Body Procedures

Lower Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy)

The Quick Facts about Lower Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy)

Length of Lower Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy) Procedure: 3 - 4 Hours
Anesthesia: General
In or Outpatient Procedure: Outpatient
Just about every person who has undergone a drastic amount of weight loss from diet and exercise, or has experience dramatic weight loss due to bariatric surgery, comes to Dr. Gillespie concerned about the large amount of excess skin. Unfortunately when a person experiences significant weight loss the skin does not shrink to meet your new body. This excess skin around the abdomen, thighs and buttocks often isn’t in accord with the person you feel like inside. Dr. Gillespie routinely performs body lift surgery, a plastic surgery treatment, to remove the unwanted excess skin.

Lower Body Lift Incisions

For a complete lower body lift (tummy, thighs and buttocks), the scar is and extension of the Tummy Tuck incision (which goes from hipbone to hipbone across the lower abdomen) around to the back, keeping the scar low in the underwear area (for women, under the bikini-line or panty-line; for men, under the underwear line.)These incisions, while longer, offer extensive lifting and re-contouring power while typically being hidden in most types of clothing.

Recovering From a Body Lift

Following a Body Lift you will have a recovery period that will require significant downtime, including time off work. While the necessary recovery period differs from patient-to-patient, you can expect two-to-three weeks for a Body Lift. You may require a longer recovery period if your occupation is physically demanding or requires heavy lifting.

Some patients do not require a full body lift procedure to correct the sagging skin. In this case, they may be a candidate for an abdominoplasty, where Dr. Gillespie not only removes excess skin, he tightens the muscles of the abdomen. For additional information on abdominoplasty, please visit our Tummy Tuck page.

Lower Body Lift Video

For additional information on Lower Body Lift, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for this procedure.

Disclaimer: Individual results may vary and specific results are not guaranteed.