Dr. Morad Askari is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over a decade of experience in plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery. After completing another fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, a center of excellence in medical education and practice, he moved to Miami, Florida, where he worked as an associate professor of plastic surgery for six years at the University of Miami before starting a private practice. He currently enjoys running a busy reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery practice with patients from local, national, and international locations. Dr. Askari dishes on his highly sought after procedure, the total body lift. 

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HB: What is a total body lift and what issues does it fix?

Total body lift is a corrective cosmetic procedure that improves the contour of the body by removing excess skin and fat around the waist including front, sides, and lower back. This procedure is an extended form of tummy tuck where tissue is removed all along the beltline.

A body lift may improve the following areas:
• Abdominal areas/flanks: Excess skin and fat is removed similar to tummy tuck
• Back: excess fat and skin is removed from lower back and flanks
• Buttock/hips: These areas are lifted up.

Aging, sun damage, pregnancy, significant loss of weight ( including a successful weight loss surgery) and genetic factors may contribute to poor tissue elasticity that can result in sagging of the abdomen, buttocks and thighs.

HB: Who is a good candidate?

People with loose or sagging skin on multiple parts of their bodies can benefit from this corrective procedure. Patients who have undergone massive weight loss surgery and have reached a stable weight.

HB: Who is not a good candidate?

• Patients who smoke
• Have chronic conditions such as diabetes that prevent the proper healing of the wounds

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HB: What is recovery like?

During your body lift surgery recovery, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions after the procedure is complete. Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood that may collect.

You will be given specific instructions that may include:
• How to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
• How to care for your drains
• When to follow up with your plastic surgeon

HB: What is the cost?

The average cost for this surgery is around $10,000 – $12,000.