The dual All Australian, who signed a two-year deal with the Hawks on Monday after being traded by the Western Bulldogs, will turn 31 before the start of next season.
After an injury-interrupted 2011 in which he managed only five games, Lake returned to health and form this year, playing 20 matches.
He is confident he can make an impact at his new club beyond the term of his contract.
"I had a bad year a couple of years ago with three surgeries in the one year, and from there wasn't able to get back to anywhere near my form, and I had a little bit of extra surgery before last pre-season," Lake said in his first appearance as a Hawthorn player on Tuesday afternoon.
"Now I’m looking forward to a full pre-season, which I haven't had in a couple of years.
"I'm very confident in my body.
"You could say that year off freshened the rest of my body, and my mind as well.
"I've got a contract for the next two years, but I can see myself playing for a lot longer than that."
The 194cm big man said his change of clubs was fuelled by a desire to taste the ultimate success, admitting reports he would play for less at the Hawks were correct.
"I went to the Grand Final this year, and the atmosphere and the build-up to the game, you just want to be part of it," he said.
"I'm not confirming numbers, but things have changed with the change of clubs."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said the acquisition of Lake would provide much-needed support for existing key defenders Ryan Schoenmakers and Josh Gibson.
"We think our opportunity [to win a premiership] is in the next three to four years, and we're hoping Brian can really help us in that regard," Clarkson said.
"Ryan and Josh have had to play above their weight and height a lot in defence.
"We've got by in a lot of the games, and they've done a magnificent job for us, but we just need a bigger, stronger brute that can handle some of those big lads."
Clarkson also revealed Hawthorn had Lake in its sights long before this year.
"We made queries over the last two to three trade periods, to be fair, but the timing just wasn't quite right at that particular time," he said.
"But it was on this particular occasion."
