Upper Body Lift

Upper body lift

Circumferential upper body lift is typically for patients that have lost more than 50 lbs. Typically there is excess folds of skin on the upper lateral back and sides – sometimes the upper lateral abdominal wall as well. There is usually excess skin and not a lot of fat within these skin folds; so, liposuction does not help significantly. This procedure usually becomes apparent after a circumferential lower body lift is performed and there are residual deformities in these upper areas that are not addressed (still have excess skin folds, despite the lower skin removal procedure).

This procedure is usually performed outpatient. Patients can return to work after about 1-2 weeks.  The scar is placed in the bra region, and blended into the lower breast inframammary fold, without crossing the anterior midline. Sometimes liposuction is needed as an adjunct to the procedure. 

The above patient underwent the circumferential upper body lift with minor liposuction performed at the same time. She previously underwent a circumferential lower body lift and had these upper body residual deformities.  The scar in the picture is only 3 months after surgery and will become whiter when she reaches the 1 year point. Note that both the upper back and the upper abdomen excess skin is reduced, giving her a normal contour.