The lower body lift surgical procedure tightens loose, sagging skin in the buttocks, posterior thighs, hips, outer thighs, and anterior thighs. It utilizes incisions which 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 surgery 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 needed, 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 normally occurring anatomic folds. Swelling, which is commonly seen after body lift surgery, is controlled by compression garments and the use of drains. Frequent follow up visits help to achieve an optimal outcome by allowing adjustments based on visible progress which varies among patients. Full healing of the circumferential incisions may take four weeks or even longer.

Patients who benefit from lower body lift surgery have loose skin in their buttocks and back of their thighs or hips or loose abdominal skin. Relatively thin layers of fat below the skin of these areas and acceptance of the thin scars around the waist. Patients who have had massive weight loss are also great candidates.

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 as well as an examination by your Dr. Guiloff. This will help determine whether the lower body lift will achieve a satisfactory outcome for you. Contact Dr. Guiloff today for your free consultation.

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.

The lower body lift can be combined with abdominal contouring, otherwise known as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). The other option is to combine lower body lift with an inner thigh lift, if the abdomen does not require contouring, or if the patient has had previous abdominoplasty.

These techniques utilize the removal of skin, or excision of skin, to tighten loose, sagging tissue. It can include the removal of 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 with Dr. Guiloff are essential to determining a comprehensive surgical plan.

Lower Body Lift Benefits/Advantages/Options: 

  • Multiple areas (buttocks, thighs, possibly abdomen) addressed in one single operation
  • Tightening extends lower in the back, side and front of thighs than other circumferential excisional procedures
  • Can be combined with breast surgery or arm contouring procedures
  • Can be combined with liposuction in selected areas

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, post operative 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 at the time of surgery may prevent a long lasting effect. 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.

Usually resumption of normal activities can occur three to five weeks after surgery. Contact Dr. Guiloff today for your free consultation to determine the best course of action right for you.

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Please take a moment to look at some before & after pictures of this procedure and many other popular ones in the before & after gallery. To view the before (on the left) and the after (on the right).

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