Lower Body Lift

Address Sagging Skin From the Belly Down in St. Louis, MO

What is the lower body lift at St. Louis' West County Plastic Surgeons? This procedure sculpts the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, lower back, and outer thighs to correct loose or sagging skin following massive weight loss. An incision is extended like a belt around the lower abdomen, sides, and back to help address loose skin in all of these regions. This procedure can dramatically improve the contour of the waistline after massive weight loss.

To schedule your appointment for a lower body lift in St. Louis, contact our office by phoning 314-996-8800, requesting your consultation online.

What's New with Lower Body Lifts?

Less Painful

We have done a lot of work at West County Plastic Surgeons trying to figure out how to speed up recovery after a lower body lift. We now employ an "Enhanced Recovery Protocol" to reduce pain after this body contouring procedure. Our protocol minimizes the need for pain medicine after surgery and speeds up recovery time—and we are proud to say it has won awards at international plastic surgery meetings and has led to several publications.

Fewer Scars

We use the Embrace scar management system that goes a long way to making scars lighter and thinner than ever before.

Anesthesia: A lower body lift is performed with the patient under general anesthesia.

Length of procedure: 4 to 5 hours.

Estimated recovery time: You can return to work after 4 to 6 weeks and should avoid vigorous activities for 6 to 8 weeks. Visible bruising should clear up within 2 weeks, and swelling begins to resolve within 4 weeks. To learn how to prepare for a lower body lift and what to expect afterward, click here to download our patient instructions.

Side effects: Common side effects include bruising, swelling, a few spitting sutures, and some numbness, itching, and spasm of the abdomen, lower back, and sides. Drain tubes lasting 10 to 30 days are placed, and you will be required to walk gently flexed at the waist for about 5 days after surgery. An injectable blood thinner called Lovenox® is generally used for at least 10 days after surgery to prevent blood clots. On occasion, delays in wound healing may occur. Click here to download a detailed consent form from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that lists the risks and benefits of body lift procedures.

Before-and-after photos of body lift results: Click here

Associated Procedures:

A lower body lift may be combined with several other procedures following massive weight loss:

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

With massive weight loss, the volume of the breast decreases and this leads to a relative excess of skin. The excess skin can be removed, and the breast tissue, which has dropped, can be repositioned into a more youthful and cosmetically appealing position. A breast lift can be performed to improve the shape and position of the breasts.

Male Breast Reduction for Gynecomastia

Like women, the male breast skin can become excessive with weight loss. This is a form of gynecomastia that can be treated with skin removal and possibly debulking or ultrasound-assisted liposuction. The nipple-areolas can also be repositioned in order to place them in a more anatomically appropriate and cosmetically appealing location.

Buttock Augmentation

A lower body lift may flatten the appearance of the buttocks. To correct this, a so-called "Brazilian butt-lift" or buttock augmentation—typically performed with fat grafting from liposuction—can be an option for patients. Sometimes, the lower back and flank tissue can be repurposed to also augment the buttocks.

Total Body Lift

Although the lower body lift will address the front, sides, and the buttocks, it does not address redundant skin in the armpit and bra strap areas. To correct these areas, a second incision extending from a male or female breast lift through the armpit region and to the bra strap areas is performed. This upper body lift will tighten loose skin in these areas, and when combined with a lower body lift comprises the so-called total body lift. This lift is the most powerful cosmetic procedure available to contour the trunk after massive weight loss.

To schedule a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons for a lower body lift in St. Louis call 314-996-8800, requesting your consultation online, or email us today.