Lower Body Lift

Definition

The Lower Body Lift is to the abdomen (tummy), hips/thighs and buttocks what a face lift is to the face. It addresses the slack and laxity in the trunk (abdomen/back) and lower half of the body. The operation removes excess skin and fat tissues in an effort to lift and tighten loose, sagging tissues. It does so by removing skin and underlying fat circumferentially through an incision which is designed to end up being concealable by a bathing suit or underwear,similar to the tummy tuck scar but circumferential. The more of the loose skin is removed, the tighter and better the result. This operation does not replace liposuction and often is done in conjunction with it. Liposucton is a method to reduce contours when reasonable skin elasticity is present. But when significant sagging is present, then the excess skin must be removed surgically just like it is done in a facelift, breast lift or tummy tuck. Removing the slack skin (and underlying fat) has a rejuvenating effect as opposed to liposuction where only body contour is improvable.

Indications

The operation is designed for patients with significant skin laxity throughout the trunk (abdomen/back) and the hip, thigh and buttock areas. This skin laxity may be the inevitable result of aging alone or multiple pregnancies or significant weight fluctuations or a combination. Many otential patients have already undergone a liposuction procedure or need liposuction in addition to the body lift, either as separate or combined procedures. Despite most people's best efforts, by age 50 or 60, significant skin laxity has developed throughout the body, just as it has in the face. Liposuction alone in these cases would solve as little in the lower body as it would solve in the face. Patients who have already have undergone a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) have already experienced one half of a body lift - the half up front. The LBL completes the tightening on the sides and the back.

Procedure

This is a hospital procedure. After extensive, detailed markings the day before surgery, the patient presents to the hospital on the day of surgery. Surgery is performed with the patient asleep under full anesthesia administered by a board certified anesthesiologist. Surgery proceeds in three stages. The first two stages, with the patient lying on the side, remove the excess skin and fat tissues from the buttock and hip/thigh areas. The third stage is akin to a normal tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and removes the excess skin and fat in the tummy area, along with tightening of the abdominal muscles (unless an abdominoplasty was previously performed).

Recovery

A two to three night stay in the hospital is usual. On the first, or latest, the second day after surgery, the patient is assisted from bed and allowed to ambulate with assistance. The patient returns home when comfortable and confident, usually three or four days after surgery. An acute rest period of two weeks should be anticipated following which light normal daily actitivities are allowed. More vigorous activities including exercise must be delayed for about six weeks.

Risks

The Lower Body Lift is a significant operation with a significant improvement potential. It must be taken seriously by both the patient and the plastic surgeon. Organized attention to detail is important. In trained hands, the incidence of complications is small. Complications include fluid collections (seroma), dehiscence with delayed wound healing, skin loss, unfavorable or widened or asymmetric scars, numbness or changes in skin sensation. Other risks, common to most surgeries, include bleeding (hematoma), infection, blood clots to the lungs or other tissues and pneumonia.