Lower Body Lift

A lower body lift is a combination of procedures that addresses loose skin or the sagging areas of the abdomen, outer thighs, and buttocks. ⁽¹⁾ In order to improve one’s overall health, a patient may be motivated to embark on a weight loss journey. Whether through exercise and dieting, medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, or bariatric surgery, a patient may experience massive weight loss, which we define as the rapid loss of 50 lbs or more.

As of 2024, about 10% of Americans are eligible for surgery like a lower body lift. ⁽²⁾ Losing a large amount of weight can be great for people who suffer from weight-related health issues like sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. However, as a result of this weight loss, the body can be left with excess hanging skin that does not snap back into place and will not respond to additional dieting or exercise. This may prevent patients from fully embracing their appearance or feeling fully confident. This extra skin can also cause uncomfortable chafing and can make clothes fit poorly. A lower body lift seeks to resolve these issues, which may be caused by weight loss or simply genetic features, by tightening the skin contributing to a firmer appearance.

Dr. Joseph Michaels is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia at Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. Dr. Michaels performs the lower body lift procedure to treat these problem areas of the lower body. With years of experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Michaels will prioritize your needs and provide you with treatment options tailored specifically to your goals.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Michaels, call either one of our office locations:

As an alternative to a phone call, you can also fill out our contact form. We offer virtual consultations for new, out-of-state patients. You can also take a look at our blog to find out more about the different procedures and treatments we offer.

About the Lower Body Lift

A lower body lift is a surgical procedure that addresses the excess skin on the trunk, buttocks, thighs, and abdomen– areas that are commonly impacted by weight loss, age-related sagging, or stubborn fat deposits. ⁽¹⁾ For example, the skin of the abdomen can sag and form a pouch that hangs over the pubic region; the skin of the outer thigh may also wrinkle and fold. The buttocks can suffer from a distorted shape. A lower body lift addresses all of these areas in the span of one appointment and is highly customizable in order to help patients achieve more proportional, natural-looking figures.

Lower Body Lift vs. Belt Lift

A lower body lift is sometimes confused with a belt lift or belt lipectomy. Although these terms are used interchangeably by some plastic surgeons, a belt lipectomy is simply the removal of excess skin from the abdomen, outer thighs, and buttocks in a circumferential manner. Meanwhile, a lower body lift involves the strategy of contouring the buttocks using the patient’s own tissue–using excised buttock flaps or fat transfer–and maximizes outer thigh lifting.

The lower body lift is actually several different surgical procedures done together to recontour the lower portions of the body. ⁽¹⁾ A lower body lift can be broken down into a tummy tuck, a lateral thigh lift, and buttock augmentation. During these procedures, we remove excess skin in a circumferential manner, while also manipulating the underlying tissues to enhance overall shape and contour.

Liposuction

Liposuction is the use of specialized tubes called cannulas to suction fat out of certain areas of the body to bring out the natural curves of a patient. Dr. Michaels often combines liposuction with his lower body lifts to help remove stubborn areas of fat and to help optimize the bodily contours. ⁽¹⁾ Lower body lifts and liposuction procedures are performed when patients are at or close to their goal weight. It is important to note that these procedures are not meant for weight loss.

Benefits of a Lower Body Lift

Benefits of a lower body lift include:

Candidates

Candidates for a lower body lift:

Additionally, before choosing to undergo a body lift procedure, patients should be committed to maintaining a healthy diet and fitness regimen to ensure that procedure results are long-lasting.

To find out if a body lift is right for you, please contact one of our offices or fill out our contact form and schedule your consultation with Dr. Michaels today!

Personal Consultation

If you are interested in the benefits of a lower body lift, the first step is to meet with Dr. Michaels for a private consultation. During your visit, you and Dr. Michaels will discuss your aesthetic goals, health conditions, medical history, previous surgeries or treatments, and current medications to ensure that you are an eligible candidate. Dr. Michaels will also perform a physical examination to help identify the areas to be addressed during a lower body lift. Following your consultation, Dr. Michaels will be able to recommend a lower body lift or a different procedure that will help you achieve your desired aesthetic goals.

During your personal consultation, you will be able to ask Dr. Michaels any questions you have about lower body lifts. Dr. Michaels wants all of his patients to feel confident and comfortable with every step of their experience. You will leave your personal consultation informed about pre-procedure preparation, as well as a detailed post-procedure care routine.

To schedule your consultation today, call (301) 468-5991 for our Maryland office and (703) 957-8610 for our Virginia office. Or, you can fill out a simple contact form. Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery also offers virtual consultations for new, out-of-state patients.

Preparation

To prepare for your lower body lift procedure with Dr. Michaels, we recommend that you:

Dr. Michaels will make sure that you are completely prepared for your lower body lift, and the team at Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery will be here to help along the way.

Lower Body Lift Procedure

The specifics of your procedure will be unique to you and your aesthetic goals. In any case, general anesthesia will be used for a safe procedure. ⁽²⁾ Despite how procedures may vary, the lower body lift is usually performed in two different positions. First, Dr. Michaels will use one of two methods to improve the structure of the buttocks; he may use flaps of skin, muscle, and fat from elsewhere on the body and incorporate these flaps into the buttocks, which is called auto-augmentation–or, for patients that have adequate fat tissue on the back or flanks, Dr. Michaels may use liposuction and fat transfer to add shape. This is also known as a Brazilian butt lift (BBL). In addition to contouring the buttocks using one of these methods, excess skin can also be removed from the buttocks and outer thighs for a firmer look. ⁽¹⁾

After the buttocks and outer thighs are addressed, the patient will be on their back for the tummy tuck procedure. In addition to removing excess skin with a tummy tuck, we can also tighten the underlying abdominal muscles if they have separated in the past. We can also eliminate some stubborn fat using liposuction at this time.

Once the contouring is complete, the incisions can be closed up with dissolvable sutures. ⁽²⁾ The incisions will be placed in discrete locations, making them easy to hide beneath garments. The majority of lower body lift patients stay just one night in the hospital after their procedure.

Recovery

Your recovery process will depend on varying factors, such as your body’s ability to heal and the extent of your lower body lift. Not long after your surgery, we will ask that you carefully walk around to help encourage healthy circulation. This will help your body along the natural healing process. Dr. Michaels will wrap the treated areas in compression garments, which he will ask you to wear throughout the recovery process. ⁽¹⁾ These garments will help with the swelling and bruising that may occur. You will also have two surgical drains following the procedure, which will be placed in the treated areas in order to promote healthy wound healing. ⁽¹⁾

We encourage mindful walking several times a day, but you should refrain from any more intense daily activities for the first 3-4 weeks. More strenuous activities, such as exercising or lifting, will need to be avoided for at least 6 weeks unless Dr. Michaels tells you otherwise.

You will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Michaels so he can closely monitor your incisions, check the surgical drains, and ensure the tissue is recovering properly.

Results

Some results of a lower body lift will be visible immediately after your procedure. However, it will take some time–usually about 3-6 months–before the final results are apparent. Further, it can take up to 2 years for the incision to fully mature. The results of a lower body lift are long-term but may be undone if the patient gains a significant amount of weight. Committing to an exercise routine and a healthy diet can help ensure that the results of your lower body lift last a long time.

Cost of a Lower Body Lift in Washington, D.C.

The cost of your body lift procedure will be based on your specific needs. If your lower body lift incorporates any other treatments, the cost will reflect those treatments. During your personal consultation, Dr. Michaels will provide you with a personalized quote based on your unique procedure. We also offer financing options that help you meet your surgical goals.

For more information regarding our financing options or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Michaels, please call our office at (301)468-5991 for our Maryland office or (703)957-8610 for our Virginia office. You can also inquire about pricing by filling out our contact form.

References

1. Swanson E. Near-circumferential Lower Body Lift. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2019;7(12):e2548. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000002548
2. Mayo J, Cape JD. Belt Lipectomy. PubMed. Published 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK604202/