Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a good candidate for this type of surgery?
The best candidates for torsoplasty have typically lost a significant amount of weight due to gastric bypass surgery, intestinal bypass surgery or a dramatic change in eating and exercise habits.
They have varying degrees of hanging tissues of the face, breast, back, trunk and thighs. Many are disheartened because they worked hard to lose the weight, but still have not attained a normal body contour.
The trunk is the area most likely to show significant body contour distortions, including hanging skin and fat of the belly, outer thigh excess, hip excess, back rolls, and ill-defined large buttocks.
If a traditional tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is all that is performed, there may be a limited improvement of the belly, which might even result in an accentuation of the hip, back, and buttocks. Many of these patients will also need procedures on the arms (brachioplasty), inner thighs (thigh lift), breasts (breast reduction or breastlift), and back in addition to the torsoplasty.
Post-weight reduction patients can be divided into two subgroups based on the extent of their weight loss:
People who have lost significant weight but reached a plateau far from their ideal body weight. Improvement in this patient group is remarkable but the final results are not ideal body contours.
People who reach ideal body weight prior to surgery. Their improvement is outstanding and will lead to near ideal body contour.
Patients who are not good candidates for torsoplasty include:
Those who are massively obese, because it will not improve their body contour and their wounds may not heal properly.
those with medical problems that preclude a general anaesthetic.
smokers, because of the increased risk of tissue loss associated with the surgical procedure.
people who find the stress of dealing with an extensive surgical procedure with its concomitant recovery period would be too difficult.
If certain chronic conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity or respiratory illnesses are poorly controlled, or you are immunocompromised, require anti-coagulants (blood thinners), or you are an active smoker, you may not be a safe candidate for this procedure. See also: Smoking and BMI.
What kind of scars will I have and where will they be located?
Various scar patterns are possible, depending on the exact procedure that is appropriate for you. However, all torsoplasty scars run circumferentially around the lower abdomen, flank and back, with precise locations being dependent where your excess tissue is located.
Your scars will initially be red and a little raised, but over three to six months they usually get lighter in colour and flatten out although they will never disappear completely. They may remain the same size for several months, or even widen.
How long is the operation?
The actual surgical time varies depending on the amount of surgery necessary for each patient, but usually is about six hours.
How long is the hospital stay?
Torsoplasty is a procedure performed under general anesthesia. While most of our patients are able to go home on the day of their surgery, torsoplasty patients are the exception to this rule. They may require one to two nights in the hospital.
How much pain should I expect?
This is a difficult question to answer definitively. Every patient has a different pain tolerance. However, we will prescribe sufficient pain medication throughout your recovery period to ensure the discomfort you feel is manageable.
Most people feel tender and bruised after surgery, but are not in a great deal of pain.
What happens after the surgery?
We use dissolvable stitches so there will be no need to have them removed post operatively. Swelling and bruising on the skin are routinely seen after the operation but they will recede in the weeks following the operation. Complete resolution of swelling can take up to one year.
When can I go in the sun?
You should avoid exposing your new scars to the sun for at least six months or until they have matured well. Sunlight can permanently affect the skin's pigmentation, causing your scars to turn dark. If sun exposure is unavoidable, use a strong sun block.
Will I need to wear a support garment?
Yes. Your support garment will be placed on immediately after your surgery. You will need to wear one continuously for four weeks; thereafter, during the daytime for another four weeks.
If you experience persistent swelling beyond six weeks, you may require your support garment for up to three months.
Will I have drains?
Yes. Drains are small tubes attached to reservoir bulbs. They are inserted at the time of your surgery, to drain off any fluid that accumulates underneath the surface of the skin. They will be removed approximately 5-7 days post operatively.
We will show you how to milk your drains, every two to four waking hours. Empty the drain bulbs every eight hours and record the volume of fluid collected.
When will I be able to go back to work and resume my normal activities?
You should be up and about in a day or two, although you should plan on taking it easy during the first week. We encourage you to start walking almost immediately after your surgery to diminish the risk of blood clots in your legs, as a result of immobilization from the anaesthetic. Even while you are resting, you should be moving your feet and ankles frequently to promote circulation in your legs. In our experience, this will help you will recover much faster, and with fewer complications.
You can return to work when you feel well enough, usually four to six weeks. If you have a sedentary job, you should anticipate about two to four weeks off work. Occupations involving vigorous physical activity will require a longer period of healing – usually four to eight weeks prior to resumption of work.
Strenuous aerobic activity can be resumed approximately four weeks post operatively, if your incisions have healed well and the majority of the swelling has subsided. By and large, you should let your body be your guide. If it doesn’t hurt, go do it. If it does hurt, stop.
In general, it will take four to six weeks before you're back to all of your normal activities.
How long will the results last?
This is impossible to answer definitively. Factors affecting the length of the result include age at the time of operation, physical condition before and afterwards, quality of skin, and alterations in weight.
However, the vast majority of people do not require a second torsoplasty in their lifetime.
