Lower Body Lift & Body Lift

A lower body lift — also called a belt lipectomy or circumferential body lift — is a body-contouring surgery that removes excess, sagging skin and stubborn fat from all the way around the lower torso in a single operation. Where a tummy tuck treats only the front of the abdomen, a lower body lift extends the incision around the waistline like a belt to also lift and tighten the hips, flanks, lower back, buttocks, and outer thighs.

It is the definitive answer to one of the most frustrating parts of a weight-loss journey: the loose, hanging skin that remains after the fat is gone. No amount of diet or exercise tightens skin that has lost its elasticity — only surgery removes it. A lower body lift takes away that excess and re-drapes what's left for a firmer, smoother, more proportionate shape.

Importantly, this is a contouring procedure, not a weight-loss procedure. Its purpose is to improve your shape and comfort — often removing several pounds of excess skin — not to change the number on the scale. At Levesque Plastic Surgery in Austin, TX, every lower body lift is planned around your specific pattern of excess skin and your goals.

A lower body lift also pairs naturally with a dedicated thigh lift for the inner thighs, or liposuction to refine areas that have fat but good skin quality.

A lower body lift is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes four to eight hours, depending on how many areas are addressed. Dr. Levesque plans your incision to sit low around the waistline — where underwear and swimwear will conceal it — and marks it carefully while you're standing so the final result is balanced and symmetric.

During surgery he removes the excess skin and fatty tissue in a continuous band, uses targeted liposuction to refine the transitions, and then tightens and re-suspends the underlying tissues. This deeper tightening — not just trimming skin — is what lifts the buttocks and outer thighs and creates a firm, contoured result rather than a merely flatter one. Incisions are closed in layers with meticulous technique to support healing and minimize scarring.

Most patients go home the same day or, for larger cases, stay one night for monitoring. Small drains are commonly placed to prevent fluid buildup and are removed at an early follow-up visit.

A lower body lift is an extensive operation, which is exactly why who performs it, and where, matters so much. Dr. Levesque is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) — the only plastic-surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties — and operates in accredited facilities with hospital-level safety standards. (Not every "cosmetic surgeon" holds ABPS certification; it's worth understanding the difference.)

As with any major body-contouring surgery, risks include seroma (fluid collection), infection, delayed wound healing at the incision, changes in sensation, asymmetry, and — less commonly — blood clots (DVT). Careful patient selection, meticulous technique, early mobilization, compression, and diligent aftercare are how those risks are kept low. Dr. Levesque reviews your individual risk factors thoroughly before recommending surgery and will tell you honestly if you'd be safer waiting or staging the procedure.

There's no way around it: removing this much skin means a long incision, and a lower body lift will leave a scar that runs around the waistline. The goal isn't a scarless result — it's a well-placed, well-healed one. Dr. Levesque positions the incision low so it hides beneath underwear and swimwear, closes it in layers to reduce tension, and gives you a scar-care protocol to follow.

Scars are firm and pink at first, then fade and flatten over 12 to 18 months. Protecting them from sun exposure and following aftercare closely makes a real difference. If a scar ever remains bothersome once healed, laser scar treatments can help soften it further. The vast majority of patients consider a hidden scar a very fair trade for finally removing the excess skin.