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Body Lift in Irvine, CA

Expert Surgeons
4.9 Google Rating
Serving Orange County Since 2012

About Body Lift

A body lift removes the loose, excess skin that often remains after major weight loss, pregnancy, or aging. By tightening and re-draping the skin of the abdomen, back, buttocks, hips, and thighs, the procedure refines your new contours so they match the healthier figure you worked hard to achieve. Ideal for patients who are near their goal weight yet bothered by skin laxity, a body lift can restore confidence in and out of clothing.

Procedure Quick Facts

Duration of Procedure:
4–7 hours
Anesthesia:
General
Recovery:
6–8 weeks for most daily activities
Results Duration:
Long-lasting with stable weight

What is Body Lift?

A body lift is a comprehensive contouring procedure that removes excess skin and residual pockets of fat left behind after significant weight loss or pregnancy. By excising the loose tissue and tightening the remaining skin, the surgeon smooths and reshapes the torso, buttocks, hips, and thighs. During surgery, carefully planned incisions allow the surgeon to lift and reposition underlying tissues, trim away lax skin, and close the area with advanced suturing techniques that support optimal healing. Liposuction is often combined to refine stubborn fatty deposits and enhance definition. Because a body lift addresses multiple regions at once, patients enjoy a dramatic, balanced improvement in overall silhouette, helping clothes fit better and daily movement feel more comfortable.

What Body Lift Can Do for You

If you're considering body lift surgery, South Coast Plastic Surgery is here to guide you through every step. Dr. Kyle Song and Dr. Paige Benyamein will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan that addresses your concerns and helps you achieve your aesthetic goals.
  • Remove Excess, Hanging Skin
    A body lift eliminates the loose, redundant skin that can cause chafing, rashes, and self-consciousness after major weight loss. Smoother contours allow you to fully enjoy your slimmer figure.
  • Improve Body Proportions and Symmetry
    By tightening multiple areas in a single procedure, a body lift creates balanced proportions between the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, and thighs for a harmonious silhouette.
  • Enhance Comfort and Mobility
    Removing heavy folds of skin reduces irritation and makes physical activity, clothing choices, and personal hygiene easier and more comfortable.
  • Boost Confidence After Weight Loss
    Completing your transformation with a body lift helps your outward appearance reflect your hard-earned health achievements, often leading to heightened self-esteem.
  • Long-Lasting Results With Stable Weight
    Once excess skin is removed, results can be permanent when you maintain a healthy lifestyle, letting you enjoy your new contours for years to come.
  • Combine Areas for One Recovery Period
    Treating several regions at once minimizes the need for multiple surgeries, saving time and allowing you to reach your final result more efficiently.

Body Lift Videos

Watch our videos to see real patients results, learn from our experts, and discover what makes South Coast Plastic Surgery a trusted choice in Orange County.

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Key Benefits of Body Lift

Eliminates loose skin folds to reveal smoother, more athletic contours.
Reduces skin irritation and hygiene issues caused by excess hanging tissue.
Contours multiple body regions in one procedure for balanced overall results.
Enhances confidence by aligning your appearance with your weight-loss success.

Types of Body Lift

Upper Body Lift

Targets the upper back, breasts/chest, and arms. Excess skin is removed and tissues are tightened to smooth bra-line rolls and restore a toned appearance to the upper torso. Ideal for patients with significant laxity in the arms and back after weight loss.

Lower Body Lift (Circumferential)

Also called a belt lipectomy, this technique removes excess skin around the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, and outer thighs through a belt-line incision. The remaining skin is lifted upward for a flatter abdomen and lifted buttocks, creating dramatic 360-degree improvement.

Staged Total Body Lift

For patients requiring extensive reshaping, the procedure can be divided into two or more operations (for example, lower body lift first, upper body lift later). Staging shortens individual surgery times and can be safer for certain health profiles.

Not sure which option is right for you?

Meet your Body Lift surgeons

Dr. Kyle Song and Dr. Paige Benyamein are board-certified plastic surgeons with specialized expertise in post-weight-loss body contouring. Their patient-centered approach combines advanced surgical skill with a genuine commitment to helping you feel confident and comfortable through every step of your transformation.

Why Choose South Coast Plastic Surgery for Your Body Lift?

Beauty Inside-Out

We care for your inner wellness as much as your outer beauty. Every treatment is provided with warmth and exceptional care to help you feel confident and supported

Clear Expectations from the Start

Share your goals in detail before you even arrive using Adoreal's personalized assessment. Your specialist will understand exactly what you're hoping to achieve before your consultation begins, making your visit more focused and personal

Dedicated Follow-Up Support

Your care doesn't end when you leave our office. Our team provides personalized check-ins to monitor your results, answer any questions, and make sure you're completely satisfied with your outcome.

Precision & Artistry

Your treatment is performed by highly trained specialists
who understand facial anatomy at the deepest level. We combine technical precision with an artistic eye to enhance your natural beauty while keeping you looking like you

A Customized Approach to Body Procedures in Irvine & Ladera Ranch

No two weight-loss journeys are alike, and neither are our body lifts. Your surgeon considers your skin quality, remaining fat distribution, health history, and aesthetic vision to craft a surgical plan that delivers balanced, natural-looking contours.

Before your consultation, you can complete a brief personalized assessment from home, helping us understand your specific goals, concerns, and timeline. During your visit, we'll use advanced 3D imaging to show you a realistic preview of your potential results, giving you confidence and clarity in your decision. 

Comprehensive, Compassionate Care

This personalized assessment ensures your consultation is tailored to your unique goals from the moment you walk in.

Our surgeon will also assess individual factors such as skin quality, residual fat deposits, and overall health status, along with your personal preferences to determine the best approach for your goals.

See Your Future Self

Am I a good candidate for Body Lift?

Ideal candidates are healthy adults with significant skin laxity after weight loss who desire smoother contours and can commit to the recovery process. Your consultation will help determine whether a body lift or an alternative treatment best meets your needs.
Ideal candidates are healthy adults with significant skin laxity after weight loss who desire smoother contours and can commit to the recovery process. Your consultation will help determine whether a body lift or an alternative treatment best meets your needs.
In good overall physical health without uncontrolled medical conditions
Stable weight for at least 6 months
Non-smoker or willing to stop before and after surgery
Realistic expectations about results and scarring
Adequate time and support for recovery
Bothered by excess, hanging skin on torso or limbs
Committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Help us understand your unique goals & concerns.

This personalized assessment ensures your consultation is tailored specifically to you, with no obligation. Your wellness journey, our commitment.

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Your Body Lift Journey and Recovery

From your first consultation to your final results, you’re guided through every stage of your journey with personalized support, automated instructions, and 24/7 access to your care team. This is your journey, we just make it easier. 

Comprehensive Consultation & Assessment

Your journey begins with a private consultation with Dr. Song or Dr. Benyamein. This visit is focused on understanding what changes you'd like to see and whether body lift surgery is the right solution for your concerns.

During your consultation, your surgeon will:

  • Review your weight-loss history and current health
  • Examine areas of excess skin and residual fat
  • Discuss incision placement and possible staging
  • Explain the recovery process and activity guidelines
  • Answer questions about risks, scars, and outcomes

Together, you'll create a surgical plan tailored to your anatomy and lifestyle, with safety and realistic outcomes as the priority.

The Body Lift Procedure

You’ll arrive at our accredited surgical facility and receive general anesthesia to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure.

During the procedure:

  • Precise incisions are made along predetermined lines
  • Excess skin and fat are carefully removed
  • Underlying tissues are tightened and repositioned
  • Incisions are closed with layered sutures and dressings applied

Compression garments and, if needed, surgical drains are placed to support healing before you are taken to recovery.

Body Lift Recovery Timeline

Recovery experiences vary, but most patients follow a similar general timeline.

Immediately after surgery

  • You’ll wake in the recovery suite wearing compression garments. Standing and walking with assistance begin the same day.

First few days

  • Manage discomfort with prescribed medication
  • Empty and record output from drains
  • Short, frequent walks to promote circulation

Weeks 1-2

  • Drains typically removed within 7-10 days
  • Gradual return to desk work if approved
  • Continue wearing compression garments 24/7

Weeks 3-4

  • Light cardio or stretching introduced
  • Swelling and bruising noticeably decrease

You'll receive personalized post-operative instructions and follow-up appointments to monitor healing and address any concerns.

Your Body Lift Results

Body lift results are visible right away, though your torso and thighs will continue to change as swelling resolves and tissues settle.

Early results

  • Contours appear smoother and skin folds are gone, but swelling and bruising may obscure final shape.

Following weeks

  • Incisions mature, swelling declines, and definition improves, allowing clothing to fit more comfortably.

Final results

  • By 6–12 months scars fade, skin tightens fully, and you can enjoy long-lasting, balanced body contours.

With proper care and a stable weight, body lift results can be long-lasting, helping you fully enjoy the benefits of your healthy lifestyle.

  • Days 3 - 5
  • Week 1 - 2
  • Week 2 - 3
  • Week 4 - 6

  • Month 2 - 3
  • Month 4 - 6
  • Long time

Body Lift Results and Safety Considerations

Understanding how surgical technique, anatomy, and healing affect body lift results can help you set realistic expectations and feel confident in your decision.

Achieving Natural-Looking Results

Natural-looking results begin with a thorough understanding of your anatomy. By removing only the excess skin and strategically tightening underlying tissues, our surgeons create smooth transitions between treated and untreated areas. Liposuction may be used to blend contours and avoid abrupt changes.

Skin quality, elasticity, and existing stretch marks influence how the tissues respond. Your surgeon will explain what improvements are achievable for your unique circumstances and will design incisions that follow natural body lines to keep results as discreet as possible.

Realistic expectations are key. Swelling, firmness, and scar maturation all evolve over months, and final outcomes depend on consistent weight maintenance, scar care, and healthy lifestyle choices.

Where Are the Incisions?

  • Incision placement depends on the areas addressed and can often be concealed beneath underwear or bathing suits.

Circumferential belt-line incision around the lower torso

Incisions are carefully planned to follow natural contours and are closed with precision to support proper healing and minimize long-term visibility.

Is Scarring a Concern?

All surgery creates scars, but our meticulous technique, layered closure, and postoperative scar care protocols help scars fade and flatten over time. Most patients feel the trade-off is well worth the improvement in contour.

Scar Healing Timeline

  • As your body heals, scars will change gradually over time:

Weeks 1-2
Scars may appear red and slightly raised
Months 1-3
Scars typically soften and begin to flatten
Around 6 months
Noticeable fading often occurs
1-2 years
Scars may continue to lighten and become less noticeable
Following post-operative instructions and recommended scar care plays an important role in how scars mature.

Understanding Risks and Safety

Medical examination room with a treatment table covered in white sheets and various medical equipment against the walls.

Understanding Risks and Safety

Body lift surgery is generally safe when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon in an accredited surgical facility. However, as with any surgery, there are potential risks to be aware of.

Potential risks may include:

  • Bleeding or hematoma
  • Infection
  • Poor wound healing or skin loss
  • Seroma (fluid accumulation)
  • Changes in skin sensation
  • Asymmetry or contour irregularities

Your surgeon will review these risks with you in detail during your consultation and explain how they are minimized through careful planning, surgical technique, and follow-up care.

Reducing Your Risk

Your safety is a top priority at South Coast Plastic Surgery. Steps taken to support a safe body lift experience include:

  • Thorough pre-operative evaluation
  • Precise surgical planning tailored to your anatomy
  • Surgery performed in a fully accredited facility
  • Detailed post-operative instructions and follow-up care

By choosing an experienced surgical team and following recovery guidelines closely, most patients heal well and are satisfied with their body lift results.

How Much does Body Lift Cost?

The cost of your procedure will vary based on a variety of factors. During your consultation, your doctor will discuss your desired outcomes in detail and provide a fully transparent breakdown of all associated costs. Our practice helps patients achieve their aesthetic goals with a variety of financing options.

Financing options available through:
Book your consultation

Trusted by Our Community

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4.8/5 stars for 334 reviews / 90% word-of-mouth referral rate / Over 15 years serving Orange County

Dr. Song performed my breast implant surgery nearly 10 yrs ago with the ideal breast implant. I've had no issues in this time. I live on the other side of the country now, but I would've loved to come back for removal, since I'm on an all natural journey. I hope to find someone who can take care of me, keep me safe, & assured during & after surgery as Dr. Song & his staff did.

N. Snoozzz

Thank you Dr. Song. I’m 10 days post opp and am so happy with my experience with my mommy makeover! I can’t tell you how comfortable Dr. Song and his staff made me feel throughout this whole process. Surgery is a bit of a scary decision and sometimes I agonized about for years but I can promise you are in the best care with this team. I highly highly recommend them and am already so happy with my results !

Frequently Asked Questions About Body Lift

Everything you need to know about Body Lift, explained by South Coast Plastic Surgery's experts

About the procedure

What areas can a body lift address?
Depending on your needs, a body lift can treat the abdomen, back, buttocks, hips, flanks, outer thighs, and even the upper arms or chest with an upper body lift.
How long does body lift surgery take?
Surgery times vary with the extent of correction but typically range from four to seven hours. Staged procedures divide the total time into two shorter surgeries.
What type of anesthesia is used for a body lift?
Body lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia so you remain comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure.
How long is the recovery after a body lift?
Most patients take two to three weeks off work and resume light activity during weeks three to four, with full exercise approval at six to eight weeks.

Recovery & Results

When will I see my final results?
You’ll notice an immediate change in contour, but swelling can take several months to resolve. Final results usually appear between six and twelve months post-op.
Do I have to wear compression garments?
Yes, compression garments support healing, reduce swelling, and improve contour. They are typically worn continuously for the first six weeks, except while bathing.
What are the risks of a body lift?
Risks include bleeding, infection, fluid buildup, delayed wound healing, numbness, and scarring. Your surgeon will discuss these in detail during consultation.
How do you minimize complications?
We perform a thorough pre-operative evaluation, operate in an accredited facility, use meticulous surgical technique, and provide detailed aftercare instructions with close follow-up.

Safety & Risks

Is a body lift covered by insurance?
Most body lifts are considered cosmetic and not covered. Rarely, portions may be covered if medically necessary; our team can help you explore options.
What financing options are available?

We partner with CareCredit and Cherry to offer payment plans that make treatment more manageable.

When can I return to exercise?
Light walking starts immediately, but strenuous exercise should wait until your surgeon clears you, typically around six to eight weeks.
Will I need additional procedures in the future?
As long as you maintain a stable weight and healthy lifestyle, your results can be long-lasting. Some patients choose future touch-ups if aging or weight fluctuations occur.

Cost & Insurance

Is a body lift covered by insurance?
Most body lifts are considered cosmetic and not covered. Rarely, portions may be covered if medically necessary; our team can help you explore options.
What financing options are available?

We partner with CareCredit and Cherry to offer payment plans that make treatment more manageable.

Lifestyle & Long-Term Care

Still have questions?

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