A body lift is cosmetic surgery that targets multiple body parts at the same time. A lower body lift or belt lipectomy targets sagging skin on the hips, thighs and buttocks. A mid body lift targets loose or droopy skin in those areas, plus the flabby skin on the stomach. An upper body lift deals with extra hanging skin folds of the arms, breasts, chest and back. A total or full body lift deals with lax or hanging skin on the entire body. A body lift procedure is a major re-sculpting that is very expensive and should not be considered lightly.

Information on Body Lift Surgery and Costs

People considering a body lift procedure include men and women who have extensive areas of sagging or loose skin on their body. This is very involved, very expensive surgery. The cost starts at $13,000 and go on up to $60,000, depending on whether you go with an upper, mid, lower or total procedure. That cost is just for the cosmetic surgeon. Costs for anesthesia and hospitalization are additional.

Lower body lift - A lower body lift or belt lipectomy starts at $7000 in cost, and includes the following areas:

• Thighs - a body lift includes work on loose skin of the inner thighs and/or the outer thighs, a cosmetic surgery that is called a thigh lift. Thigh skin will be removed and lifted.
• Buttock - a body lift also targets hanging skin on the rear end or butt, as does a buttock lift or augmentation. Ironically, this part of the surgery may also include fat injections, if someone wants areas that are rounder. If fat is injected, it is called a Brazilian butt lift.

Mid body lift - A mid body lift costs start in the $8000 range. This type of body lift includes all of the above, and the stomach:

• Thighs and butt - This is similar to the lower body lift.
• Stomach - A mid body lift also includes cosmetic surgery on the abdomen or stomach. Basically, it involves a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). The excess stomach skin folds will be removed, and the remaining skin will be re-draped. The belly button may or may not be moved.

Upper body lift - An upper body lift targets the following:

• Arms - flabby or hanging skin can be removed during an arm lift
• Breasts - the breasts can have excess skin removed and the nipple can be repositioned, as in a breast lift or augmentation. If augmentation is desired, implants would need to be used. If there are pockets of excess skin on the chest, breast reduction can be done. Flabby areas of the back can be removed

Full or total body lift - a full body lift involves the total body, in other words all of the above areas. This has the most expensive cost, starting at $60,000 just for the surgeon's fees. This is considered to be very major surgical procedure. So spend a lot of time considering if this is really the right thing for you.

If a woman or man has mostly fat in their body, liposuction surgery may be more appropriate than a body lift. A full body lift is major and serious surgery. It is done under anesthesia and you will be hospitalized. During the surgery, excess skin and fat will be removed and repositioned. There will be many scars.

A body lift procedure can be done on patients who have had bariatric surgery and already have lost a huge amount of weight, with the resulting flabby and hanging skin. The surgery can be done all at once or in stages.

There are risks, including those you would have with any major surgery, such as anesthesia, pain, infection, and numbness. Before thinking about a body lift, make sure you have already lost any extra weight you want to lose. Also, make sure you have been exercising so your muscles are in good tone. Gaining any weight after this procedure will erase any good that was done.

If you are thinking about getting a body lift, expect to be out of work for at least a month to recover. This is not like getting a Botox or cosmetic filler injection.

Beforehand, be realistic in what you can accomplish. Make sure you use a very good, qualified cosmetic surgeon, who has a lot of experience in doing body lift surgery. Check out before and after photos of people with your body type who have used your surgeon. And remember that procedures such as upper, lower and full body lifts are generally not covered by most insurance. So you will need to find your own way to finance the cost of this cosmetic surgery.