Lower Body Lift

A body lift involves much more area of the skin than a typical tummy tuck, butt lift, or outer thighplasty. It is an extended skin removal surgery that is performed under a general anesthesia for many hours. We require an overnight stay at a hospital or an accredited overnight outpatient surgical center for your immediate recovery period. A lower body lift can last 6 – 8 hours in the operating room. Dr. Vinyard will discuss with you in fine details how your surgery will proceed in your treatment planning sessions, which may include staging out the procedures to accommodate your body. He may suggest the following procedures for you:

• Abdomen
  The abdominoplasty portion of the procedure can involve the removal of redundant lower abdominal skin and the repair of the abdominal muscles, which have been stretched and separated from their original location.
• Buttocks
  The buttock lift can involve removing skin just above the buttock region, elevating the tissue, and affixing the tissue in its higher position. The surplus skin in the hip region can also be eliminated to tighten the waist and lateral thighs.
• Thighs
  In a lower body lift, your outer thighs are targeted only for the removal of skin. If you are interested in an inner thigh lift, you need to discuss this at your consultation as well. The more incisions you have, the longer your recovery period will be afterward. Dr. Vinyard may recommend you have a second surgery later to address additional areas.

A lower body lift combines two very intensive surgeries (tummy tuck and butt lift) where the incision is commonly placed along where a belt would be worn, which is why it is sometimes known as a circumferential 360º lift or beltectomy.  You will be positioned in two separate positions to complete each portion of the procedure. If the lower body lift is staged (separating the abdominoplasty and buttock lift into separate procedure dates), each lift procedures can be expected to take 3 – 4 hours on their own. Once the incisions (in their respective areas and positions) have been carefully made by Dr. Vinyard, surgical liposuction will treat areas of fat and skin will be trimmed. Then, the leftover skin will be pulled tight and secured with sutures. Compression garments will be placed over the lower body to help create a trimmer result and to control your post-operative bleeding, swelling, and bruising.

A lower body lift is considered a major cosmetic procedure. It takes most patients at least two weeks to resume basic activities, and in some cases, up to six months before getting back into more active movements (like aerobic exercise). Dr. Vinyard or a member of his team will give you clear instructions and information on wound care to assist in the healing process. A lower body lift will take some time to recover from considering that you had two extensive cosmetic procedures at one time. It is best to plan to take at least two weeks off from work. At that time, you may be able to return to sedentary work only. You will be required to avoid heavy lifting and repetitive motions for at least a month. Most patients return to their usual daily activities in 6 – 8 weeks. While the recovery can seem lengthy, the results are extraordinary, leaving you with a smoother, tighter body without the hanging skin that prevents you from enjoying your figure and hard work.

Bruising can also persist for up to three weeks following a lower body lift. You will be wearing a compression garment that will provide support and reduce the swelling. Your clothing will easily conceal the bruising. The majority of the swelling will be gone at six weeks. You may experience the majority of the swelling during the first few weeks and will mostly be resolved in six weeks. However, your scars will continue to fade for up to two years following your surgery. At three months following your lower body lift, we take your first official “post-op” photos when you will be very close to your final results.

Pricing out the cost of a lower body lift will be different for each patient requesting a quote. Why? There are so many factors that will go into your procedure like the amount of time spent in surgery, the extent of the removal of your skin (with or without liposuction), the repositioning of the navel, and the repair of your stretched abdominal muscles are just to name a few. Dr. Vinyard appreciates your time spent in this appointment and the communication that occurs during your visit here.

You will be provided with a detailed quote at your consultation for review. The total cost of your lower body lift will include Dr. Vinyard’s professional fee (for all pre and post-surgery office follow-up visits), facility fee, anesthesia fee, and surgical garment.

The answer is most likely yes. A lower body lift is not a single procedure. It involves a very large treatment area and surgical excision that extend around your body. We recommended staying overnight in the hospital or an accredited overnight facility following a lower body lift. Dr. Vinyard can closely monitor your progress and post-operative nurses can manage your pain, follow your vital signs, address your incisions to prevent infection, and help you recover with exceptional care and compassion.

There are several factors that can contribute to the amount of scarring you may experience after a lower body lift including your age, genetics, and skin color. At our practice, Dr. Vinyard will create incisions in areas that can be well hidden under your clothes. VIPS also will provide you with aftercare instructions on how to care for your skin to help your incisions heal properly for minimal scarring.

When contemplating a lower body lift, there are a few things to consider before making the call to our office at VIPS. You should be at or near your goal weight. You will not be a candidate if you anticipate losing a significant amount of weight after surgery. Dropping more weight after a lower body lift will only negatively impact your surgical results. Also, keep in mind that you need to be in good physical health so that your body is strong and stable enough for this type of surgery.