Will Butt Lift Help with Loose Skin Due to Rapid Weight Loss?

Question

Hi,  I'm a young male in my early twenties and I am seriously considering surgery for my posterior. The problem is, I'm not exactly sure of what I need done. I was an overweight teen (about 5'3" 200lbs).I lost a lot of the weight too quickly and now have loose skin. I'm 6'0" 150lbs now and my only problem is this sagging skin on my backside. It's nothing drastic but it is noticeable. I've read a bit about lower buttock lifts but there isn't a ton of info. on it. Is this the procedure best suited for my needs?

Andrew T. Lyos, MD, FACS · Answer

Congratulations on your large weight loss!  With such a massive weight loss, the buttocks can look deflated and droop. If there is a great deal of skin laxity, a buttock lift which elevates and tightens the buttocks is the best option. The choice for placement of the incisions is either at the upper portion of the buttocks along the waist line or on the lower portion of the buttocks in the crease. I frequently combine the a buttock lift with fat transfer performed at the same time.

	I would recommend a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

	Best regards, Andrew Lyos, MD, FACS

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

Congratulations on the weight loss!  Unfortunately, you now have a problem we are seeing very commonly in patients that have lost a large amount of weight.  That is there is more skin than there is volume in the buttocks.  In your case, I would treat this by using buttocks implants to replace some of the volume in the buttocks so that you look great in your jeans again.  I would at the same time, recommend a lower buttocks lift to remove the extra skin that is hanging below the buttocks crease.  This combination can provide dramatic results and can be done in one surgery.  Best of luck in your journey!

David Stoker, MD · Answer

You are a great candidate for a buttocks lift following your weight loss.  You will need skin removal with a waistline scar.

Ali Adibfar, MD, DDS · Answer

Hello

	You have a moderate to severe deflation of your buttock in conjunction with excessive loose skin .

	You should benefit from a buttock lift with incisions that may extend towards the front for a more smooth results 

	In order to prevent or minimize any flattening of the buttock a gluteal muscle based dermal fat flap should be created for further projection.

	You may also need some free fat transfer either primarily or as a second stage should you desire even further projection. 

	Thank you

Sean Younai, MD, FACS · Answer

sagging of buttocks due to loss of buttock volume from weight loss can be corrected to some extend with buttock augmentation with fat grafting. In some cases the alternative is to do a body lift.

Gabriel Chiu, DO · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss!

There are pros and cons to performing your lift from underneath in the crease and from above the buttocks. Excising the excess skin from the bottom can distort the contour and distinction of the buttock curve from the thigh. Performing the lift from above will make the butt look flatter and you can lose the rounded contour of the butt. Both can result in a wide, disfiguring scar.

I would recommend that you remove the excess from above and consider fat transfer to regain volume and fullness of your butt.

David Finkle, MD · Answer

If there is excessive skin in the crease under the buttocks, a very straight forward excision of this skin will solve the problem.  It is quite a long scar, but will be totally hidden in all clothing.  This can also be combined with fat grafts to the buttocks for more volume if desired.Good Luck!

John J. Edney, MD · Answer

I think your best option would be a "butt lift" with an incision just above the top of the buttocks.  Most often this incision can be placed in a location that will still allow you to wear a bathing seated and cover the resultant scar.  Many times this type of excision is combined with a circumferential abdominoplasty.  However it doesn't sound as though you are having a problem with your anterior abdominal wall.  Skin needed to be tightened in this area a circumferential abdominoplasty would be ideal.  Good luck

Joseph Kurt Bivens, MD · Answer

Buttock ptosis after massive weight loss is quite a challenge. There is a tremendous amount of volume loss and poor elasticity of the skin. The proper treatment will replace both aspects that have been lost. A direct excision of the redundant skin will need to be performed leaving a rather visible scar in the gluteal fold. Wearing shorts or revealing underwear may become a problem. The volume will need to be replaced with either fat or an implant. Implants are problematic and in your case you have very little fat. Your options are not great so think carefully and recognize that you will be trading one scar( the redundant skin of your Butt) for another (the long inferior gluteal crease scar). There is no perfect solution in this case.

Pat Pazmino, MD, FACS · Answer

Patients today have multiple choices to change the contour, shape, and skin of their butt. In a patient who has experienced significant weight loss and who now has loose skin, they may benefit from a butt lift. Remember that the recovery process after the surgery is significant and for best results you should only work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a great deal of experience and butt augmentation, butt contouring, and butt lift techniques. They will be able to examine your tissue and determine which combination of these procedures will help you meet your goals.

Will Butt Lift Help with Loose Skin Due to Rapid Weight Loss?

Answers (13)