Plastic surgery · London
Body contouring after major weight loss, staged and honest.
Belt lipectomy, fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, thigh lift and breast reshaping after bariatric surgery or GLP-1 weight loss. Planned by a BAAPS or BAPRAS plastic surgeon with a high volume of post-weight-loss cases, in a CQC-registered London hospital.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A BAAPS or BAPRAS post-weight-loss surgeon
Not a general cosmetic list. A named plastic surgeon with a high volume of belt lipectomy, brachioplasty and thigh-lift cases after bariatric surgery or GLP-1 weight loss.
- 02
Staged when staging is safer
Total body lifts sound tidy but complications climb quickly. We plan two to four operations over 12 to 24 months when that keeps you safer.
- 03
Nutrition and MDT first
Post-bariatric patients are commonly low on B12, vitamin D, iron and protein. We check and correct before you sit in a pre-assessment clinic.
Indicative pricing
What each stage costs privately in London.
Firm quotes come back within one working day once we know the region, single-stage versus staged plan and hospital.
| Operation | Indicative range | Theatre time | Inpatient stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleur-de-lis or extended abdominoplasty | £14,000-£22,000 | 4-6 h GA | 2-3 nights |
| Lower body lift / belt lipectomy (360°) | £22,000-£38,000 | 5-8 h GA | 3-5 nights |
| Brachioplasty (upper arm reduction) | £8,500-£14,000 | 2-3 h GA | Day case or overnight |
| Medial thigh lift | £9,500-£16,000 | 3-4 h GA | 1-2 nights |
| Augmentation-mastopexy (Aug-Pexy) | £12,500-£22,000 | 3-4 h GA | 1 night |
| Total body lift package (staged, 2-4 operations) | £45,000-£85,000 | Over 12-24 months | Staged |
The NHS may fund an apronectomy for functional pannus (intertrigo, chronic infection or functional limitation) via secondary care BMI criteria. Belt lipectomy, brachioplasty, thigh lift and breast reshaping after weight loss are almost always private-pay.
The journey
From first photo to your final stage.
One team from planning to the last revision - including nutritional optimisation, VTE prophylaxis and staging the next operation.
- 01
Before
You send us your history and photographs
Weight-loss method (bariatric or GLP-1), lowest and current weight, medical history and photographs of the areas that bother you most.
- 02
Before
We propose a staged plan
A recommendation across one or several surgeons: which region first, single-stage versus staged, indicative price for each stage and honest expectations for scars.
- 03
Before
Pre-assessment and optimisation
Bloods for B12, vitamin D, iron, ferritin, albumin and HbA1c. Smoking cessation for six weeks. VTE risk scoring and, where relevant, bariatric-surgeon liaison.
- 04
On the day
Admission and marking
Standing skin marking with the surgeon, consent revisited, TED stockings, intermittent compression and prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin.
- 05
On the day
The operation
General anaesthetic. Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty 4 to 6 hours; belt lipectomy 5 to 8 hours; brachioplasty 2 to 3 hours. Drains sited before closure.
- 06
On the day
Ward and early mobilisation
One to five nights depending on the operation. Early sitting and walking on day one to protect against DVT and PE.
- 07
After
Recovery and the next stage
Compression garments for four to eight weeks. Drains out at 5 to 14 days. Wound review at 1, 6 and 12 weeks. The next stage is planned at 3 to 6 months.
When it helps
The regions we see most after major weight loss.
The eight concerns that bring most patients to a post-weight-loss plastic surgeon - and the honest wait sign that says not yet.
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Abdominal apron (pannus)
A hanging skin apron below the umbilicus, often with intertrigo, back pain or difficulty with hygiene. The commonest first-stage operation.
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Upper arm loose skin (bat wings)
Circumferential redundancy from axilla to elbow that no exercise reaches. Managed by brachioplasty, usually with a medial or T scar.
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Thigh loose skin (inner and lateral)
Medial thigh chafing and lateral saddlebags after major weight loss. Addressed by a medial thigh lift, sometimes with a vertical extension.
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Breast ptosis and deflation
Deflated, drooping breasts. Options are mastopexy alone, implant augmentation, or a combined augmentation-mastopexy (Aug-Pexy).
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Buttock deflation and laxity
Flat, sagging buttocks after major weight loss. A belt lipectomy lifts the upper buttock; a de-epithelialised flap can auto-augment volume.
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Mons pubis excess
A heavy, low-hanging mons pubis is common after bariatric loss. A mons reduction or lift is often added to abdominoplasty.
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Back rolls and neck redundancy
Upper back rolls are addressed by an upper body lift; neck laxity by a lower face and neck lift if bothersome.
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Red flag: weight still changing
Weight loss under 12 months old, active regain or a BMI still above 35 usually mean waiting. Operating too early wastes the result.
Procedure options
The operations we sequence, and how they fit together.
Most plans combine two to four of these across 12 to 24 months. A single-stage total body lift is offered only to carefully selected patients.
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Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty
A T-shaped scar addresses upper and lower abdomen skin at once, plicates the rectus and relocates the umbilicus. More extensive than a mini or standard abdominoplasty.
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Belt lipectomy (lower body lift)
A 360-degree resection lifting abdomen, flanks, back and upper buttock in one operation. The workhorse for massive weight loss.
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Upper body lift
A bra-line back excision combined with brachioplasty extended into the axilla. Best for patients with prominent upper back rolls and arm redundancy together.
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Medial thigh lift
A groin-crease incision, with or without a vertical extension down the inner thigh, to remove skin from ankle-to-groin dog-ears.
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Brachioplasty
A medial or T-shaped scar from axilla to elbow. Compression sleeves for 4 to 6 weeks. Day case or one night for most patients.
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Breast reshaping (Aug-Pexy)
Mastopexy uplift, implant augmentation to restore volume, or a combined Aug-Pexy in one anaesthetic.
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Mons pubis reduction
Direct excision or lift of the mons, often added to abdominoplasty to avoid a heavy pubic bulge above a fresh scar.
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Buttock auto-augmentation
A de-epithelialised skin flap from the discarded belt-lipectomy tissue is turned in as an autologous buttock implant. Avoids a separate implant.
Our London network
A small panel of post-weight-loss plastic surgeons, we picked them.
Consultants who operate at Cadogan Clinic, London Bridge Cosmetic Surgery, HCA The Wellington, King Edward VII's and Cromwell BUPA. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
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BAAPS or BAPRAS plastic surgeons with high post-weight-loss body-contouring volumes
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CQC-registered hospitals with HDU cover and formal VTE prophylaxis pathways
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Bariatric-surgeon and dietitian input available for post-bariatric patients
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Realistic staged planning, not single-stage marketing
Safety and recovery
What to plan for - honestly.
These are major operations. Satisfaction runs 75 to 90% and the quality-of-life gains are real, but VTE, wound issues and revision are the honest trade.
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Stable weight for 12 months first
We wait for stable weight, ideally with a BMI under 30. Operating too early or during ongoing GLP-1 loss usually compromises the result.
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Nutritional adequacy - checked
B12, vitamin D, iron, ferritin, albumin and HbA1c. Post-bariatric patients are commonly deficient and heal poorly without correction.
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Smoking cessation - six weeks
Non-negotiable. Smoking within six weeks of body-contouring surgery causes wound breakdown, T-junction necrosis and nipple loss.
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DVT and PE - high risk
Post-weight-loss body contouring is one of the highest-risk elective operations for VTE. Prophylactic heparin, TED stockings, IPC and early mobilisation are mandatory.
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Wound problems, especially at T-junctions
The T-junction, hip and knee are the commonest breakdown sites. Small breakdowns are managed with dressings; larger ones may need revision.
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Seroma is common
Fluid collections under long flaps are expected. Drains stay in until output is low; some collections need aspiration in clinic.
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Scars are extensive and permanent
Scars are carefully placed under underwear or bra lines, but they are long and permanent. Silicone gel and sun protection for 12 months help them mature.
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Revisions are common
Dog-ear revisions, scar revisions or asymmetry corrections are needed in 15 to 30% of cases. Usually minor and often planned from the outset.
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Weight regain will compromise the result
Significant regain stretches skin over new scars. A stable weight plan (with your bariatric or GLP-1 team) is part of the deal.
Your surgical plan
Your plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Every plan we send you keeps to the same shape, whichever surgeon and hospital we recommend.
- 01 Header
Weight-loss method, stable weight and BMI
Bariatric procedure or GLP-1 agonist, lowest and current weight, months at stable weight and current BMI.
- 02 Assessment
Nutritional bloods and medical fitness
B12, vitamin D, iron, ferritin, albumin, HbA1c and any correction needed before surgery.
- 03 Plan
Staged operation plan
Which region first, which operations at each stage, expected timing between stages and indicative price for each.
- 04 Consent
Scars, revision rate and VTE risk
Read this first: extensive permanent scars, 15 to 30% revision rate, and the VTE prophylaxis plan you will follow.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Insurers rarely fund body contouring after weight loss (an apronectomy for functional pannus is the usual exception). Most patients self-pay.
Ready to plan your stages?
Send us your photographs and a short history.
One working day for a staged plan, indicative prices per stage, and a short-list of two or three BAAPS or BAPRAS plastic surgeons who fit your case.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about body contouring after weight loss.
Quick answers on readiness, staging, cost, insurance, scars and risk.
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Am I ready for body-contouring surgery yet?
The usual thresholds are a stable weight for at least 12 months, ideally a BMI under 30, adequate nutrition (B12, vitamin D, iron and protein), six weeks smoke-free and general medical fitness. If you had bariatric surgery, we like your bariatric team involved. Operating too early or during ongoing GLP-1 weight loss usually compromises the result.
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How many operations will I need?
Most patients need two to four separate operations over 12 to 24 months, with the most bothersome area first (often the abdomen). A single-stage total body lift is possible in fit patients but complication rates climb sharply, so we default to staging unless there is a good reason not to.
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How much does post-weight-loss body contouring cost privately in the UK?
Roughly £14,000 to £22,000 for a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, £22,000 to £38,000 for a belt lipectomy, £8,500 to £14,000 for a brachioplasty and £9,500 to £16,000 for a medial thigh lift. A staged total body lift package runs £45,000 to £85,000 over 12 to 24 months. We confirm a firm quote within one working day.
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Will the NHS pay for any of this?
The NHS may fund an apronectomy (functional pannus removal) via secondary care BMI criteria where there is intertrigo, functional limitation or chronic infection. Most other body contouring, including belt lipectomy, brachioplasty and breast reshaping, is private-pay.
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How bad are the scars?
Extensive and permanent. A fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty leaves a hip-to-hip and vertical midline scar; a belt lipectomy adds a scar around the whole waist; brachioplasty leaves a medial arm scar from axilla to elbow. Scars are placed under clothing lines, mature over 12 to 18 months, and are the honest trade for the shape change.
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What are the biggest risks I should plan for?
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are the most serious - mandatory heparin, stockings, calf pumps and early mobilisation are standard. Wound breakdown, particularly at T-junctions, hips and knees, seroma requiring drainage, delayed healing (worse if nutritionally deficient), altered sensation and hypertrophic scarring are common. Revision surgery is needed in 15 to 30% of cases.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Mini tummy tuck
Lower-abdomen skin only, for smaller redundancy without weight-loss history.
Learn more -
Breast uplift (mastopexy)
Uplift for ptosis, alone or combined with an implant.
Learn more -
Breast reduction
Symptomatic macromastia and asymmetry.
Learn more -
VASER Hi-Def abdominal etching
Ultrasound-assisted definition after body contouring or for fit patients.
Learn more -
Renuvion J-Plasma
Subdermal skin tightening for milder laxity.
Learn more -
SADI-S bariatric surgery
A single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass for severe obesity.
Learn more