A Total Body Lift—also known as a Full Body Lift or Complete Body Lift—is the most comprehensive body contouring procedure available. It is designed to remove excess skin circumferentially and tighten the entire body for a smoother, firmer, and more youthful contour.
With the widespread use of GLP-1 weight loss medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, many patients are experiencing rapid and significant weight loss—often accompanied by loose, sagging skin. A Total Body Lift is an effective solution for patients who have lost weight through GLP-1 therapy, bariatric surgery, or lifestyle changes and wish to restore shape, curves, and skin tightness.
Dr. Siamak Agha is internationally recognized for his expertise in body lift surgery and has performed over 600 body lift procedures, one of the highest volumes by a single plastic surgeon worldwide. Several of the advanced techniques used in his practice were developed by Dr. Agha and are published in plastic surgery textbooks.
Today, more and more non-weight loss patients are getting a body lift to rejuvenate their body and to enhance their shape in order to match their younger spirit. Patients embark on body lift procedures in an effort to remove loose excess skin, to tighten their contour, to get ride of dimples and cellulites, to enhance their curvatures, and to augment their physique.
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A body lift is a comprehensive surgical procedure that removes a circumferential band of excess skin and tissue to tighten the body and create a smoother, more contoured appearance. Body lift surgery is divided into lower body lifts and upper body lifts.
A lower body lift removes excess tissue from the lower torso and lifts the abdomen, waist, thighs, and buttocks. An upper body lift removes excess skin from the chest and back, tightening and reshaping the upper body.
When both the upper and lower body lifts are performed, the procedure is referred to as a Total Body Lift, Full Body Lift, or Complete Body Lift. Due to the scope and complexity of surgery, most patients require two or more stages to safely and effectively achieve their desired outcome. In select cases, upper or lower body contouring may be performed during a single operative session.
For each body area, specialized surgical techniques have been developed to optimally address skin laxity. Several of these advanced procedures were developed by Dr. Siamak Agha himself and have been published in plastic surgery textbooks.
A Total Body Lift is customized to each patient and may include any combination of the following procedures for comprehensive correction:
A Total Body Lift typically requires 16 to 24 hours of surgery. Dr. Agha prefers to perform these procedures in two stages when the total operative time is approximately 16 hours, or three stages when surgery exceeds 16 hours. Each stage lasts approximately 7.5 hours, with the entire surgical day dedicated to one patient only.
A third stage may be recommended if additional procedures are desired. Dr. Agha advises patients to wait at least three months between stages to allow for optimal healing, nutritional replenishment, and resolution of swelling. As a result, the full Total Body Lift process—from first surgery to complete healing—may take up to one year.
Historically, body lift procedures were most commonly performed following massive weight loss to address excess skin. Today, however, many non–weight loss patients seek body lift surgery to rejuvenate their appearance and enhance their body contours to better reflect their youthful energy. Patients pursue body lift procedures to remove loose skin, tighten their silhouette, reduce dimpling and cellulite, enhance natural curves, and improve overall body proportion.
A Total Body Lift is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility. The procedure beings with careful preoperative markings to guide precise skin removal and ensure balanced symmetrical results.
Dr. Agha typically begins a Total Body Lift with a Lower Body Lift, which may include a tummy tuck, monsplasty, outer and front thigh lift, buttock lift, waist skin excision, liposuction, and buttock enhancement or augmentation. This is the most physically demanding stage, and optimal results depend on proper healing.
The second stage typically includes an extended L-brachioplasty, upper body lift, and breast reshaping. The upper body lift may be performed through a vertical incision on the outer chest (crescent upper body lift) or a horizontal incision on the back (transverse upper body lift), depending on the degree and orientation of skin laxity and the patient’s scar preferences. This stage usually lasts 7 to 8 hours and is performed once the first-stage incisions are fully healed and nutritional reserves have been restored—typically three to six months later.
Most Total Body Lifts are completed in two stages. However, some patients may benefit from a third stage for additional contouring or facial rejuvenation procedures.
A Full Body Lift is the most comprehensive approach to body rejuvenation and requires a meaningful recovery period. Patients should expect to remain at home for several weeks after each stage, have adequate assistance, and carefully follow all post-operative instructions to ensure safe healing and optimal results.
year before it is all done and healed.
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