If, after your weight loss, you are left with excess skin and tissue that is causing rashes, irritation, discomfort or simply taking away from your hard work, you may be a good candidate for lower body lift surgery.

The best candidate for a lower body lift is healthy, has achieved their desired weight loss and has been stable at that weight for at least several months. Even if you’ve lost weight on your own without gastric bypass surgery, you may be a candidate for a lower body lift.

A lower body lift combines a tummy tuck with a circumferential thigh and buttock lift. By combining procedures, a lower body lift can treat the entire lower body, from the lower thighs to the bottom of the ribs — the biggest problem area following weight loss — all in a single surgery.

In some patients, excess skin and fat are present not only in the abdominal area, but also around the love handles and the back. A lower body lift can remedy this problem, eliminating excess skin and contouring the body as it tightens the tummy and lifts the buttocks and thighs.

Because body contouring following weight loss can require multiple procedures performed at different times, it’s important to discuss your appearance goals with Dr. Kaufman or Dr. Davis. From there, you can work together to develop an individualized treatment plan that can help bring out the best in your slimmer new body.

After your lower body lift, you should notice some initial improvement in your body’s shape. However, your body will need time to heal before you can really assess your results. Recovery from a lower body lift takes about three weeks, with full recuperation in about two months.

You may experience swelling and bruising and discomfort following your procedure. You may not be able to stand fully upright for the first few weeks and should avoid heavy lifting and allow for plenty of rest as your body recovers.

Your plastic surgeon will provide detailed instructions on how to promote healing and recovery. It’s important that you follow these guidelines and attend all follow-up appointments.

Within a week or two, your sutures may be removed and internal sutures will dissolve on their own. Depending on the procedures included in your surgery, you may need to take more precautionary measures to ensure you heal properly and recover safely.

While you may notice that you are a few pounds lighter after fully healing, this is due to removing the excess skin and tissue. Lower body lifts are not intended for weight loss.

The final result can be a great complement to your weight loss, whether your target weight was accomplished by natural means or through bariatric and weight loss surgery.

Many men and women feel more committed to maintaining their new healthy lifestyle after undergoing a lower body lift or other body contouring procedures. Perhaps most importantly, though, is the significant improvement in quality of life that so many patients experience after surgery.

To get an idea of the results you can achieve at Kaufman & Davis Plastic Surgery, please view our body lift before and after photos.

How much does a lower body lift cost?

The cost of a lower body lift depends on many factors, including the specific procedures that are part of your lower body lift, the experience level of your plastic surgeon and more. Be aware that national averages for the cost of plastic surgery that you might find online are often unrealistically low. The best way to get a realistic cost estimate is to discuss the details of your specific procedure with us at your consultation, when we will provide a detailed quote for your specific surgery.

How do I choose the best lower body lift plastic surgeon?

A lower body lift is one of the more complex cosmetic surgery procedures performed. It is important to select a surgeon, like Dr. Kaufman or Dr. Davis, who has ample experience with body contouring and post-weight-loss procedures. We encourage you to check out our online reviews to see what people like you are saying. You can also view prior patient before and after images in our photo gallery.

Is a lower body lift the best after-weight loss procedure for me?

A lower body lift could be right for you if you have excessive loose or sagging skin on your lower body that interferes with your ability to comfortably exercise, wear certain clothing or perform other activities. A lower body lift typically combines a tummy tuck, a thigh lift and a buttock lift to address excess skin in these specific areas.

If excess skin or stubborn fat in other areas of your body are also a concern, other procedures like an arm lift or breast lift might be suitable solutions for you.

Is a lower body lift painful?

You shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort during your lower body lift, as this procedure is performed under general anesthesia. After your lower body lift, swelling, bruising and tenderness are common side effects. However, these symptoms are usually easily managed with over-the-counter or prescription pain medication and should gradually improve as your body heals over the coming days and weeks.

Will I lose weight with a lower body lift?

A lower body lift is not intended to serve as a weight-loss procedure. Instead, the best candidate for a lower body lift will already be at or very close to his or her target weight. The goal of this procedure is to remove excess skin that often results from massive weight loss. That said, patients will lose some weight due to the loose skin that is removed.

How long do lower body lift results last?

Lower body lift results can be very long-lasting, though they should be paired with healthy lifestyle habits like eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, drinking plenty of water and managing stress. Adopting these healthy habits will help to maintain and prolong your lower body lift results.

Is a lower body lift worth it?

Most men and women who have had a lower body lift from Kaufman & Davis Plastic Surgery are very pleased with their results and are happy they went forward with this procedure. If loose or excess skin is hindering your exercise efforts or is lowering your quality of life, a lower body lift could be well worth the investment.

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