Am I candidate for lower body lift and 360 lipo? Will hourglass shape become boxy? (photos)

Question

42 year old F. Through medication, diet, exercise, I have lost 75-80 pounds and have now maintained a BMI of 24 for several months. What procedures would help me and maintain hourglass, not flatten my buttock or create boxy shape? Opinion about scar shape and placement?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding whether you are a candidate for a lower body lift and 360 Lipo. Thank you for your question regarding if an hourglass shape could become boxy. Great job on losing 80 pounds. Great job and also maintaining this week. In your case, you have excess skin, some mild excess fat, and especially weak rectus abdominal muscles. Unfortunately, there is no liposuction technique that could correct the loose rectus abdominous muscles. In my opinion, the best surgery would be a 360 circumferential lower body lift. This would include a tummy tuck, hip lift, and buttock lift. In addition, I would also suggest abdominous rectus muscle plication. This will be done from the sternum to the pubic region and would help with your distended abdomen, especially in a profile view. I would also suggest some liposuction though you don’t have much fat. What minimal fat there is could be transferred to the buttock like a BBL. In my opinion, if you want to maintain your hourglass shape, I would suggest a high lateral tension-type tummy tuck. That is when the incision is placed low in the pubic region and high over the hips. This incision pattern maximizes the hourglass shape. The disadvantage of the high lateral tummy tuck and body lift is that the scar is exposed if you are wearing low rider jeans. However, if you want to maximize your hourglass shape, this is where the incision needs to be placed. Thank you for your question regarding whether you are a candidate for a 360 circumferential lower body lift and 360 Lipo. Good luck with maintaining your hourglass shape with this procedure.

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.)

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss!  From your photos it appears you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction for contouring.  This will help remove excess skin and fat as well as correct abdominal wall laxity.  The liposuction can help to contour the hourglass shape that you are wanting.  See a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation to learn more.

Carmina Cardenas, MD · Answer

I am super proud of what you have achieved after losing weight on your own. You have developed a significant degree of saggy skin on your abdomen, sides of abdomen, lovehandles, front and outer thighs and very importantly on the buttocks. So you will be a great candidate for a Lower Body Lift which will include removing the 360 saggy skin, muscle repair, tighten the lovehandles, liposuction to lovehandles and waist AND it will be imperative to add what needs to be enhanced below the incision: lift of mons pubic area, lift of the front and outer thighs and real buttocks lift with double buttocks augmentation: autologous dermal flap and fat grafting. You already have a naturally curvaceous body shape, so your results must be curvaceous as well. Be encouraged!!!Look for a Board Certified PS and expert in the after weight loss surgery. Dr. Cárdenas.

Vasileios Vasilakis, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and congratulations on your weight loss. Based on your photos, I believe that extended tummy tuck, 360 lipo and fat transfer to your buttocks will give you a better result than a body lift. The skin in your lower back will retract adequately and your buttocks appear to need filling, not lifting. You may need to undergo liposuction in other areas in order to obtain adequate amount of fat. An in-person examination is needed in order to confirm the aforementioned. I wish you the best of luck. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD. Double board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon, Houston. TX.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Luminous781175,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Am I candidate for lower body lift and 360 lipo? Will hourglass shape become boxy? (photos)

Answers (5)