I lost over 120lbs. Is a body lift required to get rid of the loose skin? (Photos)

Thank you for your question. Given the amount and distribution of skin laxity, you would benefit from an upper and lower body lift. A lower body lift will address loose skin around your abdomen, flanks, buttocks, and outer thighs. An upper body lift is needed for the upper back, arms, and chest laxity. These procedures can be staged or combined depending on your health, priorities, and recovery plan. Also, depending on the examination findings, you may need additional procedures such as liposuction, and some of the fat can be transferred to the buttocks. Schedule a consultation with a board-certified surgeon experienced in post-weight loss body contouring.

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding whether a body lift is required to remove the loose skin after a 120-pound weight loss. Thank you for your history and your pictures. A 360 circumferential lower body lift is also known as a belt lipectomy or extended tummy tuck with a posterior butt lift. It’s an incision that goes from the front, around your lower body, and joints at the top of the butt crack. In your case, a 360 circumferential body lift would be perfect. During a 360 circumferential lower body lift, an abdominal plasty, hip lift/reduction, and buttock lift/reduction are performed. During your abdominoplasty, the pubic region is lifted and reduced. The rectus abdominis muscles are pliacted and the muscles are brought together. Excess abdominal skin and fat are removed, and the belly button is reconstructed. With a lower body lift also the excess skin of your hips would be removed, and your butt would be lifted. With the butt lift, a lot of the butt wrinkles would be permanently removed. If your chest bothers you, you could have the procedure done simultaneously. This would include a formal breast reduction. This can either be done with an incision underneath the breast as it joins the upper abdomen or an incision from the armpit down your side. Your chest reduction could be considered treatment for gynecomastia. However, most of your breast tissue is probably leftover residual fat from weight loss. Gynecomastia tissue is usually much firmer than residual fat. Either way, with your breast reduction, you would achieve significant improvement. If you choose the horizontal incision, the incision would be placed underneath the breast. However, this incision position leads to a quite visible scar. Most patients prefer the stealth incision. The stealth incision is made from the armpit down the side of your body. The chest is lateralized and flattened. The skin is removed, and the upper back is tightened. The nipple area complex is then relocated. Good luck.
I hope I answered your question regarding whether you need a body lift to remove the loose skin after a 120-pound weight loss. I hope this information helps you find answers regarding the 360 circumferential lower body lift. If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy, please contact aa experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Ensure they have performed at least 150 circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced, lower-body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)