Lower Body Lift Surgery Part. 2

Lower Body Lift Surgery Standard Procedure Techniques.

All lower body lift techniques tighten the buttocks/back of the thighs and hips/outer thighs. Loose sagging skin below the incision is removed. The remaining skin in the buttock and thighs is pulled upwards, and the skin is repaired, suspending the tissues and tightening them. This requires positioning the patient on their tummy or side during the procedure. Incision closure is performed in multiple layers over drains, to control stretching and swelling.

Once the back and sides of the patient have been addressed, the front of the patient is treated with the patient positioned on his/her back. Two options are available. These options should be discussed with you preoperatively and are chosen based upon your choice. One option is to combine the lower body lift with abdominal contouring, otherwise known as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). The other option is to combine lower body lift with an inner thigh lift, if the abdomen does not require contouring, or if the patient has had previous abdominoplasty.

These techniques utilize the removal of skin, or excision of skin, to tighten loose, sagging tissue. It can include the removal of the fat layer under the excised skin to lessen fullness and padding in the lower body.

Candidates for body lift surgery all have extra skin which must be removed by excision. This differs from liposuction, in that liposuction removes only fat through small quarter inch incisions, but no skin. However, liposuction may be done in conjunction with body lifting techniques to smooth and contour areas separate from the effects of the body lift excisions. Again, a thorough discussion and examination are essential to determining a comprehensive surgical plan.

Lower Body Lift Surgery Benefits/Advantages/Options

• Multiple areas (buttocks, thighs, possibly abdomen) addressed in one single operation.
• Tightening extends lower in the back, side and front of thighs than other circumferential excisional procedures.
• Can be combined with breast surgery or arm contouring procedures.
• Can be combined with liposuction in selected areas.

Other Considerations of Lower Body Lift Surgery.

Since the operation achieves tightening of the lower body by excising loose tissue (skin and fat), the lower body lift should be performed when the patient is as close to their desired or ideal body weight as possible. If, for example, the patient has tightening of their lower body and then loses weight, the tightened skin will loosen and become saggy. Conversely, post operative weight gain will either stretch the skin which has been tightened or undo the improvements of the body lift.

Because the lower body is lifted and suspended to the skin closure, excessive heaviness in the thighs and buttocks at the time of surgery may prevent a long lasting effect. In such cases, further weight loss may be recommended before performing body lifting procedures. If this is not feasible, liposuction may be an option to thin the thighs and buttocks before attempting excisional body lifting. These operations typically require 5-8 hours operating time when done "all at once". The procedure requires time off from work. Close post-operative supervision is advised.

Sources:

http://www.wikipedia.org

http://www.safecosmeticsurgery.net