Lower body lift, butt contouring after 100 pound weight loss - how can I lift without loosing butt size and shape? (Photos)

Question

I’ve lost over 100lbs on a body that has always been bottom heavy if I don’t want to lose my butt size and shape during lower body lift what could be done?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi Optimistic7168, 
Thank you for your question regarding a lower body lift with butt contouring after a 100-pound weight loss and how you can lift without losing butt size and shape. Congratulations on your weight loss! What a remarkable accomplishment! To preserve buttock volume, you have two options. You could do a 360 circumferential lower body lift, which would include a tummy tuck, pubic lift, belly button reconstruction, rectus abdominis muscle plication, hip lift, and butt lift. During the butt lift portion, only the skin would be resected. The underlying butt fat would be left in place. This procedure would get rid of the butt wrinkles and lead to a butt lift without necessarily changing your buttock size. It will, however, lift the buttock and improve the appearance of the buttock.
Your second alternative would be to undergo a Fleur-de-lis (FDL) abdominoplasty. The FDL could be extended over the hip slightly to address the lateral thigh. The FDL would correct your abdomen and partially your hips. It would not technically correct the wrinkles on the buttock, but by avoiding the area, the FDL would preserve your buttock size and shape. If you choose option number two (FDL), you will still have butt wrinkles.
Most plastic surgeons would specifically suggest option number one: a 360 circumferential lower body lift with buttock fat preservation and buttock skin resection only. If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy, contact an experienced plastic surgeon. 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. (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 RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your 100-pound weight loss &mdash; that's a tremendous achievement, and your concern is one I hear often from patients who are naturally bottom-heavy. The good news is that a lower body lift can absolutely be designed to lift and tighten the loose skin around your hips, outer thighs, and buttocks while preserving &mdash; and in many cases enhancing &mdash; your buttock projection and shape.
The key is the technique. Rather than a standard lift that simply removes tissue and can flatten the buttocks, surgeons use what's called an auto-augmentation lower body lift: instead of discarding the excess tissue over the buttocks, we de-epithelialize it and tuck it underneath as a flap to add volume and projection where you want to keep your shape. In patients who need a bit more, this can be combined with fat grafting (a BBL component) using fat harvested from other areas during the same procedure. This way you get the tightening and lift from the body lift while maintaining your natural curves.
Because the right plan depends on your skin laxity, tissue quality, and where your remaining fat is distributed, this is best assessed in person with an examination. I'd be glad to map out an approach that lifts you without sacrificing the shape you love.

Mehmet Ozdemir, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your massive weight loss. To address the significant skin laxity without losing volume, a surgical lower body lift with gluteal auto-augmentation is ideal. Instead of discarding the loose tissue, we rearrange and flap your own excess fat to reshape and project the buttocks, providing a natural lift.

Lower body lift, butt contouring after 100 pound weight loss - how can I lift without loosing butt size and shape? (Photos)

Answers (3)

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