Is a Lower Body Lift the Same Thing As a Body Lift?

Dear Anon:
There is a difference between a body lift and a lower body lift.  This has to do with semantics and the fact that a body lift has many different names and to some doctors mean one thing and to other doctors another.  A lower body lift can also be called a circumferential body lift, a 360 body lift, a belt lipectomy, among others.  There is also an upper body lift.  However strictly speaking, a lower body lift as interpreted by most board certified plastic surgeons addresses the abdomen, hips and buttocks.  During the surgery, excess skin and fat of the abdomen, hips and buttocks is addressed.  During the surgery, the skin and fat from this area is directly excised.  It does lift the lateral portion of the legs but not the inner portion of the legs.  Whereas a body lift can typically imply that the whole body is lifted.  During a total body lift in one surgical setting, the arms are lifted, the breasts are lifted, the torso is reduced, the abdomen is removed as well as the hips, buttocks and legs.  It also lifts the inner legs.  As you can imagine, this procedure takes a significantly longer amount of time under anesthesia and a significantly longer recovery time.
Basically, you need to ask yourself what area bothers you.  If it is your abdomen, hips and buttocks, then I would suggest you undergo a lower body lift.  If your breast and upper back bother you, then I would suggest an upper body lift.  If you are also concerned about your legs and arms, you may contemplate an upper body lift but this should only be done by very experienced surgeons with a well-coordinated team.
 
Thank you,
J. Timothy Katzen

The term body lift is used differently by different surgeons. In genral, a body lift refers to the removal of large amounts of excess skin and the fat beneath it to achieve the best shape possible after weight loss.  A lower body lift takes skin from abdomen and lower back, resulting in a smooting effect on the middle and some improvement of adjacent areas.  An upper body lift tightens tissues in the breast, chest and upper back.  Many plastic surgeons use the term body lift when referring to  a lower body lift, probably because that is more frequently performed than any other type of lift.  All of these surgeries must be tailored to the individual, so patterns of skin scars vary.  Do not get too hung up on how the terms are used, but make sure your chosen surgeon has a good overall plan for the best result you can have.  It often takes more than one stage to accomplish this.