Body Lift Q&A
92%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
84 Reviews
Body Liftbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Body Lift Cost: $17,450

Learn about Body Lift

273 people and 237 doctors are talking about Body Lift

Get Free Email Updates

Is Lower Body Lift the Only Option?

asked 2 years ago by Justamom3 in texas
Latest answer by Braden Stridde, MD
Question viewed 2,078 times
Tags: age 25-34, abdomen, stretch marks, female, loose, skin

I am 25 years old. I gained about 45lbs during pregnancy. I was left with tons of stretch marks and loose skin. I went for a consultation with a surgeon in my area, and he told me that he could not perform a Tummy Tuck, and I would need a full lower body lift.

He said a regular Tummy Tuck would leave me with "dog ears" over my hips because I stretched so far onto my sides. Recently, I decided that major surgery just is not an option for me. My question is, do you think I could benefit at all from any laser treatments or liposuction?

28 answers to Is Lower Body Lift the Only Option?

+4

Lower body lift versus tummy tuck

A circumferential tummy tuck is actually different than a lower body lift. However, I think, the former is what your surgeon was referring to. It is probably an over kill (without seeing your back pictures it is difficult to say). However, an extended tummy tuck with liposuction should do the job. An extended tummy tuck has a longer incision that a full tummy tuck. The incision extendes over the waist area and removes tissue form this area as well.
Siamak Agha, MD, PhD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.drsiamakagha.com

+7

Plastic Surgery For Post Partum Body Changes

If you read Realsef with any regularity you will see that there are many possible ways to approach a given problem. Finding the solution that suits you best may take some consideration. Your stretch marks willl fade with time, but will not go away on their own. Laser for stretch marks does not have a lot to offer. Liposuction can improve your abdominal contour but will not take away stretch marks. A tummy tuck might remove the majority of your stretch marks and... more
Mary Lee Peters, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.maryleepetersmd.com

+3

There are always options....

Hello, You could opt for an extended tummy tuck in which the incision goes toward the back but not all the way around. There are always options. You just would not be as tight around the back. This can be acceptable to some patients.   Best Regards,   John Di Saia MD
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+3

Can liposuction tighten skin?

when you have stretch marks and loose skin, I personally feel excision is the only predictable option. There is a lot of hype surrounding skin tightening technologies particularly laser liposuction. If you look at the data / studies critically, there simply isn't good science to support this, particularly in light of significant stretch marks. I personally believe we will be making some advancements in this area in the future, but we simply aren't there. 
Jeffrey Kenkel, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+3

Liposuction

Before you undergo significant surgery, do get a consultation with a liposuction expert. Granted, the stretch marks will remain, but often, loose skin retracts better than expected. The volume can be reduced and you may be pleased with the reshaping. You need a consultation because the surgeon should examine you to determine the laxity of the muscle wall of the abdomen and make sure you have no hernias prior to performing any of these treatments.
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+2

What is the "right" procedure

During a consultation for body contouring your plastic surgeon should be able to describe to you what your problems are and offer you several options. He/she should also give you some idea as to what each option will take care of and how effective each option is. In addition he/she should describe the realtives risks, complications, consequences and recovery times. At the end of the consultation you should have some idea as to what you want to do. Your surgeon should also ster you away from... more
John P. Stratis, MD

Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon
+2

Benefiting from laser treatments or liposuction

I agree with Dr. Rand - A lower Body lift is "over kill". If you are done having children, I think you will do GREAT with Liposuction of the hips and an Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). Although it will NOT remove all the stretch marks, a tummy tuck WILL narrow your waist, flatten your tummy and remove the stretch marks between your privates and your belly button. You will be wasting your money on any lasers, the improvement IF ANY, will NOT be worth it. Good Luck.
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Body Lifts, Tummy Tucks, Laser Liposuction - How does one choose?

It always somewhat difficult to make recommendations on the basis of just one photo but your picture suggests that you would not need to have a "lower body lift" to get a satisfactory result. In general, body lifts are only needed by those who have had a major (greater than 50 lbs) weight loss from either diet or weight loss surgery. However, if your skin is quite lax, then the tummy tuck scar will have to be extended farther back than is typical for the average... more
Braden Stridde, MD

Federal Way Plastic Surgeon

psplasticsurgery.com

+1

Tummy Tuck Surgery

Thank you for your question. I also agree that an extended tummy tuck may be what is necessary for you (but it is difficult to say without examining you or a better photo). The incision being extended into the back will help with the "dog ears" and also help take care of the back/flank area. I would use liposuction in addition to the tummy tuck surgery.... I do not think you are a candidate for liposuction alone. I do not believe that laser treatments will be very... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck and Liposuction...

If you developed excess skin and protrusion in the lower abdomen after having children, a tummy tuck is the right procedure for you. Start with the abdomen and some lipo on the sides to create nice curves and a flat tummy. The lower body like the buttocks and legs could be done separate if needed or desired by the patient at a separate sitting. A tummy tuck with the use of the harmonic technology for dissection will allow for a faster recovery and less pain after the procedure. It will also... more
Luis A. Vinas, MD

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lower Body Lift vs. Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck can be performed in patients like you with extension of the incisions and skin removal over the hips to avoid dog ears. This is referred to as an extended abdominoplasty or abdominoplasty with hip lipectomy or belt-plasty if the scar extends all the way across the midline of the back. These procedures involve only removal of loose, excess skin and possibly excess fat, and are significantly less extensive than a lower body lift which does the same, while also lifting the lateral... more
Max Polo, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Best options: surgery versus laser?

Judging by your photo, I think an extended tummy tuck would probably take care of most of your issues, perhaps combined with a little liposuction of the flank (posterior waistline area) if needed. For most people, this takes care of most of the problem areas, and shouldn't leave any major "dog ears" Laser won't give you any significant improvement in your skin laxity... All the best,
Thomas Fiala, MD

Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon
+1

Options

I feel that an abdominoplasty with liposuction of the flanks would give you exactly the look you are going for. The abdominoplasty would alleviate most of your stretch marks and give you the nice flat tummy you had, and the liposuction of the flanks would decrease the volume on your flank (muffin top) area and would keep you from getting the dog ears you are concerned about. I think based just on your photo you are an excellent candidate and would be very pleased with your result. I... more
Thomas B. Lintner, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Options

Thank you for posting your photo. You always have options when it comes to surgery, however obtaining a certain aesthetic result may be better achieved with only one of the procedures. You should achieve a nice result with an Abdominoplasty. Many patients that have an abdominoplasty are sometimes left with a dog ear either on one side or on both sides. I like to wait a year until doing a revision because sometimes they subside on their own. If they do not subside and a revision is... more
Bernard Shuster, MD

Hollywood Plastic Surgeon
+1

Body Lift vs. Abdominoplasty

I would recommend an abdominoplasty with a secondary revision of dog ear scars and liposuction of the hips. This would allow you to minimize scars and acheive significant improvement in your body contour. 
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck would work for you

I think you'd have a very nice tummy tuck result. Your scar would be long, but low.  You may still have loose pinchable skin in the "love handle" area, but you'd still have a dramatically nice result. You can always complete the lower body lift in the future if loose skin around your hips and back bother you.
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Extended tummy tuck for flank skin laxity

You reallydon't have a lot of skin laxity- an extended tummy tuck would remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and flanks, and result in a scar the extended across your pelvis and swung 'around the corner' on each side.
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction alone will not give you a satisfactory result

With the degree of skin laxity and stretch marks that you have, I am afraid that liposuction alone will not give you the result that you are looking for. While I cannot tell if you will require a lower bodylift from the one photo posted, the odds of you needing at least an abdominoplasty are fairly high. Stretch marks are actual disruptions in the integrity of the dermis portion of your skin. While you may be able to obtain some improvement with laser treatments, if you have liposuction... more
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Body lift appears to

SEE VIDEO FOR SAMPLE RESULTS OF A SIMILAR CONTOUR: I would say that judging from you picture, you surgeon is correct. A tummy tuck treats skin, fa, and muscle. However liposuction only treats the fat and laser is of only modest benefit for either skin or fat. IF you pursue one of these less invasive options, because you ruled out major surgery, it is my opinion that you will be disappointed. You could consdier an extended tummy tuck but my guess is that the surgeon recommended this approach... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

You should be able to obtain an excellent result with an abdominoplasty

From your pictures and history, it is hard to believe someone recommended a lower body lift.  This would be extreme and probably leave scarring which would be unacceptable to you.  I would recommend having another consulatation with a plastic surgeon.
W. Tracy Hankins, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Body lift vs tummy tuck

With only 45 lb weight gain, you probaly would be able to have a tummy tuck. However, without examining you and seeing the laxity of the tissues I could not say definitively.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

You don't need a body lift.

You will have excess skin (dog ears) if the incision is not carried into the flanks. However, there's more than one way to skin that cat depending on your goals. I have patients like you who say to me, "I only want to look better in clothes" and I don't care if I have excess skin and wrinkling. In these patients I only do liposuction as they have very conservative goals and it is a lot less expensive. Discuss this with another surgeon.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction can be a reasonable alternative to lower body lift

Dear Justamom Both body lifting and tummy tuck involve significant surgery with profound scaring. Particularly the body lift will leave you with a scar that goes all the way around your waist. Now why are you concerned about your tummy? The answer is that how you look naked or with say a bathing suit on is important to you. Will the scars look worse or better than your damaged skin? If you have a c-section scar, the right surgeon might be able to work with that scar. If you don't have a... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Is lower body lift the only option?

From your posting, "Recently I decided surgery is not an option for me.", then the answer to your inquiry is NO! Smart Lipo (laser lipolysis) is not going to help you. From the posted photo and your initial consult with a plastic surgeon, your ONLY real option is a Full Tummy Tuck or Expended Tummy Tuck--major surgical procedures. Best of Luck, and be careful out there.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

I recommend another consultation...

Dear Mom3, With your age, weight change, and stomach appearance, I would be surprised if you really needed a body lift. (I'd bet against it!) From your pictures, you definitely would benefit from a standard tummy tuck, and possibly an extended tummy tuck. (To make this assessment, an in-person exam is necessary.) There are many pro's and con's of different scar length choices, but to jump to a body lift seems quite extreme. Visit with a different board certified plastic surgeon and hear... more
Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Body Lift vs Tummy Tuck

I do not think you will benefit from lipo and/or laser treatment. You could, however, have a nice result from an abdominoplasty. There are ways of handling the lateral ends of the tummy tuck to prevent or at least lessen "dog ears". I agree that this would remove most, if not all, stretch marks and also that lipo would be a useful adjunct.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominal options after pregnancy

You do not need a lower body lift just as lipo and lasers will not benefit you.  A standard tummy tuck will do.  Just realize that you will still have stretch marks that couldn't be removed and that your skin will never be "tight" as a result. 
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Best type of body contouring surgery after pregnancy

Hi, All great questions. Before you embark on any body contouring procedure, it's important to make sure that you're done having children. Additional pregnancies would almost certainly undo the results of any procedure you have done now. That being said, your photo demonstrates a large number of stretch marks on the abdominal wall. Stretch marks are a sign of irreversible skin injury, meaning that the skin has lost much of its natural elastic properties. That means that liposuction alone... more
Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question