Lower Body Lift After Massive Weight Loss

When people talk about a body lift, they normally are referring to a lower body lift where a surgeon cuts around the lower body. The surgeon begins by cutting in the front like a tummy tuck and continues completely around so he can lift everything up on the sides. A lower body lift combines a tummy tuck with a lateral thigh lift to lift the sides of the thighs as well as the buttocks. This is in contrast to an upper body lift where the arms are lifted as well as the breast.

For the most part, people getting a lower body lift have lost a lot of weight. The large weight loss can be due to a gastric bypass as well as a serious diet where massive weight was lost. The extra skin hangs since all the fat is gone so many people decide to have a lower body lift.

WHAT IS IN A NAME?

Although commonly compared to liposuction, the name “lower body lift” actually encompasses everything without being too specific because the procedure tries to do a little bit of everything. The procedure lifts the whole lower body by going around in a circumferential manner as well as surrounding areas that are sagging. By encompassing so many things it is essential that the doctor performing the procedure is certain he is addressing the concerns of the patient.

LOWER BODY LIFT COMBINED WITH INNER THIGH PROCEDURE

The lower body lift takes care of the stomach as well as the outer thighs. However, it does not address the inner thighs so that will requires a separate operation if needed.

The two operations can be combined but combining them involves a lot of incisions crossing each other. Not many people combine a lower body lift with an inner thigh procedure because of the risks involved.

MOMMY MAKEOVER 

There is currently a lower body lift for women who have had children that is known as a “mommy makeover”. A mommy makeover is a lower body lift combined with a breast lift performed on a woman who had children. It is an extensive operation with a long recovery time that is generally reserved for patients who have lost a lot of weight.

LOWER BODY LIFT COMPLICATIONS 

Delayed healing - A lower body lift is a big surgery with a long incision. A patient can expect some issues with healing in some portions of the wound.

Bleeding - The biggest worry with a tummy tuck is blood clots. It is a rare complication from the surgery but it is a rather serious complication.

POST-OP TIMELINE 

A lower body lift operation takes 4-6 hours. After the operation, the patient stays in the hospital one night and goes home the next day with drains in. The patient has to stay at home for at least three weeks and will also require some assistance from family members.

After the surgery, patients need to follow some instructions in order to prevent any complications. They need to walk frequently, utilize blood thinners, wear special stockings, and also squeeze their legs as much as possible to help prevent any issues.

RECOVERY TIME 

The amount of recovery time necessary before a person can go back to work is usually about a month. The amount of recovery time to get to the point where the results look the way the patient imagines is nine months to a year. It takes that long for the swelling to go down and also for the scar to mature.

WEIGHT FLUCTUATIONS

Weight fluctuations after a lower body lift can affect the results. A person gaining 5 or 10 pounds after the surgery will not be affected. If a patient loses 30 or 40 pounds after the surgery it is going to make the results sag. A patient needs to maintain a stable weight following the surgery.

FINAL THOUGHTS 

A lower body lift is a great option for the right patient. It is important to have the surgery handled by a doctor who performs them on a regular basis. It takes a lot of judgment and skill on the part of the physician to make sure a lower body lift is the best choice for a patient.

Written By Cosmetic Town Editorial Team - MA

Based on an exclusive interview with Dr. Mark Broudo in Hollywood, FL