Which one first an why? Lower body lift or thigh lift?

Question

Hello doctors, really looking for your expertise here. I am 5ft 2, I weigh 127lbs, very good health. I don't have much excess of skin. But lost 50lbs 4years ago, and lower body needs a boost! I've been looking to combine both LBL and Vertical inner thigh lift. why are there certain PS's that will combine both? And some who require it to be done separately ? Together or separate for the best results? And if the procedures were to be separate, which one should be done first and why? Thank you!

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding whether to undergo a lower body lift, a vertical inner thigh lift or combine the procedures. This is due to your medical health and the comfort of your plastic surgeon and their medical team. Many plastic surgeons only feel comfortable doing one procedure at a time. That means they will only do the body or thigh lift first. More experienced plastic surgeons with a solid operative team can combine these procedures. Staging the procedures or combining the procedures has its advantages and disadvantages. By combining the procedures, you decrease the number of labs that have to be drawn before surgery; you also decrease the recovery time by 50% because there is only one surgery. Staging the surgery makes the interoperative time slightly less but doubles the recovery time. In my 22 years of experience, if you are in good health and your plastic surgeon has an excellent operating room team, these procedures can often be explicitly combined with lower body lift and vertical medial thigh lift. If you decide to do the systems in a staged surgery, I recommend you undergo the lower body lift first. Doing the lower body lift first establishes the core of your reconstruction. Also, it allows more accessible access to the thighs. While operating on the thighs, sometimes it's difficult to retract the abdomen to get to the thighs. Therefore, if your health is good, I would suggest a combined 360 circumferential lower body lift and vertical medial thigh lift. I suggest staging these procedures if you're borderline on any health issues. Thank you for your question regarding whether to undergo a lower body lift, a vertical inner thigh lift or combine the procedures.
I specialize in reconstructive plastic surgery after weight loss.  If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy please contact my office. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research.  Make sure they have performed at least 100 circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.   If you cannot find an experienced, lower body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of  the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

A lower body lift needs to be performed first as this usually elevates the thighs, particularly the lateral thigh. You do not want to try to pull against a thigh lift by performing the thigh lift prior to the body lift. I would highly recommend seeing a board eligible or board certified plastic surgeon for a physical exam and accurate analysis with safe recommendations for potential surgical options. Best of luck!

Christopher Pannucci, MD, MS · Answer

Hi caryevans,
Without seeing a photo, it's hard to say for sure. But a lower body lift (also known as 360 degree tummy tuck or circumferential abdominoplasty) has the potential to substantially improve your thigh aesthetics, and thus should be first--because the reverse is not true (a thigh lift has no chance to improve your trunk aesthetics).
A 360 tummy tuck/LBL can improve thigh position because the fascial closure pulls down on the upper back skin while pulling up on the thighs and buttocks--this has the potential to raise and smooth the thighs and buttocks. The attached video shows a good example.
Hope this helps!
Best,Christopher Pannucci MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, WA

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear caryevans,
I understand your concern. It is best however that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether you can have several aesthetic surgeries in one session, as this would depend on various factors including but not limited to your general health condition, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and the type of surgeries that will be performed among others.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Heather Vande Ven, DO · Answer

The decision on whether to undergo a lower body lift or a thigh lift first depends on several factors, including your individual goals, the extent of excess skin and tissue in each area, and your plastic surgeon's recommendations. However, in general, if you need both procedures, it's common for plastic surgeons to recommend starting with the lower body lift.A lower body lift typically addresses multiple areas including the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. By starting with a lower body lift, you can address the excess skin and tissue around the entire lower body in one surgery. This can provide a more comprehensive transformation and may reduce the need for additional surgeries later on.Once you have healed from the lower body lift, you can then assess the results and decide if further refinement is needed in specific areas such as the thighs. If additional tightening and contouring of the thighs are desired, you can proceed with a thigh lift as a separate procedure.Ultimately, the sequencing of these surgeries should be discussed thoroughly with your plastic surgeon, taking into consideration your specific anatomy, goals, recovery time, and overall health.

Which one first an why? Lower body lift or thigh lift?

Answers (5)

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