Body Lift in Thailand

Body lifting or circumferential body lifting is a plastic surgery performed to remove sagging flesh or loose skin and restore the aesthetic appearance of the different body zones (abdomen, waist, buttocks).

During the body lifting complex, plastic surgeons tighten the abdomen, eliminate abdominal separation (diastasis recti), perform thigh and lower back liposuction, carry out buttock lift and enlargement (with patient’s own tissues or implants).

Both women and men are good candidates for body lifting if they have:

• sagging skin after significant weight loss
• reduced elasticity of abdomen muscles
• flabby buttocks 
• drooping skin of the abdomen and buttocks.
• inelastic skin of the lower back and chest.

Like any other plastic surgery, a body lift has some contraindications:

• blood clotting problems
• exacerbation of chronic diseases
• heart failure
• uncompensated type II diabetes
• mental health disorders
• obesity with a BMI of 35 and higher
• autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis)
• immunodeficiency
• smoking. 

Body lift is a complex of the cosmetic procedures aimed at correcting one or several body areas (breast, waist, buttocks, etc.). According to the body zone need to be corrected, body plastic surgery in Thailand includes such types of lifting procedures as:

• Brachioplasty or arm lifting — tightening excess skin on the shoulders.
• Breast lift and/or reduction — aimed at correcting the shape and volume of the breast. 
• Upper body lifting — a simultaneous tightening of the breast (breast lift) and excess skin on the back (back lift).
• Lower body lifting — a simultaneous tightening of the abdomen (tummy tuck), buttock lifting, and enlargement (Brazilian butt lift). 
• Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck — aimed at lifting the skin of the abdomen. 
• Hips plastic surgery (thigh lift) — aimed at eliminating excess skin of the hips. 
• Shin correction — performed quite often to increase (calf implant) or reduce (calf reduction) the size of lower legs.

The operations may be combined and performed during the same process. In some cases, plastic surgeons carry out body lift in tandem with liposuction to remove not only excess skin but also excess fat simultaneously.

Body lifting in Thailand is performed under general anesthesia. The surgery requires the patient to get the necessary medical tests and examinations. Among them are:

• complete blood count
• coagulogram (blood clotting test)
• immunoglobulins blood test 
• biochemical profile
• Rh factor blood test
• urinalysis
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• lower limbs venous ultrasonography
• the chest X-ray
• consultation with a therapist
• consultation with a plastic surgeon.

Consultation with your plastic surgeon is required before body lifting. During the consultation, a plastic surgeon will evaluate your body shape, help you understand what result you can expect, take into account your preferences, and develop a complete surgery plan.

Body lift in Thailand is a minimally invasive surgery and usually is performed by several steps:

1. A plastic surgeon marks certain body zones that need to be corrected and review the surgery plan again to make sure you get the desired result after the procedure. 
2. Body lifting is performed under general anesthesia. Depending on the number of areas, the operation takes 4-6 hours. 
3. A surgeon makes the incisions and separates the skin and the fat layer from the underlying tissues. 
4. A plastic surgeon closes the incisions.

Performing abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), a cosmetic specialist removes excess skin and subcutaneous fat of the abdomen tightening muscles in the abdominal wall. To avoid possible complications and reduce fluid accumulation, a plastic surgeon measures the drainage. 

Excess skin in the thigh region (thigh lift) is removed by a longitudinal incision on the inner thigh or a horizontal incision on the outer thigh. The cuts are quite long, but they are usually not visible under clothing. During the operation, a surgeon can also perform a butt lift to correct the shape of the buttocks. 

Brachioplasty or arm lift is carried out to eliminate sagging skin and excess adipose tissue from the upper inner surface of the shoulder. Usually, the incision goes from the armpit to the elbow. If the patient has fat accumulation in the shoulder area without excess skin, plastic surgeons perform lipo to suck out excess fat.

Patients usually spend a night or two in the hospital after a body lift in Thailand. The next day they start walking. To reduce swelling and discomfort, specialists recommend making compresses with cold water or ice. Drainage is removed a few days after the surgery.

A few days after the procedure, patients should stay at home. Taking a shower is possible only on the third day after body lifting in Thailand. Physical activity is permitted for 6-8 weeks after the surgery. 

The terms of the rehabilitation period are different depending on the type of operation. After all body lift types, it is necessary to wear a compression garment for at least 4 weeks. 

The surgery is minimally invasive and does not cause severe pain. During the first days after the procedure, the patient may feel discomfort and tension. To eliminate this feeling, doctors prescribe postoperative treatment consisting mainly of painkillers and antibiotics.

During the postoperative period, the patient should remain under the supervision of a doctor. Follow-up examinations are necessary not only after the operation but also in the long term (one month, six months, and a year after the operation).

As any other plastic surgery, body lifting can lead to some complications. The most common among them are:

• infection
• seroma (fluid accumulation under the skin)
• hematoma (bleeding)
• scar contracture
• implant displacement
• blood clots
• deep vein thrombosis
• swelling
• persistent pain.

To avoid complications after the body lift surgery, you must choose a highly-qualified plastic surgeon, pass medical tests and examinations, and accurately follow all the doctor’s recommendations.

Healthcare is the key development sector of the Thai government. The Thai authorities are convinced that care for the citizens' health should be an absolute priority of state policy and spend about 25 billion baht for healthcare annually.

As a result, 36,673 medical facilities provide excellent medical care in the country. 64 centers in the Kingdom have certificate of JCI (Joint Commission International), the international improver of healthcare quality and safety across the globe. The index of certificates obtained is the largest. To compare, Israel has 20 JCI-accredited facilities, and Germany — only 10 clinics of this type.

The Kingdom of Thailand is also a well-known country globally due to high-skilled doctors that undergo internships in American and European institutions. Patients from Japan, China, Myanmar and the Middle Eastern countries prefer treatment in Thailand to other places.

Highly developed medical centers and first-rate therapeutic services at affordable prices attract people from all over the world. Over 2.5 mln international patients travel to Thailand annually. So Thailand is among Top 10 countries with the most developed medical tourism sector.

Thailand is a top destination for medical tourists because of low-costs. You may save up to 75% on services compared to European countries or the USA due to the average local citizens' income and general price policy within the country.

In the Kingdom of Thailand, hotels of different price ranges and service levels are presented. The level of Thai hotels is comparable to hotels in Tunisia, Morocco or Egypt. Most tourists choose 4 and 5 star hotels with all-inclusive meals. Such hotels have everything for a comfortable stay: varied food, a large well-groomed territory, animation for children and adults. Some hotels have their own water park, which guests can use for free. Budget travelers can afford to book an economical 3-star hotel with half board or no meals at all.

The main advantage of Thai resorts is the long beach season. On the east coast and west coast the climate features are different, so take it into account when planning the trip. The best time to travel is during the cool and dry season between November and early April. A large influx of tourists is in March-May, when the air temperature is +30°C.

For now, the Kingdom of Thailand requires different visa regimens for diverse states. Some foreigners can stay in the country 60 days without visa control, some of them — only 14 days.

How long you can stay in Thailand and what countries can cross the border easy read here.

Visas for travel to Thailand require a number of documents. The necessary papers can be submitted 90 days before the planned departure. The list of documents includes:

• ID card
• confirmation of online registration and filling out the questionnaire
• certificate of income and availability of funds (20,000 baht per person/40,000 baht per family)
• insurance policy for a stay in Thailand (original and copy)
• 2 photos (4x6)
• visa receipt
• booking of round-trip air ticket (paid in full) and hotel
• medical opinion about the need for treatment.