LOWER BODY LIFT
Procedures
Lower Body Lift Surgery – Shreveport and Monroe, LA
Our team at The Plastic Surgery Center wants to help boost your confidence and assist you in becoming the absolute best version of yourself. If you are interested in having a lower body lift procedure or simply have reservations regarding loose or hanging skin and want to explore your options, call The Plastic Surgery Center today. When you meet for a consultation with Dr. Forrest Wall, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Shreveport and Monroe, he can examine your body and give you his honest opinion on whether or not you would benefit from this surgery. Together, you can address the extra skin that is concerning you and discuss your goals for your newly shaped contours.
What is a Lower Body Lift?
Are you working to achieve a better appearance but dealing with issues of loose skin? Have you found that the lower areas of your body have started to sag? Or have you been on a weight loss journey and had a massive weight loss experience that left you with excessive sagging skin in the lower abdomen, thighs, and buttocks areas? You’re not alone. In fact, most people who undergo dramatic weight loss find themselves struggling with excess amounts of loose skin that gets left behind.
It can be extremely discouraging for those who have put in the work and effort to lose extra body weight because unfortunately, no amount of exercise or diet regime can eliminate that pesky hanging skin. Fortunately, there is a solution: lower body lift. A lower body lift is a surgical procedure that works to restore hanging skin and tighten the lower torso.
At the Plastic Surgery Center, you can combine a lower body lift with a bra line back lift surgery to tighten up your entire back!
Lower Body Lift vs Tummy Tuck
It is common for someone who undergoes a dramatic weight loss experience to seek surgical procedures to remove the remaining excess fat and skin. There are many different body contouring procedures out there that may address these concerns, but perhaps the most common are lower body lifts and tummy tucks. But what’s the difference between the two?
A lower body lift and tummy tuck are two different procedures that essentially address the same problem but tackle different areas of the body. Generally speaking, a tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery that primarily focuses on the front portion of the stomach, addressing only the anterior section of the abdominal wall. Meanwhile, in a lower body lift procedure, the target areas typically include the entire midsection and circumferential torso rather than simply the front-most abdominal wall. As such, a lower body lift procedure may address more areas in addition to the abdomen, such as the lateral thighs, buttocks, waist, and hips, all in one procedure. In some cases, an additional procedure involving liposuction may be needed to help balance the torso, lower back, and thighs, and tighten abdominal muscles.
A lead advantage when it comes to a lower body lift versus a tummy tuck is that the lower body lift treats and contours more areas of the body, whereas your average Shreveport tummy tuck procedure has no significant value on areas such as your lower back, buttocks, and thighs. So, when it comes to getting more bang for your buck, the lower body lift is the far more superior choice.
How is a Lower Body Lift Performed?
A body lift procedure requires extensive incisions to be made on the body. The length and pattern of the incision will depend on the amount of skin needing to be removed and its location. Dr. Wall will do his best to make the incisions in places that can be easily hidden by most clothing and bathing suits.
The following steps are taken when performing a lower body lift surgery:
- Intravenous sedation or general anesthesia will be administered, depending on the best judgement of your surgeon.
- The plastic surgeon will start by creating a circumferential incision that lines your torso, through which he or she will withdraw a layer of excess skin and fat under the incision and redirect and tighten tissue.
- The excess skin in your buttocks and thighs will be pulled upward while your underlying tissues and skin are adjusted for correctness.
- Once the sides and back have been contoured, your plastic surgeon will reposition you to your backside to then complete the tummy tuck portion.
- For this portion of the procedure, preoperatively, you will make a selection of two options:
- Abdominoplasty – The combination of a lower boy lift with abdominal contouring.
- The combination of the lower body lift with an inner thigh lift (should an abdomen not need contouring, or an abdominoplasty has already been performed prior).
- The incisions are closed in several layers over drains to try and control swelling and stretching. Skin adhesives, sutures, or tapes may then be used to close the skin incisions.
What Can I Expect? Lower Body Lift Recovery
During your consultation and before your procedure, your surgeon will go over proper care instructions and guidelines to follow for the weeks to come. The most common things to expect following a lower body lift procedure are:
- Bruising, inflammation, and/or discomfort around the incision areas, abdomen, inner thighs, outer thighs, upper thighs, and around the entire waist. Discomfort should start to decrease at least two weeks post-surgery.
- Pain medication will be prescribed and reviewed by the surgeon. Those taking pain medications should not operate a vehicle.
- A healthy diet may be encouraged for the first few weeks after surgery. Diet and exercise will be recommended after abdominal muscles have fully healed.
- Experiencing wound separations. Special garments may be needed for comfort. Contact your surgeon should you fear any signs of infection, thus leading to delaying wound healing or worse.
- Physical exam at the surgical facility every two to three weeks post-op to check on potential complications with the extensive incisions, excess tissue, or redundant tissue, as well as to monitor blood pressure and overall skin closure.
- Complete healing may take up to four weeks or longer.
- Your surgeon will likely recommend that you refrain from any vigorous physical activity. Generally speaking, you should wait to resume exercise for at least four to six weeks after your operation and may return to work about two to three weeks post-surgery.
The benefits that an individual who receives a lower body lift surgery may achieve include skin that is more defined, sculpted, and toned in appearance. For a person with significant weight loss or hanging, loose skin, body contouring through a lower body lift is a great way to have your wrinkled skin removed, giving your entire body a smoother and tighter appearance and ultimately bringing your confidence back.
How Long Does Swelling Last After Lower Body Lift?
Swelling after a lower body lift should decrease within a few months after surgery. However, because of the extent of the incisions, the scarring will likely be indefinite.
Your surgeon may send you home with compression garments as well as prescription pain medication to help with any discomfort. If you experience further complications from the compression garment or medication, contact your doctor right away. In addition, should any significant complications with swelling occur or you fear other serious complications are present, you should seek immediate emergency attention regarding the matter.
If you have questions regarding your care or would like to know more about our practices and procedures, call Dr. Forrest Wall at The Plastic Surgery Center today.
Potential Complications
Every surgical operation presents potential risks and complications. The potential complications for an individual who receives a lower body lift may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- General anesthesia complications
- Scarring
- Blood clots
- Fat necrosis (fat tissue death)
- Infections
- Allergic reactions
- Fluid accumulation
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Sensation changes
- Stretch marks
- Hematomas
- Remaining loose skin
- Prolonged swelling
- Poor wound healing
When selecting your surgeon, it is important to do your research on their experience and practice. Having a board-certified plastic surgeon that is trustworthy and has a number of qualifications and positive feedback should play a huge role when making your selection.
Dr. Forrest Wall and the team at The Plastic Surgery Center know the importance of patient safety and taking the appropriate measures when handling patients and their pre-op and post-op care. Having the highest level of safety and trust with our patients and preventing the risk of potential complications is our top priority.
How Much is a Lower Body Lift?
The cost of this procedure often ranges anywhere between $5,500 and $8,000, depending on the unique factors that make up your case and where you get the procedure. If you are looking for a more precise estimate from an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, set up a consultation at The Plastic Surgery Center in Shreveport or Monroe. After assessing your body and your surgery goals, Dr. Forrest Wall can provide you with a more accurate price breakdown of the procedure.
Best Candidates for Lower Body Lift
The best candidate for skin removal surgery after weight loss should have plenty of sagging, loose skin below or around the entire waist area, and have clear intent to remove excess skin. They should also be nonsmokers and have no serious health concerns that may increase the risk of complications during surgery or affect post-operative healing. It is also important that an individual receiving a lower body lift surgery is dedicated to retaining a healthy lifestyle, including proper diet and exercise post-surgery and overall has realistic expectations for the procedure.
If you have questions regarding a lower body lift procedure or are unsure if you are the right candidate for body lifts, call or contact us online for a consultation today.
Schedule a Consultation for Lower Body Lift in Shreveport and Monroe
Massive weight loss can result in loose skin, hanging skin, and wrinkled skin around the lower abdomen that can cause any individual looking to improve their appearance a serious lack of confidence. Having any type of unwanted extra skin in the lower abdomen can make an individual on a significant weight loss journey feel defeated. Fortunately, lower body lifts, which can address the 360° circumference of the entire waist, can help significantly improve what diet and exercise alone cannot.
Having excess skin as a result of massive weight loss does not have to be the end result of all your hard work dieting and exercising. Dr. Wall and the experienced surgical team at The Plastic Surgery Center have the same hopes and desires to help you achieve your dream body once and for all. To learn more about lower body lifts or other popular body contouring procedures we offer, call The Plastic Surgery Center in Shreveport or Monroe to set up your consultation today.
