Lower body lift

Abstract

In the last decade, significant progress has occurred in the understanding of aged aesthetic body deformities, allowing new body lift designs based on modern surgical principles. Whereas liposuction deals with fat deposits, body lifts are designed to treat significant skin quality problems causing body contour deformity. Lifts may be used at the time of initial liposuction or may be required to treat skin laxity and contour irregularities that appear after liposuction. The lower body lift deals with skin quality problems of the trunk and thighs using an incision hidden in high-cut bikinis. Depending on the nature of the deformity, the transverse flank/thigh/buttock lift may be combined with either the medial thigh lift or the high lateral tension abdominoplasty in one stage. Patient selection, preoperative markings, and operative techniques are presented for the lower body lift procedure. The primary goal of the lower body lift is to improve body contour in patients with flaccid skin as their primary problem. The lower body lift produces a dramatic improvement in skin tightness or skin tone that cannot be matched by the skin retraction occurring after superficial or deep liposuction.