but this usually disappears gradually over several months.

Although most bruising and swelling will subside within three weeks, some swelling and stiffness may remain for six months or longer.

Avoid any strenuous exercise such as aerobic, jogging or contact sports for at least six weeks or until the surgeon tells you that it is okay.

Tags: lower body lift surgery, lower body lift, cosmetic surgery, lower body lift risk