A lower body lift has many names; 360 tummy tuck or circumferential abdominoplasty or even a belt lipectomy. This type of abdominoplasty is more complex and invasive than traditional abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. A lower body lift includes the removal of excess skin, fat, and tissue in the lower abdomen, as well as the reshaping and tightening of your thighs, buttocks, and flanks.
Dr. Rammos will work with you during your consultation to better understand what your specific goals are for a lower body lift procedure, and in doing so can create a surgical plan that is personalized to your best possible outcome. After losing a lot of weight, your skin doesn’t always tighten on its own. A lower body lift eliminates excess tissue and tightens areas in ways you can’t achieve with diet and exercise alone.
Lower Body Lift Techniques
Your Lower Body Lift procedure can be performed as either an outpatient surgery or may require an overnight stay. Your incisions will be placed in as low a position as possible to hide them with many kinds of clothing and will extend all the way around your body. Abdominal muscles that were pulled apart while pregnant or weight gain will be tightened again. Your excess skin will also be removed to both narrow your waist and flatten your abdomen. Additionally, the outer thighs and buttocks are lifted and reshaped, giving the lower body a completely sculpted and rejuvenated appearance.
Preparing for Lower Body Lift
Cease taking all supplements and medications that can increase your risk of bleeding at least two weeks before your surgery. Make sure you check with your primary doctor before stopping any medication. We will go over all of your health history in detail prior to surgery. Eating healthy and staying active are also a must.
Recovering from Lower Body Lift
After your procedure you will need to wear a compression garment/binder for six to eight weeks. Drainage tubes will also be necessary to drain fluid underneath your incisions.
Swelling and bruising in your abdomen or any affected areas by liposuction is to be expected. You can reduce this swelling with your compression garment. Usually, patients have swelling that is noticeable for around two weeks after their procedure before it starts to lessen. It can take much longer for swelling to completely resolve itself, up to three to six months sometimes. Your body will have decreased sensation and numbness around the incision lines immediately after your procedure. This is to be expected as your swelling decreases and nerves start to recover from the procedure.
Recovering from tummy tuck surgery can definitely take quite some time. The first week after surgery will have soreness and discomfort. Pulling sensations, tugging sensations, and tightness in your abdomen for a few weeks to a few months after the surgery are normal. This will improve over time. Refrain from rigorous exercise or activity after surgery. Avoid lifting anything that is over ten pounds for at least a month after surgery. This means you will need assistance with small children if you have them.
Moderate exercise can begin after a couple weeks, and more intense activity can be resumed after a month or so- with Dr’s permission. You will be fully active again after about six weeks. Depending on your job you may be able to return to work as soon as 3 weeks. This will need to be approved with Dr. Rammos as more rigorous jobs will require more time off.
