A lower body lift (also known as belt lipectomy) can help make your belly, and buttocks look smoother and more toned by removing loose skin. If you’ve lost significant weight and aren’t seeing improvement with exercise, and diet, you may have significantly loose skin that is no longer elastic and this procedure may be right for you.

What exactly is a lower body lift?

A lower body lift is a surgery that removes excess skin and fat from the waist area above the buttocks, which is commonly known as the love handles or flank area. This lower body lift surgery is typically done on patients who have lost weight significantly. The lower body lift has a profound affect on lifting the outer thigh, buttock region and eliminating any excess love handles area, skin and fat. 

In addition, an area of your lower back can be used, as in what’s called an auto augmentation flap in order to give more projection to your buttocks. Other techniques can further enhance the appearance of your buttocks, and these include fat transfer.

Explanation

When a person loses a lot of weight, their skin may not have the elasticity to shrink back to their new body shape, leaving them with excess skin and fat around their waist and buttocks. This can lead to discomfort, chafing, and difficulty finding clothes that fit properly.

The lower body lift procedure aims to remove this excess skin and fat, resulting in a smoother, more toned appearance. 

Who can have it, OR who is the candidate for a lower body lift?

You can be a candidate if

• You have loose skin along your waistline and buttocks.
• You have noticed the bulge in the outer thigh, or you have noticed the drop in your outer thigh when you pull up on your outer thigh; that bulge or that drop is corrected.
• You have maintained a healthy weight, are stable, and don’t plan on losing or gaining more.
• You can accept the appearance of surgical scars on your waist and lower back.
• You don’t have any medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes, that can complicate your recovery.
• You aren’t a smoker.

Lower body lift procedure

During the surgery, Dr Rory makes an incision along the waistline above the buttocks, extending around the sides of the body towards the front. Then, he removes the excess skin and fat and repositions the skin to create a more contoured shape. In addition, a flap of your own skin and fat can be created from your lower back and utilised to give projections into your buttocks.

Once the procedure is done, the incisions are closed, and splashproof tapes are applied to it. The lower body lift is supposed to give a slimmer and proportionate lower body to the upper body.

 If the lower body lift is combined with liposuction and/or an abdominoplasty, it is referred to as a 360° body lift.

What about the scars of a lower body lift?

During the procedure, lower body lift scar is created along the top of the buttocks, which meets in the middle and often extends over the hips. This scar not only reduces the excess skin and fat but also effectively lifts the buttocks.

Also, the lower body lift scars are hidden underclothes and do not cause much aesthetic concern due to their appearance. It looks like seagle or G-string line.

What is the difference between a lower body lift and a tummy tuck?

A lower body lift and tummy tuck procedures are similar in ways like both involve the removal of excess, hanging skin and tightening of abdominal muscles to improve the appearance of the midsection. Often an abdominoplasty is required as well as a lower body lift. In Dr Rory’s practice, these surgeries are always staged, so the abdominoplasty is typically done first in order to maximise the amount of removal of the excess skin and fat from the front of the body and then typically 3-4 months later, depending on the recovery the lower body lift is performed in order that the excess skin is removed from the back. Therefore in the final result, you have a very contoured, sleek midline and midriff silhouette.

However, the key difference between the two procedures is a tummy tuck primarily focuses on the front abdominal area, while a lower body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy, involves a larger, wrap-around incision that addresses both the lower abdominal area and the buttocks, resulting in a 360-degree tightening effect.

Other procedures that can be combined with a lower body lift

A lower body lift may be combined with other surgical procedures to enhance the overall aesthetic results. Common procedures that can be combined with a lower body lift include liposuction, which can help to further contour and shape the treated areas, and abdominoplasty, which focuses on tightening the abdominal muscles and removing excess skin in the front of the midsection. In addition, in order to further maximise the projectional shape of the buttock, liposuction in other areas of fat transfer to the buttocks can be performed at the same time in different sittings.

Additionally, some patients may choose to undergo breast augmentation, breast lift, or arm lift surgeries in conjunction with a lower body lift to achieve a more comprehensive body transformation. The combination of these procedures is often referred to as a 360-degree body lift, and can result in a more dramatic overall transformation.

Consult the expert for lower body lift 

A lower body lift is a comprehensive procedure that can produce more dramatic results by addressing both the front and back of the midsection. Hence, It is important to consult with a qualified surgeon to determine which combination of procedures is best suited to your specific needs and goals.

Dr Rory McGoldrick is a highly experienced plastic surgeon in Dubai, and his patient satisfaction stories are testimonials of his success in the field of plastic surgery for cosmetic procedures like lower body lift treatment and many more.

So, are you still wondering whom to consult for a lower body lift? Book an appointment and witness the transformation of your lower body with a lower body lift.