Body Lift

Body Lift

What is a Body Lift?

A body lift (alternatively referred to as a lower body lift or belt lipectomy) is a major body contouring procedure that serves to remove loose, sagging skin and excess fat following significant weight loss or age-related tissue changes.

Rather than treating one specific area in isolation, a body lift works circumferentially (all the way around the midsection) to reshape the lower torso in a single surgery.

Key Parts of a Body Lift

A lower body lift typically combines:

• Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): Addresses the front of the midsection by removing the apron of excess skin, tightening lax abdominal muscles (diastasis repair), and repositioning the belly button.
• Buttock Lift: Elevates sagging buttocks and removes excess skin at the back to create a smoother, firmer posterior contour.
• Outer & Lateral Thigh Lift: Lifts and tightens the sides of the hips and outer thighs using the continuous circumferential incision line.
• Targeted Liposuction: This is often performed at the same time to sculpt stubborn fat deposits (such as the flanks, waistline, or outer hips) for a smoother contour.

Patients who have experienced significant weight loss either through dieting or weight-loss (bariatric) surgery are often left with large folds of sagging, inelastic skin. Despite their best efforts with exercising or skin care, the skin fails to tighten and remains sagging. Body contouring surgery is usually the only effective option for such patients.

Am I A Good Candidate For A Body Lift?

The best candidates for a body lift are those;

• Who are healthy but have loose, sagging skin around their torso
• Whose weight has not changed significantly during the last 6 months
• Who do not have a medical condition that could impede healing
• Who are willing to accept the scarring
• Who do not smoke
• Who have realistic expectations of the results and willing to follow all pre-op and post-op instructions

What Will A Body Lift Not Do?

Although the results of a body lift are immediately visible, the surgery cannot stop further changes to the torso as a result of ageing and changes in weight.
It is important to understand that the final appearance of the abdomen is also dependent on abdominal muscle tone and degree of intra-abdominal fat.

What Does A Body Lift Involve?

For some patients, Mr Karri may recommend splitting the surgery into two parts. The first surgery addresses the sagging abdominal and thigh skin, and the second surgery involves the buttock lift. An interval of 3 months is usually required between the two surgeries to ensure healing is complete after the first surgery.

Body lift is performed under general anaesthetic and may take several hours. You will typically stay in hospital overnight after surgery. To minimise swelling and support the new body contour, you will be required to wear compression garments continuously for several weeks.

Risks of body lift

Complications following a body lift depend on numerous factors such as general health, smoking history, previous abdominal surgery and medications. Mr Karri will explain how risks apply to you and will send you detailed pre-operative instructions to minimise these risks.

Scar / poor-scarring – a body lift scar runs circumferentially around the lower abdomen and lower back. In all patients the scar is initially red and raised but settles over several weeks. In some patients it can take a number of months for the scar to settle.

Asymmetry

Bruising and swelling

Numbness - numbness of the lower tummy is expected. It usually improves over several months, but a small area above the scar can stay numb permanently.

Bleeding and haematoma formation - excessive bleeding after surgery can occur (known as a haematoma) and may require drainage. Do not take aspirin, anti-inflammatory painkillers or vitamin E for 14 days before your operation. If you take a prescribed blood thinner, do not stop it yourself; we will tell you what to do.

Seroma – tissue fluid can accumulate under the skin and usually resolves over a few weeks.

Infection – rarely a severe infection can arise which may require treatment with antibiotics or further surgery. Antibiotics will be given at the time of surgery to reduce the risk of infection.

Skin necrosis / delayed wound healing

Wound breakdown, most often where the scars meet at the hips

Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)

Skin relaxation – after a number of months a bulge or small roll may appear just above the scar. This represents skin relaxation and the roll can be removed with additional surgery. Any further surgery is charged as set out in our Revision Surgery Policy.

Risks of general anaesthesia

Medically reviewed by

Mr Vasu Karri

BSc(Hons), MBBS, MRCS, MSc, FRCS(Plast)
Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Last updated 30th September 2026

Related Procedures

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

A surgical procedure that serves to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift reshapes the thighs by removing excess skin and fat. The results are thighs that are better proportioned and have smoother skin.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Breast lift, also known as mastopexy, serves to correct the appearance of sagging, deflated breasts.

Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

Arm lift, or 'bingo-wings' surgery, involves surgical removal of loose, hanging skin from the upper arms to achieve a more natural arm shape.