Size and scars after lower body lift?

Question

Am I likely to change clothing size after a lower body lift? Currently small/thin everywhere except around midsection - hence very disproportionate overall. Also, how visible are scars from the drains likely to end up?

Steve Merten, FRACS - Account Suspended · Answer

It is difficult to advise you without pictures, or even better, a consultation.Body lift surgery generally removes a large amount of skin around the lower abdomen, flannels and lower back, so should make a significant difference in your waist size. The scars from the drains are usually of no significance. They are small and positioned in less visible locations.Regards, Dr Steve Merten

Jake Lim, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

It is difficult to comment without photos but generally a significant amount of excess skin is removed to give you a better contour. Scars from drains are small and don't seem to be an issue with my patients.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question regarding the size and scars after a lower body lift. Every plastic surgeon is different.  Each plastic surgeon has their own particular different surgical technique. Also, plastic surgeons have different patients. I would counsel you to look at websites that openly display scars. Some sites cover these scars with clothing. Covering the scar with clothing is not beneficial to you.  I specialize in plastic surgery after weight loss. Without pictures or a physical examination, it is difficult for me to answer your question. However, almost all my patients decrease their clothing size after a lower body lift with me.   In the front, the incision is placed low in the abdomen.  In the back, I place the incision low on the hips, and as low as I can go on the buttocks to achieve a significant butt lift. Therefore, I do believe you will decrease at least one or two sizes after your lower body lift. You should examine websites to determine the size and visibility of the scars. Most of my scars are hidden under "reasonable clothing." The scars from the drains on my patients are barely visible at all. These are usually hidden in the pubic region. The drain scars are tiny. When the hair grows in the pubic region, the drain scars are generally covered. When seeking a lower body lift, please seek an experienced, board-certified, plastic surgeon who has done hundreds of body lifts in their career. Thank you for the questions regarding scars after a lower body lift.
  
Thanks,
  
Dr. Katzen

Luis A. Mejia, MD · Answer

hello thank you for your question and provided information as well.. based in your question its difficult to evaluate you if the case dont have a case.its recommend get a consultation in person with a plastic surgeon to evaluate you.

Kim Taylor, FRACS · Answer

Without seeing your photos it is difficult to say, but generally if you have sufficient skin to warrant a lower body lift, then you are likely to be going down in size. Also if you are having your rectus muscles repaired then your shape and waist will end up smaller.  Our aims are always to make the scar low & have it hidden by underwear or a bikini bottom.  The drain sites are around 5mm and usually hardly visible once healed. There will also be a scar around your belly button (the shape of that varies by surgeon and technique). All the best with your upcoming procedure.  Kim

Paul Pierce, MD · Answer

Your waist size might be smaller after a lower body lift.  As surgeons, we are able to remove excess skin and fatty tissue.  We cannot change the size of your bony pelvis or significantly alter the muscles around your waist.  If you have moderate skin and subcutaneous tissue around the midsection, you may experience a decreased waist size after a body lift.  If you have a diastasis (separation between the midline abdominal muscles), that can be repaired during the lower body lift and can also decrease your waist size.  
The scars left by the drains are usually extremely small and fade with time.  I place all of my body lift drains though the surgical incision so there are no additional scars from the drain sites.  You can ask your surgeon about drain placement but ultimately the scars from drains are minimal.

Carmen C. Munteanu, MD, FRACS - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello and  thank you for the question!
If you have lost weight and you are very close to your ideal weight, and your surgeon has discussed that you are a good candidate for body lift, and your clothes' size is affected by your "disproportionate" midsection, highly likely you will change size.
It depends how disproportionate, and how is the residual fat distributed, on midsection and thighs.
Drain sites- should not be too bad, only small 5 mm exit scars, usually inconspicuous.
Good luck with your surgery!
Carmen

Size and scars after lower body lift?

Answers (7)

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