Muscle Repair with Lower Body Lift?

The rectus muscles (abdominals) are the only muscles that I am aware of that are repaired during a body lift or a tummy tuck. They are tightened/repaired along the midline to flatten your abdominal wall. This helps the overall result of the tummy tuck/lift.

Thank you for your inquiry regarding muscle repair with a lower body lift. The 360 circumferential lower body lift begins with an incision across the buttocks that extends to the hips. The tissue beneath the buttocks is manipulated, leading to a lift and reduction of the buttocks. Simultaneously, the hips are also lifted and reduced. If desired, the buttocks can be augmented using a tissue flap or fat transfer.

Once the patient is turned over, the anterior part of the body lift is addressed. Here, an incision is made low in the abdomen, extending up to the sternum and the flanks. The anterior abdominal flap is then dissected and freed. Given that many patients seeking a lower body lift have experienced massive weight loss, the rectus abdominis muscle (commonly referred to as the "six-pack") is often weakened, distended, or separated, a condition termed 'rectus diastasis'. This muscle stretches from the sternum to the pubic bone and usually requires tightening during the procedure. Although there are various techniques, the prevalent method involves a double-layer closure of the rectus muscle from the sternum to the pubic bone, ensuring a lasting flat abdomen. Once tightened, any excess abdominal skin is tailored and removed.

Thank you for your question. I hope this information provides clarity on the process.

Dr. Katzen

The lower body lift circumferentially removes excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and back. This procedure simultaneously tightens the abdominal muscles while lifting the lateral thighs and buttocks in an upward direction. The only area where the muscles are tightened during this procedure is the midline of the abdomen. If you have questions regarding muscle tightening, don't hesitate to discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon.

The only muscles that are "repaired" in a body lift procedure are the anterior abdominal muscles.which lie in a line from the rib cage down to the groin area and generally separate to a degree with age and child birth. Some surgeons will, in addition, plicate the lateral abdominal wall muscles obliquely to enhance the contour change of the waist line.

Lower body lifts are most commonly performed after large weight loss. The same stresses that stretch the skin, can also stretch the abdominal muscles. It is common to tighten the case (the fascia) of the abdominal muscles with a lower body lift much the same as it is done with a tummy tuck.

The muscle is imbricated and repaired at the midline. This can be done with, or without a vertical scar on the abdomen. The vertical scar is added to a lower body lift, or a tummy tuck, when there is too much loose skin on the upper abdominal wall.

Sometimes I will also tighten the external oblique fascia to further hourglass the muscular contours. Muscle tightening of the sides and back is not normally needed, as the ribs and spine provide added support, and prevent the muscles from being stretched.

I hope this answers you question. Additional information is available on the video attached to this posting.

The muscle repair during the body lift procedure primarily addresses rectus abdominis laxity and thus the surgery entails plication of this muscle for abdominal support. 

When performing a body lift it is important to repair the wound in such a way that the scars do not migrate significantly.  Of course a tummy tuck requires a muscle repair.  When performing a body lift and inner thigh lift it is important to suspend the tissues on the muscle fascia layer.  The surgeon should be well skilled in pertinent anatomy and techniques to achieve this.  Repairing the fascia layer goes a long way to keep scarring acceptable and keep them from migrating to undesirable location.

Hi there-
A lower body lift, as reviewed below, is comprised of a Tummy Tuck, a buttock lift, and in many cases, a thigh lift procedure.
The tummy tuck, as in an isolated tummy tuck procedure, does involve repair of the rectus muscles in the center of the body.
I hope that helps- please be sure to see a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

A lower body lift consists of an abdominoplasty, outter thigh lift and buttock lift.  The tummy tuck portion consist of tightening the abdominal muscles.
This may be what you are referring to.
Good luck.

In addition to the issues discussed by Dr. Aldea, falling of the groin portions of the inner thigh lift is a common  problem which is usually minimized to the deep faciua of the pubic bones (Colle's Fascia)