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.