--- title: "Lower Body Lift" --- A lower body lift, also called a belt lipectomy or circumferential body lift, excises redundant skin and fat around the entire lower trunk, combining elements of an abdominoplasty with a buttock and outer-thigh lift through an incision that tracks around the waistline. It is designed for patients with circumferential laxity after massive weight loss, often post-bariatric or after GLP-1-assisted loss, and is frequently combined with liposuction. Recovery is longer than a tummy tuck. ## What it does A body lift addresses laxity that goes all the way around, which a single-area procedure cannot. - Removes circumferential skin. Excises loose skin and fat around the abdomen, flanks, hips, lower back, and buttocks. - Reshapes the lower body. Tightens and re-drapes what remains for a smoother, more toned lower-body contour. - Lifts the buttocks and outer thighs. The wrap-around design repositions the back and sides, not just the front. It is the right tool specifically when laxity is circumferential; when only the front abdomen is loose, a tummy tuck is the less extensive choice. ## How it works A lower body lift is a major operation under general anesthesia, taking several hours. The surgeon makes an incision that tracks around the waistline, removes the excess skin and fat, tightens and repositions the remaining tissue over the abdomen, flanks, back, and buttocks, and closes with drains in place; a compression garment supports healing. Liposuction is often added to refine contours. Recovery is phased over several weeks to a few months, longer than a tummy tuck, and some patients stay overnight. Because this is one of the larger body-contouring operations, it is planned carefully around your health and your weight stability. ## Body lift or a single-area procedure, and why it is a real choice The right operation matches where your laxity actually is, a genuine trade of coverage against scar and recovery. OptionWhat it addressesBest whenLower body liftSkin all around the lower trunkCircumferential laxity, major weight lossTummy tuckFront of the abdomen onlyLaxity limited to the bellyThigh liftInner thighs onlyIsolated inner-thigh skinBody lift plus liposuctionSkin plus stubborn fatCircumferential skin and residual fatStaged liftsOne area at a timePreferring smaller, sequential surgeries A body lift covers the most but leaves the longest scar and the longest recovery, so it is chosen when the laxity truly is circumferential. A board-certified surgeon maps where your skin is loose and recommends the least operation that addresses it. ## What a body lift works with This is what the consultation assesses, because circumference, weight, and health all matter. What you haveWhat it meansThe planLoose skin all around the waistCircumferential laxityA full lower body liftOnly the front is looseIsolated abdominal laxityA tummy tuck insteadSkin plus stubborn fatContour and skinBody lift with liposuctionWeight not yet stableResult would changeWait until stableHealth or nutrition concernsHigher surgical riskOptimize before surgery The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon confirms the laxity is circumferential and that your weight and health are ready, then plans a safe operation, rather than doing more surgery than your situation needs. ## Why Santa Barbara Face & Body A lower body lift is one of the most extensive body-contouring operations, with a real complication profile, so patient selection, timing, and technique matter enormously. Dr. Polynice is a Mayo-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon focused on breast and body surgery, and he confirms your weight is stable and your health optimized before planning it, places the scar where clothing hides it, and is honest about the recovery it asks of you. A safe result, planned around you, is the standard here. ## What to expect Dr. Polynice examines where your skin is loose around the whole lower body, confirms your weight is stable, and reviews your health and nutrition, since this is a major operation. He explains the wrap-around incision, where the scar sits, the drains and compression garment, and the phased recovery, and is candid that a body lift carries more risk than smaller procedures. You leave with a plan built around a safe result, not a rushed one. ## What it costs A lower body lift is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends on the extent of skin removed, whether liposuction or other lifts are combined, and the complexity of your case. You will have that number in writing at your consultation, before anything is scheduled. > The Basics of the Belt Lipectomy, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (United States). A belt lipectomy, or lower body lift, removes sagging skin and tissue around the lower body, including the stomach, hips, buttocks, and thighs, addressing a larger area than a tummy tuck, which is limited to the abdomen. — [The Basics of the Belt Lipectomy, American Society of Plastic Surgeons](https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/the-basics-of-the-belt-lipectomy) > Belt Lipectomy, StatPearls, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH). Belt lipectomy excises redundant skin and fat circumferentially around the abdomen, flanks, and back, combining abdominoplasty, lower body lift, and back lift elements for patients after significant weight loss; it is more extensive than a tummy tuck. — [Belt Lipectomy, StatPearls, U.S](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK604202/) ## Lower Body Lift in Santa Barbara, CA After significant weight loss, a lower body lift can address loose skin across the abdomen, hips, and thighs in a single, thoughtfully planned procedure. Here in Santa Barbara, Dr. Polynice designs each body lift around your goals and your healing, with recovery guided every step of the way. If you've worked hard to get here and want to feel comfortable in your skin again, we'd love to help. Fill out the form below or call us at [(805) 764-9074](tel:+18057649074). We'd be glad to meet you. ```ld+json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Service", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/body-lift/#service", "name": "Lower Body Lift", "url": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/body-lift/", "description": "A lower body lift, or belt lipectomy, removes loose, sagging skin all the way around the lower body, the abdomen, flanks, hips, lower back, and outer thighs, in one circumferential procedure after major weight loss. 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At Santa Barbara Face & Body in Santa Barbara, California, a board-certified plastic surgeon performs it for circumferential laxity after major weight loss, once weight is stable, placing the scar where clothing conceals it." }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/body-lift/#webpage" }, "url": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/body-lift/" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is a body lift different from a tummy tuck?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A tummy tuck treats the front of the abdomen only, while a lower body lift uses a wrap-around incision to remove loose skin all the way around, including the flanks, lower back, buttocks, and outer thighs. If your laxity is circumferential after major weight loss, a body lift reaches areas a tummy tuck cannot. A surgeon maps where your skin is loose to decide." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where are the scars?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The incision tracks around the waistline, and the resulting scar is placed low so that underwear or a swimsuit conceals it, higher on men, along the beltline on women. It is a long, permanent scar that fades over time, and accepting it in exchange for the contour is part of the decision. Your surgeon will show you where it will sit." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is recovery harder than other body procedures?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, a lower body lift is one of the larger body-contouring operations, with a longer recovery, phased over several weeks to a few months, and a higher complication rate than smaller procedures, because of the extensive incision. Following your surgeon's instructions closely lowers the risk of an extended recovery. Your surgeon will set clear expectations." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When am I ready for a body lift after weight loss?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "When your weight has been stable, with no further loss or gain planned, and your health and nutrition are in good shape, since this is a demanding operation. Operating before your weight settles risks a result that changes. Many patients come to it after bariatric surgery or GLP-1-assisted loss once they have plateaued. A surgeon confirms readiness." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can it be combined with other procedures?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Often, liposuction is combined to refine contours, and some patients add fat grafting to the buttock or plan a thigh or arm lift, either together or staged. What can safely be combined depends on your health and the length of surgery. A surgeon will balance doing more in one operation against safe recovery." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/body-lift/#citation-0225a214", "name": "The Basics of the Belt Lipectomy, American Society of Plastic Surgeons", "url": "https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/the-basics-of-the-belt-lipectomy" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/body-lift/#citation-9e752023", "name": "Belt Lipectomy, StatPearls, U.S", "url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK604202/" } ] } ```