Circumferential Body Lift Procedure in Abbotsford
A circumferential body lift combines an abdominoplasty with the removal of excess skin around the waist, lower back, and upper buttock area in a single continuous procedure. We recommend it most often to patients who have lost a significant amount of weight and are left with loose, sagging skin that wraps all the way around the torso rather than sitting in one isolated area.
Where a standard tummy tuck addresses the front of the abdomen alone, a circumferential lift continues the incision around the hips and across the lower back so the skin is tightened in one continuous band. The result is a smoother waistline and a more proportionate silhouette from every angle, not just from the front.
Who This Procedure Is Designed For
We see this procedure requested most often by patients who have gone through bariatric surgery or lost weight through diet and exercise and are now dealing with:
- Excess, hanging skin that circles the waist and lower back
- Skin laxity across the hips and upper buttock that a tummy tuck alone will not correct
- Chafing, irritation, or difficulty finding clothing that fits because of the overhanging skin
- Frustration that diet and exercise have plateaued against loose skin that will not tighten on its own
Ideal Candidates for a Circumferential Body Lift
Because this is a more extensive surgery than a standard abdominoplasty, we spend real time in your consultation making sure it is the right fit before we book anything. In general, we look for candidates who:
- Have reached a stable weight and maintained it for several months, rather than being in the middle of active weight loss
- Are in good overall health, with any underlying conditions such as diabetes or nutritional deficiencies from prior bariatric surgery well managed
- Do not smoke, or are willing to stop well ahead of surgery, since smoking significantly slows wound healing along an incision this long
- Understand that the trade-off for a tighter, smoother midsection is a scar that runs the full circumference of the waist
- Are physically and emotionally prepared for a longer recovery than a single-area procedure
If you are still losing weight, we will typically ask you to reach and hold your goal weight first. Continued weight change after surgery can loosen the skin again and affect your results, so patience here protects the outcome we are working toward together.
What We Discuss in Your Consultation
In your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Brown in our Abbotsford, BC office, he will go through:
- Whether you are a candidate for circumferential body lift surgery
- Your expectations and goals for the procedure
- The incision and scar pattern associated with a lower body lift
- What to expect after undergoing a circumferential body lift
- The benefits and potential risks of having a circumferential body lift surgery
We treat this consultation as a two-way conversation. Bring your questions, and expect Dr. Brown to ask about your weight history, any prior abdominal surgeries, and your goals so he can plan an approach that fits your anatomy specifically.
Before and After Your Surgery
Preparing for Your Procedure
Before your circumferential body lift, we will ask you to stop smoking, adjust or pause certain medications and supplements, and arrange for someone to help you at home for the first several days after surgery. If you have had bariatric surgery, we also want to confirm your nutritional status beforehand, since protein and micronutrient levels play a direct role in how well an incision this size heals.
Drain Care and Early Recovery
Circumferential body lift surgery typically takes several hours in our private surgical facility in New Westminster, BC. Afterward, drainage tubes remain in place for at least one week to clear excess fluid from beneath the skin. We will show you how to empty and record your drains a few times a day, and we remove them once drainage has slowed enough to confirm the area is healing properly. You will also be fitted with an abdominal binder or compression garment to support the area while it heals.
Longer-Term Healing
Most patients need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for six weeks unless Dr. Brown directs otherwise, and swelling, numbness, or firmness along the incision can take longer to fully settle. Your final contour continues to refine over the following months as any residual swelling resolves.
Circumferential Body Lift Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the surgery performed?
Dr. Brown performs circumferential body lift surgeries at a private surgical facility in New Westminster, BC.
How long is the surgery?
Body lift surgeries typically takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete.
Am I a candidate for a circumferential body lift?
The best candidates have reached and maintained a stable weight, are in good general health, and have excess skin circling the waist and lower back rather than in a single area. Dr. Brown confirms candidacy in your consultation.
Can I combine a circumferential body lift with other procedures?
In some cases, yes. Dr. Brown may discuss combining it with liposuction or breast surgery depending on your goals and what is safe to perform in one operation.
What is the recovery like after a circumferential body lift?
Following a circumferential body lift, drainage tubes remain in place for at least one week and you will be fitted with an abdominal binder or body garment. Heavy lifting and strenuous activities, including exercise, should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks unless otherwise directed by Dr. Brown.
What is the cost of a circumferential body lift?
Dr. Brown provides a personalized quote during your consultation, though the typical cost of circumferential body lift surgery starts around $22,000 plus GST.
CONTACT DR. BROWN FOR A CONSULTATION SESSION TODAY