Body Lift: Q&A

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Will I Need More Than a Tummy Tuck?

I am a 49 year old male, who has lost 245 LBS, I have seen four doctors, two think I could get by with a tummy tuck, one thinks a lower body lift, the other a tummy tuck with a horizontal cut. I have had three past surgeries for hernia repair, only one doctor said he would like to see reports from those surgeries. I like him and the one who would do a lower body lift and tummy tuck, he is also much cheaper, will have chest done as well, here is my photo any advise would be nice.

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by dicenut49 in Kihei, HI

Doctor Answers (14)
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Is a tummy tuck or a belt lipectomy/body lift better after massive weight loss?

Lets start out by delineating what it is that occurs during weight gain and subsequent weight loss. The lower trunk, which is the area that starts from the ribs and spans down to the pelvic region gets inflated by the process. One gains weight, not only in the front, but also on the sides and the back. When deflation occurs it affects the front, sides and back as well. So here are the problems that one ends up with: 1.excess belly skin and fat, 2.looseness of the... more

More Than a Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question and congratulations on your weight loss! Based on your history and picture I am sure you have excess skin/ at this issue circumferentially around the abdomen, back and flank areas. A lower body lift will be necessary to treat these areas appropriately. You may find also that a upper body lift will be necessary to treat the chest, infraxillary areas and upper back areas. I hope you choose your plastic surgeon based... more

Body lift surgery must be Individualized

Surgery after massive weight loss must be individualized as each patient is different, and therefore, the corrective body contouring surgery, body lift, or tummy tuck will be determined after examination and thorough discussion of your concerns and goals, and the treatment options that meet your budget and time constraints. The picture that accompanies your question shows an patient that has multiple areas that may need to be addressed. These include not only the lower abdomen, but... more

Lower body lift

It really is difficult to determine without looking at your back and buttocks. If there is adequate tighness posteriorly than an tummy tuck or fleur de lis abdominoplasty may be good.

Lower body lift vs abdominoplasty with massive weight loss

If you have lost 245 lbs and you are in good health, you would probably benefit from the lower body lift. If sagging of the buttocks and posterior and lateral thighs is not a great problem, the abdominoplasty may suffice. With either procedure your surgeon may want to consider removing skin both vertically and horizontally - this would result in the additional inverted "T' scar over the abdomen, but I believe the result would be worth the added... more

Tummy tuck vs. body lift

Congratulations on your weight loss. The best procedures for you depend on your concerns. Typically with your amount of weight loss you will have skin laxity that extends all the way around your midsection. If not contraindicated, in addition to a belt lipectomy you may need a vertical resection of skin on your anterior abdomen. If you choose a doctor who commonly does massive weight loss body contouring they can delineate your options. Besides your... more

After 245 lbs. weight loss your loose skin requires more than just tummy tuck.

Congratulations on your weight loss! If you look at your hips, lateral thighs, and buttocks, you will certainly find that the loose skin extends all the way around your body. Tummy tuck alone will address only the loose skin of the abdomen, and the tapering incisions leave progressively more of the loose skin remaining near the hips, and ALL of the loose skin of the lateral thigh and buttocks. A full beltlift will remove loose skin completely around the entire circumference of your lower... more

Post Weight Loss Body Lifting

After 200+ lb weight loss it is possible that you may need a circumferential belt lift. Whether or not you do an abdominoplasty or full belt lift would depend on how much loose skin you have in back and what your expectations are. Choosing a BC plastic surgeon should be based on experience, results(talk to other patients and ask to see photos) and your comfort level. Price should be very low on your list of reasons in my opinion. Reviewing past surgical records is very wise in my opinion as... more

Depends....

Hello, Most people in your situation would elect to have a lower body lift but some do not mind the laxity in the back. Each patient is different physically and also mentally (meaning what he or she might find acceptable.) This is what you need to sort out with your surgeon. You could elect to have an extended tummy tuck and see if the back laxity bothered you later. I have had some patients go this way. Best Regards, John Di Saia MD

Weight loss reconstruction

Dicenut49, First of all congradulations on a remarkable weight loss. Thanks for posting your photo. It is not clear from your photo as to the status of your hernia repair. The obvious thing is that you would need to be seen by a BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON with experience in weight loss reconstruction procedures. There are many ways to achieve what you desire. If the scars are as they appear in the photo you may be a candidate for a fleur-de-lie... more

Tummy Tuck vs Body Lift.

Congratulations on your weight loss! 245 Lbs, That's Awesome! Tough to tell which procedure is best for you for sure without seeing your back, But, judging from the amount of excess skin visible on your front, I would assume you have a fair amount of loose skin on your back as well. It would also be difficult to tighten your abdominal skin and pubic region without causing "dog ears" at the ends of your scar unless your scar extended around your waistline towards the midline... more

Will I Need More Than a Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the photo; although it does not show your back at all which would determine if you would need a body lift. I think you will definately benefit from an abdominoplasty, but it would be best for the surgeons that you have met with to show you examples of what results you could expect with one surgery vs another so you could know if the adominoplasty would give you enough results that you would be happy without the horizonal component or the body lift. You definately... more

More than a tummy tuck for massive weight loss

With a weight loss of over 200 pounds it is most likely that the skin laxity will extend all the way around, and the lower body lift would be the better procedure. The prior hernias are not likely to interfere, but we agree that it is better to go in prepared. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Tummy Tuck or Body Lift

Congratulations on the 245 pound weight loss! You definitely need a body lift to deal with all of your excess skin Which I am sure is also circumferential. I agree that the surgeon would be wise to obtain the operative reports from your various hernia surgeries. Although cost is always important to everyone, don't make that your primary determinate (you would not want the cheapest heart surgeon in town to operate on your heart).