Post Mass Weight Loss
Have you lost a significant amount of weight, perhaps after bariatric surgery, and now have an excess of loose, sagging skin that doesn’t tighten on its own?
Such skin can detract from the aesthetic appearance of the weight loss and present functional challenges such as chronic skin conditions. That can be pretty disappointing to a person who has worked hard to lose weight! A combination of body lift procedures can help finish off your weight loss journey.
The Procedure
The Hospital
Our Post Mass Weight Loss procedures are performed under General Anaesthetic in hospital. The hospital stay varies from 2 up to 10 nights.
Recovery
Lower body lift
- Four weeks off work
- Garment for 6 weeks and bruising and swelling for four weeks
Arm lift
- Two weeks off work
- Bruising and swelling for up to four weeks
- Garment for 6 weeks
Medicare Rebate
This depends on the surgery you have and need for surgery.
Our team can help explain this to you as it can be challenging!
Combining surgery
Due to Medicare restrictions, surgery post weight loss has to be staged (for example, you can't do thighs and tummy together). Please note that Dr Moncrieff does not offer stand-alone arm or thigh lifts - he performs these surgeries only for women who have already had a tummy tuck or breast surgery with him. See more in the FAQs below.
Award winning outcomes
Dr Moncrieff has been recognised for his surgical skills by colleagues and industry experts. Most recently this included winning the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Global Award for the Australasian Surgical Makeover of the Year for our breast and body patient Celeste (who lost over 50kgs after 2 babies.
The Cost
Get In TouchLower body lift (circumferential lower body lift – abdomen and back)
- Privately Insured with Top Gold Cover from $32,000 – 35,000. This range includes the surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fee, garments, LED light therapy for scar minimisation and after care. Generally health funds only assist if the patient has top gold cover – please check with your fund before booking a consultation (see Medicare item number in tab below).
- No Insurance (or less than Top Gold Cover) – This procedure is not recommended for patients without private insurance, as there is a high risk of an extended hospital stay. We recommended seeking an appropriate private health insurance plan if this procedure would benefit you.
- For a tummy tuck without extending around the back, please see the tummy tuck page.
Arm lift
Privately insured: from $19,000. This procedure can not be performed on the same day as a tummy tuck due to Medicare rules so a staged approach is required. See FAQs below.
Thigh lift
Privately insured: from $20,000. Additional charges apply for extended variations and liposuction. This procedure is not recommended for patients without private insurance, as there is a high risk of an extended hospital stay. We recommended seeking an appropriate private health insurance plan if this procedure would benefit you. This procedure can not be performed on the same day as a tummy tuck due to Medicare rules so a staged approach is required. See FAQs below.
Breast surgery: please see the breast reduction and breast lift pages.
Costs quoted above are total out of pocket costs - meaning the final cost to patients after rebates (if applicable) are applied. Patients are required to pay in full prior to surgery and then claim any applicable rebates.
Before & After
View Entire Gallery
About the patient
Age
33 years old
Time
4 months post surgery
Description
This patient is pictured here 4 months following her first stage abdominoplasty and thigh lift after her 43kg weight loss.
About the patient
Age
35 years old
Time
24 months post surgeries
Description
This 35 year old patient had a complete post mass weight loss transformation including an abdominoplasty, thigh lift, breast reduction/uplift, and arm lift staged across 2 separate operations. In total she lost more than 65kgs. To see more, visit the gallery and visit the Post Mass Weight Loss category.
About the patient
Age
28 years old
Time
9 months post surgery
Description
After a weight loss of over 23kg, this patient had an arm lift including excess skin removal and liposuction techniques.
About the patient
Age
60 years old
Time
6 months post surgery
Description
This patient had a thigh lift using surgical and liposuction techniques post weight loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQS
FAQS
Generally health funds only assist if the patient has top cover – please check with your fund before booking a consultation (see Medicare item number in tab below). Some funds do not cover these procedures as the categorise them as “obesity surgery”. You must check with your fund in advance and if you aren’t covered, consider a new fund.
Lower body lift (tummy tuck and and back lift): Medicare Item No. 30177, 30171
Tummy tuck: Medicare Item No. 30177
Arm lift or thigh lift: Medicare Item No. 30169 x2
For breast procedures, please see the breast reduction and breast lift pages.
Learn about our 5 star difference.
Yes we do. Surgery post significant weight loss is a serious investment. To help you understand your payment options, including possible superannuation access, you may like to read our dedicated article for payment plans that we offer.
Generally no. This is due to the substantial nature of the surgery and recovery required. The other factor is that Medicare limits the surgeries which may be performed together so a tummy tuck, arm lift and/or thigh lift may not be performed in a single operation.
If you do not want to claim the Medicare rebate (or health fund coverage), it is technically possible to combine them, however it is unwise given the health risks and possible extended self-funded stay in ICU and hospital.
All surgery is serious and you need to weigh up the potential benefits with the risks.
There are two main categories of risks to consider when considering post mass weight loss surgery.
The first category of risks apply to all forms of major surgery and include: infection, bleeding and an adverse reaction to the anaesthetic.
The next category of risks which are more specific to post mass weight loss procedures include: change in sensation or loss of sensation around operated sites, delayed wound healing (including death of tissue), prominent, keloid or hypertrophic scarring and general asymmetry.
Your surgeon will discuss these risks, and how you can reduce them before and after surgery, in your consultation. You will also be given written material covering these risks.
More information about the risks of plastic surgery and broader general surgery can be found on our dedicated risks page.
Hospital stay for arm lift is generally two nights. Hospital stay for thigh lift can be up to ten nights.
Hospital stay can be up to ten nights.
Many women ask us when they should see us to talk about the next step in their weight loss journey. We like to see people who are stable at their goal weight with a BMI at or under 28 to help plan the right surgery and to minimise risks. A BMI of 30 is the maximum due to increased risks.
More details are featured about why weight matters in plastic surgery in this article by Dr Moncrieff.
Click here for easy BMI calculator.
Not with Dr Moncrieff. He offers arm and thigh lifts only to patients having an overall breast and body transformation post weight loss.
You may find other plastic surgeons willing to do these as stand-alone procedures and you can research your options on the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons register.
Get in Touch
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