Lower Body Lift Alternative - Is This Possible?

Thank you for your question regarding alternatives to a traditional lower body lift, specifically concerning the possibility of a vertical abdominoplasty followed by a horizontal tummy tuck.
You've described a unique approach involving a vertical tummy tuck, where the skin is pulled from the sides and results in a vertical scar. This procedure, known as a vertical abdominoplasty, can indeed be combined with a horizontal tummy tuck to form a Fleur-de-Lis (FDL) abdominoplasty.
However, it's important to understand the limitations and results of these procedures:
Vertical Tummy Tuck: An incision is made from the sternum to the top of the pubic region.
Horizontal Tummy Tuck: Focuses on removing tissue from the pubic region to the belly button. This procedure does not address the vertical scar above the belly button, which remains post-surgery.
Resulting Scars: You would end up with both a horizontal tummy tuck scar and the vertical scar from the sternum to the pubic region.
Regarding the tightening of the buttocks or hips, a traditional tummy tuck does not significantly impact these areas. As its name suggests, a tummy tuck primarily addresses the abdominal area.
A 360 circumferential lower body lift is often the most effective option for comprehensive body contouring, especially after significant weight loss. This procedure addresses the pubic region, abdomen, hips, and buttocks as a unified area, providing a more all-encompassing result. While a minority of patients might require a vertical incision for excess skin above the belly button, most experienced body lift surgeons find this necessity to be quite rare.
In summary, while your suggested alternative approach is interesting, a 360 circumferential lower body lift remains the most effective solution for comprehensively addressing most weight loss patients' needs.
I hope this explanation clarifies the possibilities and limitations of the procedures you're considering for body contouring.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

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. Liposuction is usually added to all of the procedures to help
improve the results. I would recommend visiting with a board certified
plastic
surgeon who can spend time with you to explain the different options in
more detail.

Thank you for your question. This is certainly an option, one we have done on occasion, but only in very few patients as the scar is not ideal. We find the horizontal incision to be most effective cosmetically and mechanically. I hope this helps.

           Horizontal and vertical scar excision can be performed at the same time and do not have to be separated.  Performing a tummy tuck after the vertical scar procedure will still leave that part of the scar above the belly button, which is the same scar length as you would have if performed at the same time.  Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of body contouring procedures each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Its really difficult to tell what you need as a physical exam is required.  If you are considering a lower body lift - this procedure (LBL) is also referred to as  circumferential body lift = belt lipectomy.  This procedure is essentially 3 procedures in one: extended tummy tuck + waist/lateral thigh lift + buttock lift.  The buttock lift can also include buttock augmentation.  The lateral thigh lift will help contour the lateral aspect of your thighs.  The procedure can taken between 5-7 hours depending on the amount of tissue/skin that needs removal/treatment.  Please see a board certified plastic surgeon to learn more about your options.

Dr. Sugene Kim

What you are describing sounds like a corsetplasty.  This procedure utilizes a anterior midline scar and two horizontal scars (one underneath the breast and one horizontally in your waist line crease).   It tightens your skin just like a "corset".  However, in my opinion, a circumferential body lift avoids a very noticeable midline scar and achieves a much better contour that a corsetplasty.   Please visit with a board certified PS to learn more about your options.  

Best wishes.

Dr. Basu

Houston, TX

I would not recommend performing the procedures that way. In my opinion the vertical scar in an abdominoplasty does not heal well and the abdomen has some bunching to it. secondarily the "standard" abdominoplasty performed after the vertical approach will not remove the whole scar and will not look as good.

A vertical lift is often an option, usually for massive weight loss patients. Your proposal is not quite correct--the second operation will not remove the vertical scar, so you would be left with a vertical and horizontal scar. The vertical scar is a fair trade off for the patient in whom there is so much excess tissue that it must be removed vertically and horizontally. But not for a patient with everyday laxity.

All the best. 

Without A photo or an exam, it is hard to answer your question. In my past, I have done the surgeries in stages including lower body lift. We always start with what the patients want done in order of priority. You should not plan to do any procedure twice unless you need a touch up which can be done in one of the stages. An extended abdominalplasty that you describe should be done at once. All the best

There are many approaches to removing excess skin that remains aftr a large weight loss. The right approach should be individualized.  The procedure you describe could work well for some.  It is important for you to personally meet  with a surgeon experienced in plastic surgery after weight loss, so that you can carefully think through the alternatives that are best in your particular circumstances.  Keep an open mind to a variety of solutions.