Lower Body Lift or Extended Abdominoplasty?

I think I would perform a lower body Lift and later some liposuction to obtain a good contour.  I would always recommend some weight loss and/or an exercise program prior to surgery so that maximal muscle metabolism can help you with your figure as well.

Terminology in this field is very important and different surgeons may mean different things when using these terms. An abdominoplasty is designed to address the excess skin of the abdomen. An extended abdominoplasty by definition will make the incisionis longer to address the excess skin of the abdomen extending into the flanks. This operation does not address excess skin of the outer thighs or buttocks.

If you have lax skin and localized fat of the outer thigh and buttock, and your flank area remains full then a lower body lift is a better aesthetic operation for you. This is an important difference which you  must discuss with your surgeon.

You may only be concerned with the abdominal component of your body and so the extended abdominoplasty may be a choice you make. I have on occcasion performed the abdominoplasty as a staged procedure for patients who were unsure of the extent of surgery they wished to have. Some have come back for the thigh and buttock lift and some have been pleased with the improvements the abdominoplasty has made. You can only make an educated decision when you have all the information.

Good luck

A variety of options are currently available for treating excess trunk skin following massive weight loss. The specific procedure chosen is dependent upon the patient's anatomic findings and aesthetic goals.Unfortunately, there continues to be some confusion regarding the terminology utilized to describe these procedures. Abdominoplasty describes procedures that are utilized to remove excess abdominal skin while simultaneously tightening the abdominal muscles. When the abdominal incision is extended into the flank region, an extended abdominoplasty is performed. When the procedure is extended circumferentially around to the back, a lower body lift is performed. Excision of excess back skin results in the buttock being lifted in an upward directionAlthough your pictures are helpful, they don't demonstrate the degree of buttock sag. For this reason, it's difficult to make a recommendation without additional pictures or a physical examination. Based on your history and a single picture, I believe you would benefit from either an extended abdominoplasty augmented with liposuction of the hips or a lower body lift.If you're considering this type of procedure, it's appropriate to consult a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your anatomic findings and achieves your aesthetic goals.

Thank you for your question. A consultation would help determine which of the following procedures is the right one for you:1)
Traditional tummy tuck: Reduces a great amount of skin laxity,
tightens the abdominal wall muscles and keeps the incision hidden in the
underwear line.2) An extended tummy tuck: Same as a tummy tuck, but helps to reduce more skin laxity around the flanks.3)
A corset tummy tuck: Adds a vertical scar and breast fold scar, but
reduces a significant amount of vertical skin laxity in addition to the
horizontal skin laxity and creates the most hour-glass type figure.
Downside is more visible scar4) A belt lipectomy (or lower body
lift) helps lift the outer thighs and buttock in addition to the
benefits of an extended tummy tuck.Options
3 and 4 usually have a significant amount of skin laxity that is being
addressed. I would recommend visiting with a board certified plastic
surgeon who can spend time with you to explain the different options in
more detail.

Often, the terms lower body lift and circumferential abdominoplasty are used interchangeably. A lower body lift involves an abdominoplasty, removal of the excess skin of the flanks (sides), buttock lift, and lifting of the front and sides of the thighs.  A Brazilian Butt Lift (with fat grafting to buttocks, may be performed at the same time. The lower body lift is a circumferential procedure and that is why it is also occasionally referred to a circumferential abdominoplasty. However, a true circumferential abdominoplasty involves minimal lift of the thighs and buttocks.  An extended abdominoplasty is similar to a regular abdominoplasty, but refers to the extended length of the incision needed to remove all the extra skin from the abdomen. This is not a circumferential procedure.  Dr. B

Dear Jennifernc88,Based on your picture I would suggest you have a lower body lift. This will help eliminate skin and fat from the abdomen, lateral thighs, and buttocks. I believe if you only do an abdominoplasty or extended abdominoplasty, you will be left with significant dog ears on your hips and the buttocks. These medical procedures are often covered by medical insurance. Good luck with your weight-loss journey. Sincerely, Dr.Katzen

The difference is that if you have significant redundant skin circumferentially around your body after your weight loss with a positive grasp test including the upper buttock area then you would be a candidate for a bodylift. Liposuction is done concomitantly in these areas as well for improved shape and contour in the lateral flank area.

One photograph is not the same as a physical exam by an ABPS-certified plastic surgeon, but if you have reached a stable healthy weight, it appears that an extended tummy tuck will provide the improvements you seek. You require extended (longer) incisions since the excess skin goes pretty far back towards the hip and buttock area. Tummy tuck alone would likely yield large residual "dog ears" which would require more surgery to give the best and smoothest results.

It does not look as if your skin laxity includes the buttocks region, but that again is best determined by physical examination. If indeed these areas have loose skin, then you may benefit more from a full circumferential belt lift (lower body lift). I do not know of anyone who uses the term circumferential abdominoplasty, but I would assume this is meant to be the same as a lower body lift  or circumferential belt lift! Good luck!

Based on the one photo you've submitted, it looks to me like most of your skin excess in front, extending a little towards the sides of the torso, but not so much in the back.  Therefore, I would recommend the "Extended abdominoplasty" for you, as a first step.  This would take care of many of the figure issues in the photo.

 

All the best,

Congratulations on your weigfht loss, you will live a longer better life becasue of it!  In terms of which procedure to perfrom it really depends on your desires and expectations. An extended tummy tuck will improve you abdomen onto flanks but does little to improve the outer thighs and nothing to change your buttocks.  A circumferential body lift will address all these regions.  Remember the way you fit into clothes and ultimately the dress size you become will depend on the size, shape, and contour of your buttocks and outer thighs as well.  Finances and recovery are always a concern, so discuss these points with your surgeon.   Good luck with the  procedure you choose.