Lower Body Lift

People who are in relatively good shape but have loose lower body skin may be ideal candidates for lower body lift surgery. This procedure, very similar to that of a tummy tuck, lifts and tightens the skin of the thighs and buttocks. Lower body lifts remove excess tissue from the lateral hip and inner thigh, addressing sagging skin resulting from aging, pregnancy, or extreme weight fluctuations. A lower body lift does not replace liposuction, although the two procedures may be performed in combination. Lower body lifts have a rejuvenating effect by reversing the sagging associated with aging, whereas liposuction merely re-contours the body through the removal of fat.

A lower body lift is a hospital procedure, usually requiring a stay of at least two days following the surgery. In preparation for the lower body lift, the surgeon will make extensive markings on the patient's body, indicating where the incisions will be made. The surgery is performed under general anesthetic, with the patient fully unconscious for the duration of the lower body lift procedure. There are three specific stages in which the surgeon conducts a lower body lift. In the first two stages, the patient is lying on the side, and excess skin and fat tissues are removed from the buttock and hip/thigh areas. The final stage is similar to the normal tummy tuck and removes excess skin and fat in the abdominal area, tightening abdominal muscles. The incisions used in lower body lifts are designed to be hidden by the swimsuit or underwear, and usually run circumferentially around the upper thigh.

Following the completion of the lower body lift, drains are placed in the incisions to prevent fluid collection. Dressings are applied, and in some cases, a girdle-like pressure garment. Patients undergoing a lower body lift must often remain in the hospital for one night, and occasionally two, for careful monitoring. The risks associated with a lower body lift include seroma (fluid collection), dehiscence with delayed wound healing, skin loss, unfavorable scarring, numbness, and changes in skin sensation. Like other surgeries, lower body lifts may result in bleeding, infection, blood clots and pneumonia.

A lower body lift is a significant operation with the potential for significant improvements. Patients who have done the work to lose a large amount of weight often find that a lower body lift completes the process-allowing them to fully enjoy the results of their hard work to reshape their bodies. Lower body lifts, however, are not for everyone.