Do I Need to Lose More Weight Before a Lower Body Lift?

If you have dropped a significant amount of weight and are left with hanging folds on your lower back and other unwanted reminders of your former shape, a lower body lift can be a life-changing step. However, achieving the most successful and long-lasting outcome possible will require appropriate timing for a lower body lift — with one of the most common considerations being whether you're at an optimal weight. While each person's situation and timelines will vary somewhat, patients are generally encouraged to wait until they've reached their goal weight, within about 15 – 20 pounds, before having a lower body lift after weight loss. 

Again, however, each case is unique, and our team will advise you on the ideal time for a lower body lift that can set you up for long-term success. Below, you'll find helpful information from Oklahoma City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kamal Sawan of Sawan Surgical Aesthetics that answers some of the popular lower body lift FAQ, including what to know about losing weight before — and after — body contouring surgery. 

How soon after weight loss is lower body lift safe and appropriate?  

Weight loss journeys aren't always defined by a specific starting or ending point. For many people, weight loss and maintenance can be an extended process that involves several stages. Once you lose the bulk of your excess weight and reach a number at or near your healthy goal weight, it may be an appropriate time to consider your options for after weight loss body contouring surgeries, like a lower body lift. 

This can boost your chances of a more complete, lasting transformation that most closely aligns with your desired outcome, as losing or gaining a significant amount of weight after surgery can compromise your results. Being at a healthy weight for lower body lift surgery also minimizes your risks for intraoperative and/or postoperative complications, like difficulty with anesthesia and the development of blood clots after surgery. 

Will I lose more weight after lower body lift?  

A lower body lift is classified as a body contouring procedure that is primarily designed to address loose skin, deflated features, saggy skin folds, and isolated pockets of stubborn fat — often after extreme weight loss. It is important to understand that a lower body lift isn't considered a substitute for weight loss, nor should patients expect to lose weight after a lower body lift — though there is usually a noticeable difference on the scale thanks to the weight of excess skin that is removed and a limited amount of liposuction, which may be included. 

The most dramatic change with lower body lift surgery — rather than pounds dropped — is typically the loss of inches across treated areas, with most patients able to go down in clothing sizes and enjoy a slimmer, smoother, more contoured figure overall. 

Where does lower body lift remove loose skin?  

One of the most compelling benefits of lower body lift surgery is that it can address multiple, larger areas of the body in a single procedure for a major impact and dramatic transformation. While every lower body lift surgical plan is tailored to the patient's individual needs and goals — as well as their current weight and other factors — some of the areas included in a lower body lift most often are:  

• Lower abdomen 
• Flanks 
• Hips 
• Lower back 
• Buttocks 

Although the thighs aren't specifically included in Dr. Sawan's signature lower body lift approach, many patients choose to have a combination lower body lift plus thigh lift for an even more complete lower body makeover that helps them look and feel like the best version of themselves. 

Celebrate one of the final steps in your weight loss transformation with a lower body lift  

Skin removal after weight loss is often described as a life-changing step that may feel like the closing chapter in a transformation. When performed at the appropriate time, lower body lift skin removal can help patients achieve the most successful, desirable, and longest-lasting outcomes possible — making it important to consult with a qualified and experienced after weight loss surgery specialist to ensure you're at an ideal weight and point in your journey for the procedure. 

To learn more about whether you're ready for a lower body lift, contact us today at Sawan Surgical Aesthetics to schedule your private consultation with Oklahoma City body contouring specialist and board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Kamal Sawan.