Seattle Plastic Surgeon discusses the importance of “translation of pull” in body lifting after massive weight loss.
Try this at home! If you get a lot of lift and smoothing of the skin by pulling, you will likely do well with a body lift.
I have seen quite a few massive weight loss patients interested in body lifts in the past several weeks. The fall and winter months are the best time to have this type of surgery and these patients are wanting to sort out their options so they can take advantage of cool and dismal months and be fully recovered by the time spring rolls around again.
Body lift is a really big procedure and should only be considered if the patient has a really good chance of getting a lot of improvement. The requirments for this procedure include excellent health, a stable and healthy weight, a good support system, the ability to take enough time off of work for healing, and good translation of pull. Translation of pull refers to how much the skin reacts to traction.
Many massive weight loss patients are like this lady where the skin can be yanked up almost like a pair of panty hose. In this case, she is likely to have great result.
Some patients, however, either because of residual fat or thick and tethered skin, hardy budge with this manuver. Sometimes additional weight loss helps but sometimes it does not. Those patients with lousy translation of pull will not see much improvement with a body lift. And a body lift would be a very, very long run for a very, very short slide for these patients.
Thanks for reading! Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder
@lisalynnsowder
