Surgical specialty

Body surgery.

Body surgery is not a weight-loss method, and that is the starting point of every conversation at The Gioi Dep. It is a contouring discipline applied to skin, fat, and muscle — most effective in patients who have already reached a stable weight but still have contour or laxity concerns that lifestyle alone cannot resolve.

Before you book: stable weight, clear goals.

Body surgery delivers its most durable results in patients who have reached and maintained their target weight for at least six months. Significant weight gain after surgery can substantially alter the result; significant weight loss may produce new skin laxity. For this reason, we discuss long-term health planning before any specific procedure.

For patients after bariatric surgery or aggressive lifestyle weight loss, we require pre-operative nutritional evaluation and frequently recommend coordination with a dietitian to ensure adequate healing.

Procedures.

Liposuction (body contouring)

Surgical removal of localized fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. This is not a weight-loss method — liposuction is a contouring technique that is most effective in patients with stable weight and good skin elasticity.

Suitable for

  • Localized fat deposits in the abdomen, flanks, thighs, or medial knees
  • Patients with stable weight and persistent contour concerns
  • Refinement of body proportions, not overall weight reduction

Technique

Tumescent liposuction with energy-assisted techniques (VASER, Power-Assisted Liposuction) when indicated; small incisions in concealed locations; volume removed within established safety limits (typically not exceeding five liters per session).

Anesthesia

General anesthesia or sedation with local anesthesia depending on scope

Inpatient stay

Day case or one-night inpatient

Expected recovery

Compression garment for 4–6 weeks; swelling and bruising 2–4 weeks; final contour settles by 3–6 months

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

Surgical removal of excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen, combined with repair of rectus diastasis — a common condition after multiple pregnancies or significant weight loss. This is the indicated approach when exercise alone cannot address the underlying issue.

Suitable for

  • Lower-abdominal skin laxity after pregnancy or significant weight loss
  • Wide rectus diastasis causing a persistent abdominal protrusion
  • Existing abdominal scars that warrant simultaneous revision

Technique

Transverse lower-abdominal incision (often concealed in the bikini line); skin and fat undermined to the costal margin; plication of the rectus muscle when indicated; excess tissue removed; umbilicus repositioned.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

Inpatient stay

1–2 nights inpatient

Expected recovery

Compression garment 6–8 weeks; avoid lifting and abdominal exercise 8–12 weeks; scar takes 12–18 months to fade

Thighplasty (thigh lift)

Removal of excess skin and fat from the medial or lateral thigh. Most commonly indicated after significant weight loss (post-bariatric or lifestyle-driven).

Suitable for

  • Medial thigh skin laxity after major weight loss
  • Chronic skin friction producing intertrigo or fungal infection
  • Difficulty with mobility or fitting standard clothing

Technique

Inguinal incision (mild laxity) or vertical medial-thigh incision (severe laxity); combined with liposuction when indicated.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

Inpatient stay

1–2 nights inpatient

Expected recovery

Compression garment 6–8 weeks; significant restriction of walking in the first week; scars require time to stabilize

Brachioplasty (arm lift)

Removal of redundant skin from the posterior upper arm — often seen after weight loss or due to skin aging. The incision pattern is planned based on the degree of laxity.

Suitable for

  • Posterior arm skin laxity
  • Patients after major weight loss
  • Concerns not addressed by strength training alone

Technique

Medial-arm longitudinal incision (significant laxity) or concealed axillary incision (mild laxity); excision of redundant skin; liposuction may be combined.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

Inpatient stay

Day case or one-night inpatient

Expected recovery

Arm compression garment for 4–6 weeks; avoid heavy lifting 4–6 weeks; medial-arm scars are visible during the first 12 months

Post-massive-weight-loss surgery

Patients after major weight loss (more than 30 kg, post-bariatric surgery, or substantial lifestyle change) often require coordinated multiple-stage surgery to address skin laxity across several regions. This is a 12–24 month treatment plan.

Suitable for

  • Multi-regional skin laxity following major weight loss
  • Patients whose weight has been stable for at least six months
  • Patients cleared on nutritional and psychological evaluation

Technique

Coordinated plan: abdominoplasty + thighplasty + brachioplasty + mastopexy, typically staged across 2–4 operations 3–6 months apart.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia for each stage

Inpatient stay

Variable per stage

Expected recovery

Prolonged; requires occupational and lifestyle planning

Liposuction: common misconceptions.

Liposuction is not a substitute for diet and exercise. It removes a number of mature fat cells in the treated region, but the remaining adipocytes throughout the body can still enlarge with weight gain. Durable results depend on a stable lifestyle.

Liposuction has clear safety limits. The volume of fat that can be safely removed is bounded. Exceeding this threshold causes significant fluid shifts, electrolyte disturbance, and increased thromboembolic risk. A responsible surgeon stages large-volume cases.

Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity. Patients with elevated BMI are usually advised to lose weight first. Liposuction performed on an obese background carries substantially higher complication rates and less stable results.

Risks to understand in advance.

  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. Risk increases with longer body procedures and inpatient stay. We follow ASA/WHO prophylaxis protocols.
  • Seroma or hematoma. Common after larger body procedures; may require drainage.
  • Scarring. Body surgery typically leaves long scars. They are placed in concealed locations but they exist; 12–18 months are needed for them to stabilize.
  • Minor asymmetry. The two sides of the body do not heal in perfect symmetry. Mild differences are expected.
  • Need for refinement. Some cases benefit from a minor touch-up procedure at 6–12 months.
Book a consultation Safety standards →