Would a belt lipectomy (lower body lift) help me? (Photos)

Question

If I get a lower body lift would it help with the loose saggy skin I have with my inner theighs? Would my hips improve too or would another procedure need to be done? I recently had a panniculectomy after loosing weight having bariatric surgery 2 1/2 years ago. Thank you.

Carmina Cardenas, MD · Answer

After the massive weight loss you have developed a severe degree of saggy skin on buttocks, outer thigh, inner thighs.You will be a great candidate for a Lower Body lift which will help to lift the buttocks and lifting of the outer thigh it will be a bit more complicated because you have the combination of a lot of volume (liposuction will be needed) and saggy tissues specially on the right side. Also you must acknowledge that the Tummy Tuck incision ends very high and the LBL will need a much more lower incision, so you will end up with double incision on your sides. Inner thighs will need a Vertical Thigh lift because the problem is an excess of width, not of length. Be encouraged. You have started already a great journey.Dr. Cardenas

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding whether a belt lipectomy, or lower body lift, would help address your concerns. First, congratulations on your weight loss journey and taking steps to improve your body contour after bariatric surgery. Based on your history and photos, here’s a detailed breakdown of how a lower body lift could help.

You currently have excess skin and fat in the hips (outer thighs), buttocks, and inner thighs, which are common after significant weight loss. Let’s address each area individually:

Hips (Outer Thighs): To correct the loose skin on your hips, an extended incision would be made, typically using the scar from your previous panniculectomy. This incision would be extended towards the buttocks to remove excess skin and fat in a horizontal elliptical shape, effectively lifting the lateral hip area. This procedure is part of a hip lift or reduction, which improves the outer thigh but does not address inner thigh concerns.

Buttocks: A buttock lift would involve extending the incision over the buttock area, connecting it to the hip lift incision. This helps tighten and reshape the buttocks, removing excess skin and giving a more lifted appearance.

Inner Thighs: The inner thighs require a separate procedure called an inner thigh lift or reduction. This involves liposuction of the inner thighs and a vertical incision from the groin partially down the inner thigh. It’s important to note that this incision does not need to extend to the knees unless the excess skin is significant.

A lower body lift combines procedures like the hip lift, buttock lift, and, if needed, an abdominoplasty to address the 360-degree lower torso and hip area. Since your panniculectomy has already addressed much of your abdominal area, you might only need the hip and buttock lift without a full circumferential procedure.

For the inner thighs, you could choose to combine this with your lower body lift or schedule it as a secondary procedure, depending on your goals and recovery preferences.

These procedures are typically performed under general anesthesia, and you should plan for a recovery period of about 3-4 weeks. Combining surgeries like this allows for comprehensive results while minimizing the total downtime.

Based on your photos, I believe you’d see excellent results with these treatments. Your surgeon can further customize the plan based on your priorities and preferences.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

A lower body lift will provide a nice thigh lift and a buttock lift and reduce your cellulite in the mid to upper thighs. In some cases, you can reduce the need for an inner thigh lift. In other cases, the thigh lift incision can be reduced and the longer incisions avoided altogether. You can view photos of these procedures in the link below.

John LoMonaco, MD, FACS · Answer

A procedure to lift your buttocks and outer thighs could easily be done in one stage, perhaps with some liposuction where needed. See a surgeon experienced in the special needs of weight loss patients.

Manuel Ventura Gonzalez, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question!, a thigh surgery could correct the lower flaccidity of the thighs and a liposuction can be performed around the hips to reduce fat.

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