Whether you have worked super hard to lose a significant amount of weight or you’ve had multiple pregnancies leaving you with excess skin and fat all around your body, a circumferential body lift is the perfect procedure to address the excess skin and fat you now have that seems to be in more than one place and direction. A circumferential body lift is technically the combination of both an abdominoplasty and a lateral thigh and buttock lift. The combination of these procedures helps to address the lateral and posterior excess skin that an abdominoplasty alone cannot address. Without a lateral thigh and buttock lift, some patients are left with a “dog ear” (excess bulk and skin) on both hips after an abdominoplasty because of the lateral and posterior excess skin. A circumferential body lifts helps to achieve a more defined appearance and shape of the buttocks, hips and outer thighs while also achieving a smoother and firmer appearance of the abdomen
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks and potential complications of surgery.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your surgeon.
A lower body lift is performed under a general anesthetic. The incisions can vary depending on the specific area being treated, but is usually horizontally around the entire body (hence circumferential). During the procedure, an incision is made along the lower abdomen just above the pubic line from hip to hip. You will then be turned over, while asleep under general anesthetic, so that surgical incision can be continued from hip to hip on your back side. Two Jackson-Pratt drains will be placed along the opposing sides of your surgical incision. Dissolvable stitches will be used along the surgical incision, with exception to the two black stitches used to tether your drains. Surgical dressings will be applied and a compression garment will be used on top. Depending on your surgeon, you may be fitted for the garment a week after surgery rather than going home with a garment the same day.
It is important to know that while technically the results of a lower body lift are permanent, any significant fluctuations in weight can greatly diminish the results. It is recommended that individuals who are planning to lose weight or women considering pregnancy postpone the procedure. A lower body lift procedure will also not be able to correct stretch marks, but some may be excised if they are along the surgical incision. It is possible that tattoos may have to be removed during the excision to allow for a better result. A good candidate for surgery is a patient who is relatively healthy, has reached their weight loss goals and has realistic expectations for post-operative outcomes. This procedure is not a replacement for a weight loss or exercise regime.
Body lifts are not intended as removal of excess fat alone is needed. Liposuction alone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, body lift techniques along with liposuction may be recommended. Diet and exercise programs may also be beneficial for reducing excess body fat and improving body contour.
It is also strongly advised that you be a non-smoker at the time of surgery. If you are a smoker we recommend you quit smoking at least 3 months prior to surgery as nicotine can interfere with blood supply and potentially cause complications with healing after surgery.
