About This Treatment
Losing a large amount of weight through exercise and diet or bariatric (weight loss) surgery is an accomplishment, but it may come with unwanted side effects. After a substantial weight loss, leftover, loose skin may look unattractive and make it hard to find clothes that fit well. For some, it even causes physical discomfort and health problems.
Franciscan Health plastic surgeons perform lower body lift procedures to remove loose skin and improve your comfort and appearance.
What is a lower body lift?
Lower body lift, or belt lipectomy, removes fat and excess, sagging skin. It smooths the tissues under the skin to remove dimples (cellulite) and give you sleeker body contours.
The plastic surgeons in the Franciscan Health network are skilled and experienced in performing lower body lift surgery on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen (belly), waist and hips to restore an appearance you feel good about. In some cases, our team combines belt lipectomy with other procedures.
About the lower body lift procedure
A lower body lift is usually an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. You'll have general anesthesia (be asleep for the surgery).
The specific details of the procedure depend on your unique needs and goals. In general, your procedure may include:
- Liposuction: Your surgeon may perform liposuction along with a lower body lift. Liposuction can remove stubborn fat deposits that are resistant to weight loss efforts. By using liposuction, your surgeon may be able to deliver smoother contours in your lower body.
- Thigh lift: For a thigh lift, your surgeon makes an incision in the inner thigh to get rid of loose skin and pull the remaining skin tight.
- Bikini line incision: To remove skin and fat in the buttocks, waist, hips and thighs, your surgeon makes an incision in a pattern similar to a bikini line. The surgeon repositions the underlying tissues and pulls the skin tight before closing the incisions with sutures or stitches.
- Tummy tuck: A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen, and in most cases restores weakened or separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) that can result from pregnancy.
- Panniculectomy: A panniculectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the "pannus" or excess hanging skin and fat of the lower abdomen, often created with massive weight loss. Unlike the "tummy tuck," a panniculectomy does not tighten the abdominal muscles.
- Sutures and compression: Your surgeon will dress the treatment area with bandages. A compression garment on top will support the tissues as they heal.
Recovery from lower body lift surgery
After surgery, you should expect to take one to two weeks off from work and your regular routine. During this time, you'll have some swelling and bruising in the area of your surgery. Tenderness and soreness are normal, too. Your doctor will prescribe medications to relieve the pain.
During the first couple of weeks, you'll need to avoid strenuous activities, including exercise, bending and lifting heavy objects. You will have some scars, although your surgeon will do their best to conceal the scars in natural skin creases or where clothing will hide them. Over time, the scars will fade.
Once the swelling has gone away and you've fully healed, you will notice a smaller figure and more attractive contours.
Who is a candidate for a lower body lift?
Lower body lift is ideal for people who have excess, loose skin due to:
- Substantial weight loss (100 pounds or more) through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery
- Genetics
- Natural aging process
This overhanging, loose skin may cause frequent chafing, rashes or infections where it appears on your:
- Hips
- Thighs (front, inner and outer)
- Abdomen
- Lower back
To qualify for surgery, you should be close to your ideal weight, in good overall health and a nonsmoker. Before surgery, your plastic surgeon will discuss the details of the procedure in detail. You’ll need to understand the risks and possible complications and have realistic expectations of the outcome.
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