Are You a Good Candidate for a Lower Body Lift?

Many people think that as soon as you lose weight, the hard part is done. Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily the case. If you have lost a dramatic amount of weight, particularly as a result of bariatric surgery, you may be left with excess loose skin in various parts of your body. It can be frustrating to have put in all the work to lose weight, yet not quite feel that you are ready to show off the results of your efforts.

Our surgeons at Jefferson Plastic Surgery have answered questions from many patients in similar situations who are curious as to what can be done to help them remove excess skin and tighten up loose muscles following dramatic weight loss. In such cases, our surgeons may recommend a lower body lift. Below, we outline the conditions that a lower body lift can improve, as well as who is a good candidate for this procedure.

What Conditions Can a Lower Body Lift Improve?

A lower body lift can reduce excess sagging skin in the abdominal, buttocks, and hip regions.  It can also reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve the contour of the buttocks and hips. In some cases, excess fat can also be removed. This procedure is usually done following either dramatic weight loss or following pregnancy.

Lower Body Lift Procedure

For a lower body lift, our surgeons use a technique called a belt lipectomy. This technique combines several separate body lift procedures for the abdomen, hips, and buttocks into one surgery. Our surgeons make an incision that goes around the circumference of the body at approximately the outline of underwear briefs. The surgeon will then gently lift up the skin and underlying tissue, tighten loose muscle structures, re-drape the tissue and skin to fit the new body contours, and then remove the excess before suturing everything back into place.

Who Are Good Candidates for a Lower Body Lift Procedure?

You should have reached a stable goal weight for approximately a year. This goal weight should be proportionate to your weight and height. If your weight is still fluctuating, it can lead to less than optimal results from a body lift procedure. This is also why we suggest that women wait until they are done having children before undergoing this procedure.

You should also be committed to a wellness lifestyle, which includes a regular exercise routine and a sensible, balanced, low-fat diet, as well as not smoking and only consuming small amounts of alcohol. Finally, you should be relatively healthy, without chronic diseases, such as diabetes or asthma, as these may delay the recovery process or lead to poor wound healing.

Once you have finally lost all the weight, you will be eager to let your friends and family see the “new you.” A body lift procedure may help you show off your results the best way possible. Our surgeons can tell you if you are a good candidate for this procedure. Contact our practice today.