Body Lift in Irvine, CA
A body lift completes your weight-loss journey by removing the loose, heavy skin that diet and exercise cannot address. Whether you need an upper, lower, or full body lift, our surgeons reshape and tighten your contours so your outward appearance finally reflects your hard-won accomplishments. The procedure is highly customized, giving you a smoother silhouette, restored confidence, and freedom to move comfortably.
Expert Surgeons
4.9 Google Rating
Serving Orange County Since 2012
Procedure Quick Facts:
- Duration of Procedure:3-6 hours (may be staged)
- Anesthesia:General anesthesia
- Recovery:General anesthesia
- Results Duration:Long-lasting with stable weight
A body lift is a comprehensive contouring surgery designed to remove stretched, redundant skin and stubborn fat that remains after significant weight loss. By excising excess tissue and tightening the underlying structures, the procedure restores firmer, smoother contours to areas such as the abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs, hips, and arms. Incisions are placed strategically, often along natural creases or the belt line, so scars are more easily concealed.
Depending on your individual needs, the surgery may focus on the upper body, lower body, or both in a staged approach. Liposuction is frequently combined to refine contours further. The end result is a balanced, natural-looking figure that allows clothing to fit better and daily activities to feel more comfortable.
If you're considering a body lift, 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, Irritating Skin FoldsAfter major weight loss, loose skin can chafe, trap moisture, and cause rashes. Eliminating these folds improves comfort, hygiene, and overall skin health.
- Reveal the Contours You Worked Hard to EarnA body lift uncovers the slimmer shape hidden beneath extra skin, highlighting muscle tone and allowing your clothes to fit the way you envisioned.
- Boost Confidence and Body ImageSmoother, tighter contours help many patients feel more at ease in social settings, intimate situations, and when choosing wardrobe options.
- Enhance Mobility and Physical ActivityRemoving heavy, hanging tissue reduces friction and improves range of motion, making exercise and daily tasks more comfortable and enjoyable.
- Comprehensive, Customizable TransformationUpper, lower, or full body lift options allow you and your surgeon to target the exact areas that matter most, often in combination with liposuction for refined results.
- Long-Lasting Outcome With Stable WeightOnce excess skin is removed, results can be maintained for years, provided you keep a healthy lifestyle and stable body weight.
Watch our videos to see real patient results, learn from our experts, and discover what makes South Coast Plastic Surgery a trusted choice in Orange County.
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Eliminates large amounts of loose, redundant skin after massive weight loss for a smoother silhouette
Lifts and reshapes the buttocks, thighs, and abdomen to restore youthful, proportional contours
Reduces skin irritation, rashes, and hygiene challenges caused by overlapping skin folds
Provides a dramatic, confidence-boosting finish to your weight-loss journey with lasting results
Upper Body Lift
Targets the back, breasts/chest, and upper arms. Excess tissue is removed through incisions placed along the bra line or arm creases, while remaining skin is tightened to create a firm, sculpted upper torso. Ideal for patients with significant laxity above the waist.
Lower Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy)
Also called a torso lift, this technique removes loose skin around the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, and outer thighs. A circumferential incision along the belt line allows the surgeon to lift and tighten the midsection 360 degrees for a balanced, smooth contour.
Staged Full Body Lift
Combines upper and lower body lift procedures performed in two separate surgeries for safety and optimal healing. Recommended when skin laxity is extensive across multiple regions and a single session would be excessively long.
See real results from our patients
Dr. Kyle Song and Dr. Paige Benyamein have extensive experience in post-weight-loss body contouring. They combine surgical precision with an artistic eye, prioritizing patient safety, balanced proportions, and natural-looking outcomes that celebrate each individual’s achievements.
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Beauty Inside-Out
We treat beyond the visible, caring for your inner wellness as much as your outer beauty. Every aesthetic treatment is provided with warm and exceptional care to elevate your well-being and confidence.
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Unmatched Predictability
Visualize your potential results with cutting-edge Crisalix 3D imaging, ensuring clarity and confidence from the start of your cosmetic journey. Our transparent planning process covers every detail, from realistic expectations to comprehensive pricing.
Expert Healing
Your personalized care plan doesn't end when you leave the operating room. Adoreal's automated recovery prompts guide you through a personalized healing journey, including 24/7 access to your surgical team to address questions or concerns. Track your aesthetic recovery progress in real-time, receive important reminders, and experience peace of mind knowing that expert support is always available.
Protected Investment
We stand behind our work with comprehensive warranty coverage that protects your aesthetic outcomes long after your final follow-up. Your care includes up to 5 years of medical complication protection, a 2-year satisfaction guarantee for minor adjustments, and lifetime implant monitoring for eligible cases. Combined with ongoing access to your complete medical records and continued support from our team, you can trust that your journey to confidence is backed by expertise, technology, and a genuine commitment to your long-term well-being.
A Customized Approach to Breast Procedures in Irvine & Ladera Ranch
Your consultation is a private, personalized experience designed around your goals.
Our surgeon will also assess individual factors such as skin elasticity, distribution of residual fat, and overall health status, along with your personal preferences to determine the best approach for your goals.
- Your aesthetic goals and areas of concern
- Review of weight-loss history and current health
- Surgical options such as upper vs. lower body lift
- Incision placement and scar management strategies
- Recovery expectations and support resources
- Cost estimates and available financing
See Your Future Self
Ideal candidates are healthy adults who have achieved substantial, stable weight loss and are bothered by loose skin that will not tighten on its own. A consultation helps confirm that a body lift is the safest, most effective way to reach your goals.
Ideal candidates are healthy adults who have achieved substantial, stable weight loss and are bothered by loose skin that will not tighten on its own. A consultation helps confirm that a body lift is the safest, most effective way to reach your goals.
Maintained stable weight for at least 6 months
Overall good health without uncontrolled medical conditions
Non-smoker or willing to quit before and after surgery
Realistic expectations about surgery, scars, and recovery
Adequate time and support for an extended recovery period
No active skin infections or wound-healing issues
Commitment to a healthy lifestyle to preserve results
This personalized assessment ensures your consultation is tailored specifically to you, with no obligation. Your wellness journey, our commitment.
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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 is the right solution for your concerns.
During your consultation, your surgeon will:
• Discuss your weight-loss history and remaining trouble areas
• Examine skin laxity, stretch marks, and muscle tone
• Review medical history and order any necessary labs
• Explain surgical options, incision placement, and staging
• Outline recovery timeline, compression garments, and support needs
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
Body lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia to ensure you are comfortable and pain-free throughout.
During the procedure:
• An incision is made along the predetermined lines (belt line, bra line, or arm crease)
• Excess skin and fat are carefully removed and weighed
• Underlying tissues are tightened and repositioned for smooth contours
• Liposuction refines surrounding areas for seamless transitions
Once reshaping is complete, the surgeon closes incisions in layers with absorbable sutures, places drains if needed, and applies compression garments before you wake up in recovery.
Body Lift Recovery Timeline
Recovery experiences vary, but most patients follow a similar general timeline.
Immediately after surgery
You will wake up wearing compression garments and be encouraged to walk with assistance the same day to promote circulation.
First few days
• Moderate soreness managed with prescribed medication
• Drains monitored and emptied as instructed
• Short, frequent walks to reduce DVT risk
Weeks 1-2
• Drain removal usually within first 7-10 days
• Return to desk-based work if approved by surgeon
• Continue wearing compression garments 24/7
Weeks 3-4
•Light exercise such as stationary cycling may resume
• Swelling gradually decreases, revealing improved contours
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 shape will continue to refine as swelling resolves and tissues settle.
Early results
A flatter abdomen and lifted buttocks are noticeable once bandages are removed, despite swelling.
Following weeks
Compression and lymphatic massage help swelling subside, and scars begin to fade.
Final results
By 6-12 months, scars lighten and your new contours look and feel natural, with clothing fitting comfortably.
With proper care and a stable weight, body lift results can be long-lasting, helping you fully enjoy your healthier lifestyle.
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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
Our surgeons focus on balanced proportions rather than over-tightening, which helps maintain natural curves and functional mobility. Using progressive tension sutures and internal shaping, they create smooth transitions between lifted regions and untreated areas, avoiding step-offs or unnatural pulls.
Patient anatomy plays a key role; skin quality, remaining fat, and muscle tone all influence the final contour. Thorough pre-operative assessment allows your surgeon to tailor incision placement and tissue excision for the most harmonious outcome.
Clear communication of goals ensures the surgical plan matches your vision, whether that is a dramatic hourglass shape or a subtle, streamlined silhouette.
Where Are the Incisions?
Incision placement varies based on the areas treated, always aiming to be concealed by undergarments or along natural creases.
Circumferential belt-line incision for lower body lift
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?
While scars are inevitable, they typically fade significantly over time and are placed where clothing can cover them. Proper scar care and sun protection play a major role in their final appearance.
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
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
• Delayed wound healing or wound separation
• Fluid accumulation (seroma)
• 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.
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:
Trusted by Our Community
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 !
About the procedure
What areas can a body lift address?
Depending on your needs, a body lift can treat the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, back, and upper arms. Your surgeon will customize the plan to target your specific concerns.
Will I need upper, lower, or full body lift?
It depends on where you have excess skin. Some patients need only a lower body lift, while others benefit from a staged combination for complete rejuvenation.
How long does the surgery take?
Surgery length varies with the extent of treatment but typically ranges from 3 to 6 hours. Complex cases may be performed in two separate sessions for safety.
How painful is body lift recovery?
Most patients describe discomfort rather than sharp pain. Medication, compression, and gentle movement help manage soreness during the first week.
Recovery & Results
When can I return to work?
Desk jobs can often resume within 2-3 weeks, while physically demanding work may require 4-6 weeks or surgeon clearance.
How long will my results last?
Results can be long-lasting when you maintain a stable weight and healthy lifestyle. Significant weight fluctuations or pregnancy can affect outcomes.
What are the most common complications?
Seroma, delayed wound healing, and minor contour irregularities are among the most common. Serious complications are rare but include infection or blood clots.
How do you reduce the risk of blood clots?
We encourage early walking, use compression devices during surgery, and may prescribe blood thinners for higher-risk patients.
Safety & Risks
Is any part of body lift covered by insurance?
Insurance may cover panniculectomy (removal of a hanging abdominal apron) if it causes medical issues, but purely cosmetic components are self-pay.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We partner with CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit to provide flexible monthly payments that fit your budget.
When can I exercise again?
Light walking is encouraged right away. Most patients resume full workouts, including lifting weights, around 6-8 weeks with surgeon approval.
How should I care for my scars long term?
Use silicone sheets or gels, practice diligent sun protection, and follow any massage techniques recommended by your surgeon to help scars fade.
Cost & Insurance
Is any part of body lift covered by insurance?
Insurance may cover panniculectomy (removal of a hanging abdominal apron) if it causes medical issues, but purely cosmetic components are self-pay.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We partner with CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit to provide flexible monthly payments that fit your budget.
Lifestyle & Long-Term Care
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