Body Lift
in Irvine, CA
After losing a great deal of weight, having children or losing skin elasticity through age, many people find that the skin on their abdomen, buttocks and thighs isn’t as firm and smooth as it used to be.
Often, the skin becomes so stretched that no amount of diet and exercise can restore the look of their lower bodies. If you want to improve the look of any or all of these trouble spots, choosing a body lift in Orange County can give you more than just a new look: it can give you new confidence.
If you want to restore the look of your lower body after pregnancy or major weight loss in Orange County, the best way to learn about your unique options is to request a surgical consultation with Dr. Andrew Smith, a board-certified plastic surgeon. Call our office in Irvine or Corona at (949)-653-7000.
A body lift removes excess skin and reshapes the lower body when tissue has stretched beyond its ability to retract. After significant weight loss, that skin may hang over the waistband or gather around the hips and buttocks, even when your weight is stable. Surgery can address several connected areas together, creating a smoother transition around the lower torso.
Depending on your anatomy and surgical plan, benefits may include:
The distinction between loose skin and excess fat matters. Liposuction can reduce localized fat, but it cannot remove hanging skin. A body lift addresses that skin directly, sometimes with liposuction to refine surrounding contours. It is a contouring procedure, not a method of losing a substantial amount of weight.
The best candidates for body lift surgery are healthy and near or at their ideal weight.
If you are planning on losing a significant amount of weight or plan on becoming pregnant in the near future, it may be best for you to wait since fluctuations in weight can greatly affect your results. During your consultation for a body lift Irvine plastic surgeon Dr. Smith will decide if you are a good candidate for the procedure after assessing your medical history, health and concerns.
A thorough assessment of your particular skin elasticity and the amount of excess skin and excess fat you have will determine much of Dr. Smith’s approach to your surgery. No two patients will have the same concerns, so Dr. Smith will carefully asses your needs and concerns and develop an individualized plan for your surgery.
The incision for a body lift is similar to the incision for a tummy tuck or buttock lift alone but circles all the way around the patient’s hips, usually below the swimsuit line. After he makes the incision, Dr. Smith first tightens any muscles that have been stretched and then removes and lifts the desired sections of your lower body, sometimes combining the procedure with liposuction to remove excess fat and improve your results.
The procedure takes several hours to complete and is typically performed under general anesthesia. Once he has sculpted your thighs, abdomen, and buttocks, he closes the incision and you are sent to recovery.
Because the surgery is extensive, Irvine body lift patients typically have an overnight stay in the hospital before being discharged. Once they leave the hospital, they are able to recover in the comfort of their own homes.
Soreness and swelling will be controlled with prescription pain medication after your stay to make your recovery more comfortable. To keep swelling to a minimum, patients are required to wear a compression garment and will have drains for the first week after surgery.
For the first 1 to 3 weeks, patients should avoid certain activities that may strain the body to promote proper healing during the recovery period. Regular check-ups will ensure that your recovery is comfortable and uneventful.
You may notice less hanging skin soon after surgery, although swelling and dressings will initially obscure your new contours. The abdomen, hips, and buttocks gradually settle as healing progresses. Your appearance during the first few weeks is an early stage of recovery, not the finished result.
Over the following months, reduced swelling makes changes in shape easier to assess. Scar maturation and tissue settling continue much longer; final results can take two years or more to fully develop. Follow-up visits help Dr. Smith assess your progress and address concerns along the way.
Body lift results can be long-lasting when your weight remains stable. Significant weight changes or pregnancy can stretch the remaining skin, while aging gradually reduces tissue firmness. Maintaining a sustainable weight, supporting your overall health, and following aftercare instructions help protect the improvement. Permanent scars are part of the trade-off, and some patients may need additional surgery to refine their results.
Like tummy tuck, thigh lift and arm lift procedures, the main risks for body lift include swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, and numbness or change in feeling.
Most patients experience some swelling and bruising after surgery, but this fades within the first few weeks and is minimized by the use of a compression garment. Proper postoperative care and hygiene can help prevent risks such as infection and bleeding after surgery.
Body lift pricing depends on the extent of skin removal, the areas treated, surgical time, and whether liposuction or another procedure is included. A circumferential lower body lift involves more extensive treatment than an isolated abdominal procedure, so a tummy tuck estimate is not an equivalent comparison.
Your total cost may include the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, operating facility or hospital charges, medical testing, compression garments, and prescriptions. During consultation, request an individualized estimate and clarify which postoperative visits and supplies are included. Comparing complete estimates gives you a more useful picture than comparing surgeon fees alone.
Cosmetic body lift surgery is generally not covered by health insurance. If excess skin causes medical problems, ask whether evaluation for a separate medically necessary skin-removal procedure is appropriate. Coverage depends on your policy and documentation; weight loss alone does not establish eligibility.
Dr. Andrew Smith is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at UCLA and provides individualized body contouring care in Irvine for patients throughout Orange County.
His body lift planning begins with an assessment of skin elasticity, excess skin, and remaining fat. Those findings help determine which areas need lifting and whether liposuction would contribute to a balanced result. The goal is a plan that fits your proportions and addresses the areas that matter most to you.
Body lift surgery also requires practical planning. Your consultation is an opportunity to discuss incision placement, surgical risks, postoperative monitoring, and the help you will need at home. Bring questions about your weight history, future plans, and recovery responsibilities. Understanding those details allows you to make an informed decision about both the procedure and its timing.
A tummy tuck primarily treats the abdomen. A circumferential lower body lift extends around the waist to address loose skin across the abdomen, hips, lower back, and buttocks, with improvement in the outer thighs depending on the technique. If excess skin is limited to the front of your abdomen, a tummy tuck may provide the correction you need.
Your weight should be stable before surgery, with the appropriate waiting period determined individually. Dr. Smith will consider your weight-loss history, overall health, and whether further weight loss is planned. After bariatric surgery, nutritional status also needs attention because deficiencies can interfere with healing. You do not need to guess at a target date before scheduling a consultation.
Only stretch marks located on skin that is surgically removed will be eliminated. Stretch marks on the remaining skin will still be present, although their position may change as tissue is lifted. A body lift should be chosen for improvement in loose skin and contour, rather than as a treatment for stretch marks alone.
A circumferential lower body lift typically leaves a scar around the lower torso. Placement is planned with clothing coverage in mind, but the exact position depends on your anatomy and the skin being removed. Scars generally soften and fade as they mature, although they remain permanent. Review the proposed incision pattern before surgery so you understand the trade-off.
A lower body lift can improve the outer thighs, but significant loose skin along the inner thighs may require a separate thigh lift. The direction of skin laxity and its location determine which approach is appropriate. During consultation, point out each area you want addressed rather than assuming one operation will treat the entire lower body.
Sometimes. Liposuction may be included to address localized fat, while procedures such as an arm lift or breast lift may be considered within a broader body contouring plan. Extensive surgery may need to be divided into stages. Your health, expected operating time, and ability to manage recovery help determine which procedures can reasonably be combined.
Cost depends on the surgical plan, not simply the amount of weight you have lost. Skin removal, additional contouring, anesthesia, and facility needs all affect pricing. An examination is needed to provide a meaningful estimate for your treatment.
Contact Andrew Smith, MD FACS Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Irvine, Orange County to schedule your consultation.
