How is It Possible to Do Scarless Lifting?

If you have excess skin from weight loss, unless you are young with good skin tone/elasticity, you will need to have the excess skin removed and that means a scar.  There are options to help minimize scars such as silicone strips, lasers and scar gels, and with time, scars will fade and look acceptable to most people.  Best rule of thumb, if it sounds too good to be true, it typically is.  Best of luck!

A body lift, or belt lipectomy, utilizes a continuous incision around the entire panty or belt line. Through this incision, a tummy tuck is done, as well as removal of excess skin and fat around the entire lower waistline including the lower back/buttock area. Abdomen, thighs, and buttocks are re-contoured all together. This more extensive procedure requires an in-patient hospital stay, also scarring is minimized.

After this lifting procedure, there will be some degree of bruising and swelling. Small plastic drains will be in place, and are removed within 5-10 days. A post-surgical garment is worn for several weeks to decrease the swelling and improve the contour. Patients return to work within 2-4 weeks for body lifts. More strenuous activities can be resumed in 6-8 weeks.

 

Thank you for your question regarding how scarless lifting is possible, particularly after fat removal procedures like liposuction or thigh lifting.

The term "scarless lift" is often a marketing term and can be misleading. In reality, every surgical procedure that removes skin or tightens underlying tissues will leave a scar. In some cases, surgeons may use smaller incisions hidden in natural creases (such as in the groin or underarm) or perform procedures endoscopically to minimize visible scarring, but no true lift can be performed without any scarring at all.

For example, in thigh lifts, excess skin is physically removed, and the skin is sutured together to create a tighter contour. The scar may be placed along the inner thigh or groin crease to make it less noticeable, but it still exists. Internal sutures (deep or dissolvable stitches) help support the lift and promote longer-lasting results, but skin elasticity plays a role in how well the tissue “snaps back.” After massive weight loss or aging, the skin often loses the ability to retract fully, so skin removal becomes necessary for true lifting.

If only fat is removed (e.g., through liposuction) and the patient has excellent skin elasticity, some degree of natural retraction may occur—but this isn’t a lift, and results will vary greatly depending on the patient’s age, genetics, and skin quality. In these cases, there may be no visible scar beyond the small puncture marks from liposuction, but again, this is not technically a lift.

To determine which technique is best for your goals, it’s important to consult with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. They can evaluate your anatomy, skin quality, and expectations to create a safe, realistic plan that balances aesthetics and scar placement.

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, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

    If the issue is loose skin, then the loose skin must be removed and this will leave a scar.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

A breast lift cannot be done without producing a scar.  The best technique uses active weight transfer to produce long term stability.  The advantage of this technique is it avoids the unsightly vertical scars such as lollipop or boat anchor shaped incisions.  You are a candiate for a new technique called The Mini Ultimate Breast Lift.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

All body contouring procedures require some degree of scar to achieve better form.  A common first line of attack for patients who have lost weight is a body lift procedure.  Most plastic surgeons refer to a body lift as a circumferential body lift = belt lipectomy.  This procedure is essentially 3 procedures in one: extended tummy tuck + waist/lateral thigh lift + buttock lift (with the option of buttock augmentation).    A physical exam would be needed to make any recommendations.  Please visit with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to learn more about your options.

Best wishes,

Dr. Basu

Houston, TX

There is no such thing as scarless lifting if you  need a body lift.  Unfortunately you will have to trade improved contouring for incisions.


 

if there is skin excess following weight loss or pregnancy that has not resolved within several months. only an operation to remove the excess tissue will be effective as treatment, and all such procedures will have scar. 

Best wishes. 

Good question. There is no such thing and the term is nothing more than a promotional gimmick. Even the doctor who describes himself as the pioneer in this surgery notes "scarring is minimized" thus always a scar, just less of one than the most common anchor lift or lolllipop lift. Liposuction is not commonly used for a lift except in very young women with excellent skin quality and it will reduce the breast volume as well as providing a small lift.