What is the difference between a body lift and a tummy tuck?

Congratulations on your weight loss. Waiting on surgery until you have accomplished your goal is a very good idea as the maximum amount of loose skin can be removed at that point. A tummy tuck will remove the skin and fat from the front of your body. A body lift removes skin circumferentially. Depending on how your weight loss has affected your your skin laxity, a consultation with a board certified Plastic Surgeon will be beneficial. 

Thank you for your question
regarding tummy tuck surgery.  A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty involves
removing excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen, as well as tightening the
rectus muscles.  Sometimes this can be combined with a belt lipectomy
which extends the incision around the lower waist area to remove the skin and
fat also from the sides and the posterior area immediately above the
buttocks.  When combined in this way with a tummy tuck, it is often
referred to as a body lift, although the degree of the actual lift varies
significantly from patient to patient.  Be sure and discuss this with your
board-certified plastic surgeon.  Hope this information is helpful to
you.  Best of luck!

Trunk contouring exists as a spectrum with regard to how much skin is removed and what is tightened.  If only a minimal amount of skin is removed from the stomach, then it's a mini tummy tuck.  If more skin is removed (to the belly button), then it's a traditional tummy tuck.  If the scar is extended around the hips to take off more skin on the flanks and lateral thighs, then it's an extended tummy tuck.  If the scar goes all the way the body around so that lower back and upper buttock skin is removed (giving a butt lift) then it's a circumferential body lift.The tummy tuck doesn't really remove fat alone, it removes fat by removing the overlying skin with it.  To remove fat by itself, liposuction is typically used.  That's why many surgeons combine liposuction for fat removal, along with a tummy tuck to remove the extra skin for optimal shaping.  If you're able to lose the fat yourself, then there's less of a need for the liposuction, and the procedure becomes easier (as you suggest).  I hope that's helpful.Best,Dr. Dan KrochmalMAE Plastic SurgeryNorthbrook, IL

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your weight loss. Massive weight loss (MWL) patients are unique with respect to truncal body contouring. MWL patients tend to develop circumferential laxity. What we find is that when we only perform abdominoplasty in MWL patients, the patient does not have the results they are looking for. The abdominoplasty does not address the posterior excess and thus fails to correct the full truncal defect. With the rise in MWL surgery and significant weight loss, plastic surgeons developed procedures to more effectively address the deformities they were confronted with in this unique patient population. The lower body lift and belt lipectomy were developed to address circumferential laxity such as that seen in MWL patients. The procedures rejuvenate the anterior abdomen, remove the posterior excess, lift the buttock and can also improve the contour of the lateral thigh. It would be best to seek a plastic surgeon who has specifically trained to perform body contouring for massive weight loss surgery or someone who has extensive experience in performing the procedures. Best of luck.

Thank you for your question and congratulations on your successful weight loss.  You are wise in achieving your long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with any type of body contouring surgery.The tummy tuck procedure addresses the anterior abdominal wall whereas the lower body lift addresses the torso circumferentially.   In other words, the lower body lift will address the lateral thighs, back and buttocks areas (to some degree).
 Which operation you should undergo will depend on your areas of concern (goals) best communicated directly with your (carefully selected board-certified) plastic surgeon in front of a full-length mirror and with the help of goal photographs.
 Best wishes.

A tummy tuck will remove skin from your abdomen as well as the fat. A circumferential body lift will remove it all the way around including the backside. The benefit of this is that you can get a little bit of a butt lift at the same time. It really depends upon the amount of excess skin  that you have on the backside as to whether you will need the body lift. I would see a board-certified surgeon in your area who can help you to determine which operation will serve you best. Best of luck! 

Thank you for your question. Tummy tuck is to remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal muscles for front of abdomen. Body lift is Tummy Tuck and also removing the excess skin of hip and buttocks. When you are at your goal weight please consult with a board certified PS for evaluation.

Congratulations on your success with healthy weight loss as this is an essential preoperative component in obtaining optimal and safe results in body contouring surgery.  Lowering your excess body fat percentage while increasing  muscle content by proper nutrition and exercise is the best way to improve your overall health as well as to prepare for surgery. 
A 'tummy tuck' is a general lay term for abdominoplasty which is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat of the lower abdomen and tighten tissues.  In some cases, tightening the abdominal rectus muscles, which can separate after pregnancy or with excessive weight gain, is also beneficial.  A 'body lift' refers to a more extensive procedure that can insolvent only the lower abdomen burt also the flanks, hips and buttocks and lift the deep tissues circumferentially around the waist and torso.  Liposuction  or specific localized fat removal is also incorporated into these body contouring procedures to enhance results.  These procedures can be extensive and appropriate planning as well as advice and guidance from a board certified plastic surgeon as well as a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is recommended as experience and training are essential to obtaining safe and optimal results. 

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) involves tightening your abdominal muscles and removing excess skin and soft tissue from your abdomen. A body lift uses a circumferential incision around your waist ( like a belt), and theoretically lifts your entire lower body. I prefer to stage these procedures, as I feel the competing forces front and back can compromise the cosmetic result. The recuperation from a body lift is also more prolonged. Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon.

 A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), removes skin & fat from your lower abdomen, & usually tightens the abdominal lining over the muscle (fascia) to correct any laxity.
A body lift is a circumferential procedure whereby skin & fat is removed not only over the lower abdomen, but also from the flanks & lower back.
 Your plastic surgeon should be able to assist you during your consultation in determining which procedure is right for you.