Lower Body Lift Illinois

Unfortunately, losing a large amount of weight can present a new burden: excess skin, which hangs from the waist and gathers uncomfortably around the buttocks and thighs. Lower body lift surgery with Dr. Gunnar Thors can dramatically improve a patient's appearance and comfort by eliminating the excess skin, helping to restore a firmer, smoother shape to the abdomen, hips and buttocks.

Initital Recovery Time: 3 weeks
Final Results: 6 months

Lower body lift surgery, also called a “circumferential body lift” or “belt lipectomy,” addresses excess skin in the lower abdomen, hips, buttocks and thighs to restore more proportional contours. This life-enhancing procedure can remove several pounds of excess skin, helping patients more fully enjoy the benefits of their weight loss. After their procedures, patients report that clothing fits more comfortably, they have more clothing options than before, and they feel more confident in their personal and professional lives.

Am I a good candidate for a lower body lift?

It’s essential for patients to be prepared for a safe surgery and excellent outcome with lower body lift surgery. To be considered a good candidate, you should meet the following qualifications:

  • You have loose, sagging skin hanging from your waist and/or excess skin gathered around your buttocks, hips or thighs
  • You have realistic expectations for improvement, not perfection
  • You are at or near your ideal healthy body weight and your weight has stabilized for at least 6 months
  • You do not smoke and do not have underlying health conditions that could make surgery unsafe
  • You can accept having permanent scars that may be visible in certain types of clothing

It is essential that a patient be in good health to optimize safety and results.

Before & After Gallery
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About lower body lift surgery with Dr. Thors

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gunnar Thors has more than 20 years of experience performing post-weight loss body lift procedures, and he uses safe, proven techniques to achieve a patient’s desired improvements and restore more natural proportions to his or her body. Your surgery will take place at a fully accredited surgery center, and general anesthesia is provided by a board certified MD anesthesiologist.

Dr. Thors makes an incision running around the circumference of the torso, through which he removes the “belt” of excess skin, lifting and tightening the remaining tissues. If you are having an inner thigh lift at the same time, Dr. Thors will make additional incisions along the groin.

Many patients also choose to have a tummy tuck at the same time as a lower body lift to tighten lax abdominal muscles and achieve a flatter, firmer abdomen. Dr. Thors will discuss the body contouring procedure options that interest you during a personal consultation.

Recovery after lower body lift surgery

While you will be able to get up and walk around within a day or so of surgery, you will need assistance at home for the first week or so.Discomfort peaks a few days after surgery. Dr. Thors will give you medication to manage post-operative pain, and you may have drains placed temporarily to collect excess fluid. Drains are typically removed 1 to 2 weeks after surgery, and after the first week, you will feel noticeably better each day.

Patients are typically ready to return to a desk job within 3 to 4 weeks after a lower body lift, and can gradually resume exercise after 6 to 8 weeks. Dr. Thors will give you instructions for recovery prior to surgery and follow up with you throughout the recovery process to ensure you are healing optimally.

Lower body lift scars

Dr. Thors takes care to place incisions as low on the body as possible, but the procedure will leave a long scar running around the torso. While everyday clothing will conceal this scar, it may be visible when wearing a swimsuit, for example. Scars will be appear bright pink for the first year or so and fade considerably thereafter with proper care, although it will never completely go away. Most patients agree that a permanent scar is a small price to pay for getting rid of the excess, burdensome skin.

Ensuring long-lasting results from a lower body lift

In the hands of an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon, lower body lift surgery can dramatically improve body contours and restore aesthetically pleasing body proportions that look and feel better in clothing. These improvements may last a lifetime, as long as you maintain a stable weight. Fluctuation in weight may negatively effect your new body contours. Significant weight gain after a body lift can re-stretch the skin and negatively affect body contours as fat deposits increase. On the other hand, significant weight loss after a body lift can result in new areas of sagging, excess skin.

Additionally, it is expected that natural aging will eventually affect the appearance of your body. You may experience some slackening of tissues in the lower body as you age, although for most patients the degree of age-related skin sagging after body lift surgery will be far less than what they are currently dealing with.

Have questions about body lift options? Call us at 847.458.8808 or contact us here at our website.

Patients Love

Dr. Gunnar Thors

BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON

"I have the utmost respect for Dr. Gunnar Thors and his staff. From the consultation, through the pre-op questions, surgery and the follow-ups, I have been treated so wonderfully."

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