Body Lift Surgery

Restore your contours. Reveal your transformation.

A body lift is a comprehensive body contouring procedure that removes excess skin and tissue from the mid and lower body after significant weight loss. When substantial body weight is lost through diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery, the skin often cannot fully retract to match the body’s new shape. This can result in loose, hanging skin around the abdomen, hips, buttocks, lower back, and thighs, masking and marring weight loss results. Body lift surgery addresses these concerns by removing the excess skin and reshaping the body’s contours to reveal a firmer, smoother appearance.

Every patient’s body and goals are unique. Dr. Ryan Constantine will work closely with you to design a surgical plan tailored to your needs. His goal is to deliver results that look refined, feel comfortable, and help patients fully enjoy the benefits of their weight loss and transformation.

Who Is a Candidate for Body Lift Surgery?

Body lift surgery may be a good option if you:

Have excess loose skin following significant weight loss
Experience skin irritation, chafing, or hygiene challenges caused by excess skin
Feel that hanging skin prevents you from fully enjoying your weight loss results
Want to improve the contours of your abdomen, hips, buttocks, lower back, and thighs
Have maintained a stable body weight for several months

Candidates must be in good overall health, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve. Ideal candidates have reached or are near their long-term goal weight and are committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Benefits of Body Lift Surgery

Patients who choose to undergo body lift surgery can look forward to the following benefits:

Improved body contours: Remove excess skin and create a smoother, firmer appearance.
Enhanced body proportions: Improve the balance and transition between multiple areas of the body.
Greater clothing confidence: Feel more comfortable in fitted clothing and swimwear.
Improved comfort: Reduce skin irritation, chafing, and discomfort caused by excess skin.
Long-lasting results: Excess skin is permanently removed, providing lasting improvement with a stable body weight.

For many patients, the greatest benefit is finally seeing their body reflect the hard work and dedication that they put in to lose weight.

About the Procedure

Body lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes four to six hours, depending on the amount of correction required. During the procedure, Dr. Constantine removes excess skin and tissue from multiple areas of the lower body while tightening and reshaping the remaining tissues to create smoother, more natural contours. Liposuction may also be performed to remove stubborn fat deposits and further refine the final result.

Because body lift surgery addresses several areas simultaneously, the procedure is highly individualized based on each patient’s anatomy and goals. After surgery, most patients return home the same day or after one overnight stay, depending on the extent of surgery and recovery needs.

Request a Consultation with Dr. Constantine

Surgical Techniques

Body lift surgery can be customized to address different areas of concern:

Lower Body Lift: The most common approach, addressing excess skin around the abdomen, flanks, lower back, buttocks, and outer thighs through a circumferential incision around the lower torso. This technique improves contours throughout the entire midsection and lower body.
Belt Lipectomy: Removes a continuous band of excess skin and tissue around the waistline. This approach is particularly effective for patients who have experienced massive weight loss and have significant circumferential skin laxity.
Body Lift with Liposuction: Combines skin removal with liposuction to further improve contours, eliminate stubborn fat deposits, and enhance the overall result.

Dr. Constantine will recommend the technique that best matches your anatomy, goals, and weight loss history.

Recovery and Healing

Here is what most patients can expect for recovery after a body lift:

First week

Swelling, bruising, tightness, soreness, and fatigue are common. Compression garments are typically worn to support healing and reduce swelling.
Two to three weeks

Most patients begin resuming light daily activities and short walks. Many are ready to return to work (depending on job type).
Four to six weeks

Gradual return to increased activity levels, depending on the extent of surgery.
Six to eight weeks

Many patients are cleared to resume exercise and more strenuous activities.
Three to six months

Swelling continues to resolve, and final contours become increasingly apparent.

Dr. Constantine provides detailed, personalized recovery instructions and close follow-up care to support optimal healing and long-lasting results.

Body Lift Surgery FAQs

What areas does a body lift address?

Body lift surgery commonly improves the abdomen, flanks, lower back, buttocks, and outer thighs. The exact areas treated depend on your anatomy, skin laxity, and surgical goals.

Is a body lift a weight loss procedure?

No. A body lift is not intended for weight loss—it is a body contouring surgery that primarily removes loose skin. While it may include some limited fat removal, it is typically performed after major weight loss has already occurred. Ideal candidates are already at or near their goal weight before surgery.

Is a body lift only for patients who have lost a large amount of weight?

Most body lift candidates are those who have experienced significant weight loss, but the procedure may also benefit some individuals with extensive skin laxity caused by aging or other factors.

Will there be visible scars?

Yes. Body lift surgery requires longer incisions than many other body contouring procedures because excess skin must be removed from multiple areas. Wherever possible, Dr. Constantine carefully places incisions where they can be concealed beneath most clothing and swimwear. Scars typically fade over time.

Can a body lift be combined with other procedures?

Yes. Body lift surgery is often combined with procedures such as arm lift surgery, thigh lift surgery, breast surgery, or other body contouring treatments to achieve more comprehensive results.

How long do body lift results last?

Results from body lift surgery are designed to be long-lasting. Maintaining a stable body weight and healthy lifestyle help to preserve your improved contours over time.

When will I see my final results?

Many improvements are visible immediately after surgery, but swelling takes time to resolve. Most patients can enjoy significant improvements within a few short months, with final results typically visible between three and six months after surgery.