Body Lift

A body lift is a body contouring surgery that focuses on several areas across the lower body, typically including the abdomen, hips and flanks (sides of the body), lower back and buttocks. A body lift is sometimes called a “belt lipectomy” given the areas that it covers.

Body lift surgery aims to restore the body’s original appearance by addressing loose, sagging skin often caused by pregnancy, aging, or significant weight loss; the latter may be due to improved exercise, bariatric surgery, or GLP-1 agonists. Three types of GLP-1 agonists that contribute to weight loss and might necessitate a body lift are liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda), semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), and dulaglutide (Trulicity). These medications facilitate significant weight reduction, often leading to excess skin that surgery can effectively manage.

Though often sought for aesthetic reasons, a body lift can significantly improve several functional issues. It helps alleviate chronic skin irritation and infections caused by excess skin folds. Removing and tightening excess skin enhances mobility and comfort, making physical activities easier and reducing back pain through improved posture. It also simplifies hygiene routines, reducing the risk of unpleasant odors and skin conditions. Additionally, a body lift allows for a better fit in clothing, providing more flexibility and ease in everyday life.

During a body lift procedure, your surgeon will make incisions that allow for the removal of excess skin. If liposuction is being performed, the surgeon will use cannulas (small tubes) to suction out fat cells through incisions as well, before meticulously closing the opened areas with sutures.

A typical body lift (or lower body lift) does not include the breasts, arms, or thighs, but these can each be lifted through other targeted procedures: a breast lift (mastopexy), arm excess skin excision procedure (brachioplasty), or thigh lift, respectively. A body lift can also be combined with buttock augmentation (Brazilian butt lift), liposuction of the flanks, or a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) if you are seeking more holistic body rejuvenation.

Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine which procedures best suit your needs and goals. Be sure to ask about all attendant benefits and risks.

Although a body lift and Brazilian butt lift (gluteal lift) target some of the same areas, it is important to understand the differences in these procedures.

During a body lift, the sagging skin and tissues of the buttocks are lifted. Some lower body lift techniques strategically repurpose excess tissue in order to augment the volume and shape of the upper part of the buttocks, as well. Whether this happens will depend on the shape of your body and your surgeon’s judgment and experience. Such augmentation involves preserving and reshaping part of the subcutaneous tissue that would otherwise have been removed, and making sure it still has enough blood supply to survive once it is placed in a new area.

A Brazilian butt lift, on the other hand, is designed to augment the buttocks using fat that has been removed from the flanks and thighs via liposuction. This involves making a few very small incisions and leaves a smaller scar than a body lift, which results in a thin circumferential scar around the lower abdomen and back. A Brazilian butt lift is not designed to remove excess skin.

Have a thorough discussion with your plastic surgeon to determine which approach is best for you. Be detailed as you explain things you’d like to change and what your ideal aesthetic outcomes are, so you can together develop a personalized plan of care.

Before you go

During a body lift consultation, your plastic surgeon will assess your overall health, discuss your goals, and examine areas of excess skin. Preoperative preparations include medical evaluations, adjusting current medications, and ceasing smoking.

Key topics to discuss include the surgeon’s experience with body lifts, potential risks and complications, recovery time, and expected results. Review before-and-after photos of previous patients to understand potential outcomes. Discuss post-operative care, including pain management, activity restrictions, and follow-up appointments. Ensure you understand all instructions for a smooth recovery. Clear communication with your surgeon will help set realistic expectations and achieve the best possible results.

You need to be in good health before proceeding with body lift. Ensure that your primary doctor has done a comprehensive pre-surgery medical clearance before proceeding.

During the procedure

A body lift is performed under general anesthesia to ensure comfort and safety throughout the procedure.

The surgery typically begins with you in a prone position (lying on the belly), allowing the surgeon to address the lower back and flanks. Incisions are made along the lower back, often extending to the flanks to remove excess skin and fat, and to lift and tighten the remaining tissue. You are then repositioned to a supine position (lying on the back) to address the abdomen. An incision is made along the lower abdomen, usually below the bikini line, to remove excess skin, tighten the underlying muscles, and improve contours. The length and pattern of the incisions depend on the amount and location of excess skin.

Additional procedures, such as liposuction, brachioplasty (arm lift), or thigh lifts, may be performed concurrently with a body lift to enhance overall body contouring results. However, some surgeries might be scheduled in different sessions to minimize risks and ensure a safer, more manageable recovery process.

Body Lift Aftercare 

After the operation, you will usually have drains placed on each side. While surgical drains are commonly used during a body lift to help remove excess fluid and reduce swelling, they do not entirely prevent the formation of hematomas (collections of blood outside of blood vessels). Hematomas can still occur due to bleeding from small blood vessels that are not controlled during surgery. Drains are usually kept until the output significantly decreases, which may take one to three weeks.

The sutures used to close incisions are usually absorbable and will not need removal. You will be asked to wear a compressive garment and abdominal binder at all times unless showering until your clinical follow-up. You are usually seen one week after surgery. Instructions can vary after this window depending on your healing and your surgeon’s technique and preference.

Body lift surgery carries a risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious condition in which blood clots form in the deep veins, often in the legs. To reduce this risk, surgeons may recommend preventive measures such as encouraging early post-operative movement, using compression stockings and devices, maintaining hydration, and sometimes prescribing blood thinners or anticoagulants.

You can typically return to everyday activities about one to two weeks after surgery, but will need to avoid strenuous exercise, excessive stretching, and carrying heavy objects for six to eight weeks. Lower body lift results are usually long-lasting but can be affected by significant weight fluctuations or pregnancy.