Summary
The lower body lift is a surgical procedure that tightens loose, sagging skin in the buttocks, posterior thighs, hips, outer thighs, and anterior thighs. It utilizes incisions that pass from the back around the hips to the front of the thighs. The loose skin, as well as underlying fat tissue, is removed from below the incision to allow suspension of the remaining tissues to stretch and smooth the lower body, especially the buttocks and thighs. The surgery begins in the back and requires repositioning during the operation to address the hips and outer thighs and front of the thighs. It can be combined with an abdominal skin tightening if needed. If a previous tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) has been performed or is not required, the lower body lift can be extended to tighten the inner thighs. The incisions are designed to be hidden by clothing and sportswear or to lie in usually occurring anatomic folds
The lower body lifts surgical procedure tightens loose, sagging skin in the buttocks, posterior thighs, hips, outer thighs, and anterior thighs. It utilizes incisions that pass from the back around the hips to the front of the thighs. The loose skin and underlying fat tissue are removed from below the incision to allow suspension of the remaining tissues to stretch and smooth the lower body, especially the buttocks and thighs. The surgery begins in the back and requires repositioning during the operation to address the hips and outer thighs and front of the thighs. It can be combined with an abdominal skin tightening if needed. If a previous tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) has been performed or is not required, I can extend the lower body lift to tighten the inner thighs.
The incisions are designed to be hidden by clothing and sportswear or to lie in usually occurring anatomic folds. Layered suture techniques are used to close the incision area carefully to maintain the lift, tighten, and smooth the remaining skin. Swelling is controlled by compression garments and drains, sterile collection tubes used to evacuate excess fluid. Weekly follow-up visits help achieve an optimal outcome by allowing adjustments based on visible progress, which varies among patients. Total healing of the circumferential incisions may take four weeks or even longer.
Am I the Right Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery? Lower Body Lift?
Patients who benefit from lower body lift surgery have; loose skin in their buttocks and back of their thighs, loose skin in their hips and side of their thighs, loose skin in the front of their thighs, loose abdominal skin or in their inner thighs, relatively thin layers of fat below the skin of these areas, acceptance of the thin scars around the waist, and patients who have had massive weight loss. Each patient’s anatomy and proportions of loose skin vary from individual to individual. The decision to utilize lower body lifting techniques depends upon your goals and expectations and an examination by your surgeon. This will help determine whether the lower body lift will achieve a satisfactory outcome for you.
Weight Loss Surgery. Lower Body Lift Techniques
All lower body lift techniques tighten the buttocks/back of the thighs and hips/outer thighs. Loose sagging skin below the incision is removed. The remaining skin in the buttock and thighs is pulled upwards, and the skin is repaired, suspending the tissues and tightening them. This requires positioning the patient on their tummy or side during the procedure. Incision closure is performed in multiple layers over drains to control stretching and swelling. Once the back and sides of the patient have been addressed, the front of the patient is treated with the patient positioned on their back. Two options are available. These options should be discussed with you preoperatively and are chosen based on your choice. One option is to combine the lower body lift with abdominal contouring, otherwise known as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). The other option is to combine a lower body lift with an inner thigh lift if the abdomen does not require contouring or if the patient has had the previous abdominoplasty. These techniques utilize the removal of skin, or excision of skin, to tighten loose, sagging tissue. It can include removing the fat layer under the excised skin to lessen fullness and padding in the lower body.
Candidates for body lift surgery all have extra skin which must be removed by excision. This differs from liposuction in that liposuction removes only fat through small quarter-inch incisions but no skin. However, liposuction may be done in conjunction with body lifting techniques to smooth and contour areas separate from the effects of the body lift excisions. Again, a thorough discussion and examination are essential to determining a comprehensive surgical plan.
Weight Loss Surgery Lower Body Lift Types
In one operation, I addressed multiple areas (buttocks, thighs, possibly abdomen). Tightening extends lower in the back, side, and front of thighs than other circumferential excisional procedures.
I can combine it with breast surgery or arm contouring procedures
I can combine it with liposuction in selected areas
Other Considerations of Weight Loss Surgery. Lower Body Lift
Since the operation achieves tightening of the lower body by excising loose tissue (skin and fat), the lower body lift should be performed when the patient is as close to their desired or ideal body weight as possible. If, for example, the patient has tightening of their lower body and then loses weight, the tightened skin will loosen and become saggy. Conversely, postoperative weight gain will either stretch the skin which has been tightened or undo the improvements of the body lift. Because the lower body is lifted and suspended to the skin closure, excessive heaviness in the thighs and buttocks may prevent a long-lasting effect at the time of surgery. In such cases, further weight loss may be recommended before performing body lifting procedures. If this is not feasible, liposuction may be an option to thin the thighs and buttocks before attempting excisional body lifting.
Weight Loss Surgery. Lower Body Lift Risks
Seromas (collections of fluid below the skin) may require drains.
Delayed healing from slight separations in the incision closure in areas of high tension and stretch
Numbness in areas adjacent to the incision
Slight asymmetries may occur despite efforts to balance skin and fat removal.
Bleeding may lead to bruising, but it is scarce require transfusions
Blood clots to the lung (pulmonary emboli) are rare. Sequential compression devices (SCD’s) on the calves during surgery has significantly lessened the incidence in body contouring procedures
Surgical operating time and duration may last six hours or more for the body lift. Measures are taken to warm the patient carefully during surgery. Medical conditions are addressed preoperatively to ensure the patient’s safety for such durations.
Weight Loss Surgery. Lower Body Lift Recovery
Surgical drains are placed to remove fluid that accumulates within the incisions. The amount of fluid is measured by the patient daily. Once the output falls low, enough arrangements are made to remove the drain in an office outpatient setting. Drains typically remain in place for two to three weeks but may be left longer. Sutures in the incision closure may require removal. This typically occurs around two weeks after surgery, and this, too, is done in an office as an outpatient treatment. I may place compression garments on the patient to control swelling, support the suspended tissues, and smooth and flatten the skin. Placement can occur at the time of surgery or later, at the surgeon’s discretion. Activity is determined by the progress of the healing of the incision. Patients are encouraged to walk the day after surgery. Once the drains are removed, movement is more comfortable. As a patient, you would be admitted to the hospital after surgery. You may stay a couple of days to learn about their drains and feel comfortable walking and moving. Once satisfied with oral pain medications, you will be discharged. Usually, resumption of normal activities can occur four to six weeks after surgery.
