As one of the few surgeons in the United States to have completed a bariatric surgery fellowship and a facial and body cosmetic surgery fellowship, Dr. Frenzel understands the complex issues that a post-bariatric patient faces from a physical and mental standpoint.
Formally trained to care for weight loss patients pre- and post-surgery, Dr. Frenzel works with patients to provide lasting results. A lower body lift is a cosmetic surgery designed to remove and tighten excess, sagging skin around the buttocks, hips, and thighs to reshape the contour of the lower body.
Patients who benefit from the body lift include those who have experienced significant weight loss through gastric bypass procedures and those who have excess skin on the buttocks, sagging skin on the thighs and hips, and those with limited fat deposits in the lower body areas.
Candidates for this cosmetic procedure need to be healthy with good skin elasticity. Like any other surgery, candidates should be non-smokers. It is important to understand the realistic outcome of surgery before having the procedure done. There are risks and benefits involved that Dr. Frenzel discusses with patients during the initial consultation.
When having a body lift surgery, it can be beneficial to also include a tummy tuck or liposuction to obtain the most satisfying results.
During the body lift cosmetic procedure, Dr. Frenzel will make incisions in natural body folds where clothing can easily cover any scarring. Once the incisions have been made, skin and tissue below the incision is removed and lifted as necessary. Then, dissolvable sutures and drains to remove fluid that accumulates during recovery are placed.
This procedure is meant to reward patients with physical improvements, but also mental improvements. Often times, patients work to reach their goal weight, but do not consider the excess skin that will accompany a lower number on the scale. Because the body loses weight so quickly with bariatric surgery, it can be difficult to tighten the skin without surgical assistance.
When patients have an ideal body figure as their goal, but cannot achieve it, it is easy to become depressed. That’s why Dr. Frenzel offers the body lift procedure. Not only can he walk you through the steps of bariatrics, but also he can join you in the completion of your weight loss journey with cosmetics. Gain the confidence you need after losing so much weight.
Once the body lift surgery is complete, patients should expect to spend about two weeks recovering. During this time, pain medication is available and an elastic compression garment should be worn to reduce any swelling. After about three weeks, light exercise can begin. However, normal activity cannot be resumed until at least four to six weeks.
