Body: Lower Body Lift

This operation was originally described 10 years ago to address the excess skin of the abdomen, thighs and buttock which could not be addressed by the traditional belt lipectomy. Liposuction can be combined with this operation in the thighs and flanks to yield optimal contours. The procedure was designed for moderate weight loss and lax skin. With the recent success of weight loss surgery and the new population of patients loosing 100 lbs or more the operation has been modified and improved. The results are outstanding.

There are 3 variations of this operation which must be applied properly to yield the optimal aesthetic result for the individual.

Belt lipectomy, described 40 years ago, is a procedure which addresses the abdominal, flank and buttock contour but does not dramatically improve the appearance of the legs. This is a great operation for the individual who has placed all the weight in their midsection and the legs have been spared.

A lower body lift does what the name implies it lifts the lateral (outer) thighs and buttock in addition to removing the excess skin. This operation is necessary for anyone with lax skin and retained fat in the lateral thigh.

A variation of the lower body lift exists for the individual who has already had an abdominoplasty. This procedure addresses the medial (inner) thigh, the lateral thigh and buttock in one operation. This can be done as no work need be done on the abdomen. The other operations may require a medial thigh lift as a second operation if the skin of that area is lax.

The operation generally takes between 6 and 8 hours. It requires an overnight stay in the surgery center and I also recommend a second day of care with a registered nurse. Although the incision is circumferential the pain is usually in the mid abdomen where the muscle work is done, just like in an abdominoplasty. Most patients are off the pain medication by 5-7 days and may return to work by 7-10 days. A garment is usually worn for 4 weeks following the operation.