I need a body lift but also need liposuction. Which should I get first? (Photo)

Thank you for your inquiry! Congratulations on the weight loss! Typically, liposuction comes with skin removal. Call to set up a consult with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

Hello, thank you for your question regarding whether you should have liposuction before you undergo a 360 circumferential lower body lift. First, congratulations on your significant weight loss. As you know, after your significant weight loss, you have excess skin and fat of your abdomen, hips, buttocks and inner thighs. Since you have excess skin, the skin cannot be removed with liposuction. Liposuction only removes fat. Therefore, I would highly suggest you undergo a 360 circumferential lower body lift combined with a vertical medial thigh lift or more accurately, thigh reduction. These procedure takes approximately 8-10 hours depending on your plastic surgeon's experience. Plan on a two-week recovery. There is no point to undergo liposuction before your 360 circumferential lower body lift. Since a significant amount of fat will be removed during the 360 circumferential lower body lift, it makes no sense to have liposuction before your body lift. I hope I have answered your question whether it is better to have liposuction before or after a body lift.
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 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.)

This likely can be done together as one procedure based on your description. In my hands, the main area I tend to stage are extremities- particularly linear extremities. I often stage the skin resection later. Most abdominoplasties and lower body lifts can have 5 leters of lipo done at the same time.
Kristi Hustak, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon