Lower Body Lift

During aging or after massive weight loss, people experience significant excess skin throughout their body. This can cause sagging skin in many areas below the waist.

The lower body lift procedure helps to remove excess skin and tighten the buttocks, thighs, abdomen, and hips. This surgical procedure helps to improve your overall appearance by giving these problem areas a slimmer, more toned look. The lower body lift addresses all these areas that tummy tuck, butt lifts, and thigh lifts address separately.

Dr. Wallach brings his vast experience with cosmetic surgery to give his patients optimal results from the procedure. Many bariatric patients are referred to Dr. Wallach for the elimination of the excessive, sagging skin after massive weight loss.

Preparation

You will be advised not to take any blood thinners before your surgery like aspirin, ibuprofen, or Plavix. You will also be instructed on an appropriate diet to follow as well.

Procedure

Dr. Wallach will create an incision that extends around the torso through which he will remove excess skin and fat. After this is removed, he will reposition the skin and tighten the tissues. Then he will address the back side and buttocks areas, to do so you will be positioned either face down or on your side. Depending on your desired results he will either combine the lower body lift with a tummy tuck or with an inner thigh lift. Dr. Wallach uses mostly internal sutures that dissolve over time. In addition, drains may be placed which are removed when the fluid volume has diminished significantly.

Recovery

Most patients can go home after their surgery while some may have to be observed overnight in the hospital. You will be prescribed antibiotics and pain medicines for the recovery period. You might experience some numbness in the area, but it improves with time.  Drains are commonly placed during surgery, and they will be removed within 1-2 weeks in most instances. The recovery from your upper body lift is 1 to 2 weeks and you may have to wear a compression garment or binder for 3-6 weeks. This helps during the healing period for your skin to conform to the new contours and by keeping swelling in check.

Complications

The best candidate for this procedure are patients who are close to their goal weight, healthy, and at a stable weight. If you are severely overweight this can add complications to the procedure. Some of the complications of the surgery include bleeding post-surgery, collection of fluid resulting in infection, skin necrosis, thick scars, asymmetry, and blood clots. You might need additional procedures for correction of these complications.

Dr. Wallach ensures he takes appropriate measures in order to prevent these complications. These include the use of drains to prevent infection, antibiotics, sequential devices to prevent blood clots in the legs and prevention of necrosis with careful handling of the tissue.