A lower body lift is a central and essential operation of patients who have sustained massive weight loss and have dramatic excess of skin. This is often one of the first operations and sets the pace for all future stages. Dr. Egrari has developed an international reputation with his work with massive weight loss body contouring, and lower body lift is one of his specialties. He has written extensively on the topic and has presented to plastic surgeons from all over the world.
Some of our patients come to our world-class plastic surgery center for a resculpting of the lower abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. Genetics plays a big role in where fat is deposited, and for some of us, it collects in quantity in this zone. Even with diet and exercise, saggy skin, fat, and tissue can leave your body looking older, heavy, and less attractive. A lower body lift is a procedure that addresses excess fat on the abdomen, back, and creates a more pleasing profile by lifting the thighs and buttocks, smoothing the appearance of cellulite dimples, tightening lower abdominal muscle structure, and resolving the other cosmetic issues in this area of the body.
Who is a Candidate for Lower Body Lift?
If you have accumulated skin around your lower body after a dramatic weight loss.
If you have lost the youthful, high, firm look and position of your buttocks and thighs.
If the excess skin in your abdominal area extends to the back.
Benefits of a Lower Body Lift
- To resolve excess skin, fat, and tissue in the lower abdomen and flanks.
- To elevate the structures of your thighs, mons (vaginal area) and buttocks.
- To tighten and re-shape the abdominal wall, “love handles” (flanks) and fatty deposits on the lower back.
Description of Lower Body Lift procedure:
- Pre-operative analysis involves marking the specific areas that need to be addressed and the position of the incisions to resculpt and reshape the lower body.
- The lower abdomen, sides, and back of the body with excess fat and skin are surgically improved. The lower thighs and buttocks are elevated and sutured into a more attractive, youthful position. Occasionally liposuction or a specialized elevating instrument is used to loosen skin for maximal lift.
- The abdominal wall muscle structure is tightened with specialized sutures.
- Deep sutures hold this tremendous lift and body reshaping procedure. The skin is sutured all from within and covered with tape.
- Two drains and injection of a long-acting numbing medication, Exparel, are put in place for faster healing and patient comfort.
- A special surgical garment is placed to help support the treated area.
- Innovative intra-operative positioning is used to protect the new dimensions of the lower body.
- The lower body lift operation is performed under general anesthesia and is mostly performed as an outpatient procedure.
Recovery After a Lower Body Lift:
- Discomfort is controlled with a proven regimen of prescription painkillers and muscle relaxants. The injection of the long-acting medication, Exparel, helps tremendously.
- Significant attention needs to be paid to the positioning of the patient after this operation.
- Most patients take two to three weeks off work and resume exercise in six weeks.
- All sutures are dissolvable.
- The final result is evident after two to three months.
Additional Information about a Lower Body Lift:
- A Lower Body Lift is often the first stage of weight loss body contouring. Occasionally, in smaller individuals, breast procedures can be performed in the same surgical appointment. In general, this plastic surgery procedure is performed without other added treatments.
- Different styles of lower body lift procedures, called I, II, or III, are tailored to the different needs of the unique patient body condition.
- Liposuction is often an important adjunct to this operation.
For more information go to the American Society of Plastic Surgeon (ASPS) http://www.plasticsurgery.org
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