What Is a Body Lift?
A lower body lift, also called a circumferential body lift or belt lipectomy, removes the loose skin and fat that hang around the lower torso after major weight loss and lifts the abdomen, hips, outer thighs and buttocks in one operation. The incision runs all the way around the body, low on the abdomen like a tummy tuck and across the lower back where underwear covers it, and the skin above and below is tightened like a belt. It is the most complete treatment for the “apron” and sagging that remain after bariatric surgery, GLP-1 weight loss or a large loss through diet, and the first stage of body contouring after weight loss for most patients. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Moises Salama performs body lifts at Elite Plastic Surgery in Hollywood, Florida, serving Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Body lift at a glance
- Treats
- Loose skin all the way around the lower body after major weight loss
- Lifts
- Abdomen, hips, outer thighs and buttocks; muscle repair when needed
- Candidates
- Weight stable 6+ months, BMI usually under 35, good nutrition, non-smoker
- Anesthesia / time
- General; about 4–6 hours; overnight stay
- Recovery
- Desk work 2–4 weeks; garment ~6 weeks; exercise 6–8 weeks
- Scar
- Around the body, at underwear level; fades over a year
- Surgeon
- Dr. Moises Salama, board-certified plastic surgeon
Benefits of a Body Lift
- Removes the hanging abdominal apron and the loose skin of the hips, back, outer thighs and buttocks in one surgery.
- Lifts the buttocks and outer thighs, which a tummy tuck cannot do.
- Repairs separated abdominal muscles when needed, flattening the waist.
- Ends the rashes, chafing and hygiene problems of skin folds, and lets clothing fit.
- A lasting result for patients at a stable weight.
Body Lift vs. Tummy Tuck: What Is a Circumferential Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck treats the front of the body: it removes the excess abdominal skin, repairs the muscles and ends at the hips. A circumferential tummy tuck, or body lift, continues the incision around the back so the loose skin of the hips, lower back, outer thighs and buttocks is removed and lifted as well. Patients with loose skin only in front need a tummy tuck; patients who have lost a large amount of weight usually have loose skin all the way around, and a tummy tuck alone leaves the sides and back sagging. Dr. Salama examines the whole lower body and recommends the operation that treats all of it.
| Tummy tuck | Lower body lift | |
|---|---|---|
| Treats | Abdomen | Abdomen, hips, lower back, outer thighs, buttocks |
| Incision | Hip to hip | All the way around |
| Muscle repair | Yes | Yes, when needed |
| Surgery time | 2–3 hours | 4–6 hours |
| Stay | Same day | Overnight |
| Best for | Loose skin in front; after pregnancy | Loose skin all around; after major weight loss |
Medical illustrations, simplified and not to scale.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Body Lift?
- You have lost a large amount of weight, through bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medication or diet, and have loose skin around the lower body.
- Your weight has been stable for at least six months, usually 12 to 18 months after bariatric surgery.
- Your BMI is usually under 35; the body lift removes skin, not large amounts of fat.
- You are in good health with good nutrition. Dr. Salama checks protein, iron and vitamin levels, because healing after weight loss depends on them.
- You do not smoke, or will stop for a month before and after surgery.
- You accept a long scar in exchange for removing the hanging skin.
What Is Body Lift Surgery Like?
- Consultation. Dr. Salama examines the skin and fat of the whole lower body, checks the abdominal muscles, reviews your weight history and labs, and plans the lift and the stages that may follow. A virtual consultation with photos is available for out-of-town patients.
- Preparation. Stable weight, nutrition optimized, labs and medical clearance, no nicotine for a month before and after, blood thinners stopped two weeks before, and a caregiver for the first week.
- Anesthesia. General anesthesia by a board-certified anesthesia provider in the practice’s own state-certified facility, with blood-clot prevention throughout.
- Surgery. About four to six hours. The marked belt of skin and fat is removed around the body; the abdominal muscles are repaired when separated; the buttocks and outer thighs are lifted as the back skin is tightened, and buttock fullness can be restored by rotating tissue that would otherwise be removed; liposuction refines the hips and thighs when needed. Drains are placed and the incisions are closed in layers with dissolving stitches.
- Overnight stay with nursing care, then home the next day in a compression garment with written instructions.
Video: Dr. Salama explains the traditional buttock lift that is part of a body lift.
Recovery for a Body Lift
| Time after surgery | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Overnight stay; walking with help; drains and garment; prescription medication. |
| Days 2–7 | Home with a caregiver; walk bent at the waist several times a day; rest with the hips flexed; sponge baths until drains come out. |
| Weeks 1–2 | Drains removed; shower; standing straighter; over-the-counter medication; no lifting over 10 lb. |
| Weeks 2–4 | Desk work; walking for exercise; swelling falls; scar care with silicone once incisions are sealed. |
| Weeks 6–8 | Garment off; cleared for exercise and lifting. |
| Months 3–12 | Swelling gone by 3 months; scar fades from red to pale over a year; final result. |
Numbness of the abdomen and outer thighs is normal for months and returns gradually. Call the office about any area of the incision that opens or drains, a calf that is swollen or painful, or shortness of breath.
Video: A patient describes her leg lift and liposuction with Dr. Salama.
Body Contouring After Weight Loss: Planning the Stages
Most patients after major weight loss have loose skin in several areas, and treating all of them in one operation is not safe. Dr. Salama plans the sequence with you: the lower body lift first, because it changes the most, then an arm lift, breast lift, back lift or thigh lift three or more months apart, each limited to a safe operating time. Patients who want fuller buttocks after the lift can have a Brazilian butt lift in a later stage once their weight and shape have settled.
Risks and How They’re Managed
A body lift is a long operation and carries higher risks than a tummy tuck alone: delayed healing of part of the incision, especially across the back where the skin is under tension when sitting; fluid collection (seroma); infection; bleeding; blood clots; widened scars; asymmetry; and the need for a touch-up. Dr. Salama reduces them by operating only on patients with a stable weight and good nutrition, using blood-clot prevention during and after surgery, an overnight stay with nursing care, drains, compression and early walking, and by staging additional procedures rather than combining too much in one session.
How Much Does a Body Lift Cost in Miami?
At Elite Plastic Surgery, a body lift typically falls between $14,000 and $18,000. Where your quote lands in that range depends on the extent of the lift, whether muscle repair, liposuction or other procedures are added, the time in the operating room and the overnight stay. Your written quote from Elite Plastic Surgery lists the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia fee, the facility and overnight care and your post-operative visits, with no hidden extras. A body lift is cosmetic and is not covered by insurance, even after bariatric surgery; financing is available through CareCredit, United Medical Credit and Alphaeon Credit (see financing).
Why Choose Dr. Salama for a Body Lift
Patient reviews: 4.9★ on Google, 748 reviews for Elite Plastic Surgery · 4.7★ on RealSelf, 2,561 reviews (RealSelf Verified) · counts as of October 2026.
- Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society.
- Tummy tuck, body lift, arm lift, back lift, breast lift and BBL by the same surgeon, so the stages fit together.
- Surgery in the practice’s own state-certified facility in Hollywood, Florida, between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, with board-certified anesthesia providers and overnight nursing care.
- Bilingual team: hablamos español. Virtual consultations for out-of-town patients.
Finish What Your Weight Loss Started
Book a virtual consultation from home, or call or text (305) 933-4033. Hablamos español.
Body Lift Frequently Asked Questions
What is a body lift?
A lower body lift (circumferential body lift or belt lipectomy) removes the loose skin and fat that hang around the lower torso after major weight loss and lifts the abdomen, hips, outer thighs and buttocks in one operation. The incision runs all the way around the body, low on the abdomen like a tummy tuck and across the lower back, where underwear covers it. It is the most complete treatment for the “apron” and sagging that remain after bariatric surgery or large weight loss.
What is the difference between a body lift and a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck treats the front: it removes abdominal skin, repairs the muscles and ends at the hips. A body lift continues the incision around the back to remove the loose skin of the hips, outer thighs and buttocks as well, lifting them at the same time. Patients with loose skin only in front need a tummy tuck; patients with loose skin all the way around, which is typical after losing 70 pounds or more, need a body lift.
Who is a good candidate for a body lift?
Patients who have lost a large amount of weight, through bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medication or diet, whose weight has been stable for at least six months, with a BMI usually under 35, who are in good health with good nutrition, do not smoke or will stop for a month before and after, and accept a long scar in exchange for removing the hanging skin. Dr. Salama checks labs, protein and iron, because healing after weight loss depends on nutrition.
How long should I wait after weight loss surgery before a body lift?
Until your weight has been stable for six months or more, which is usually 12 to 18 months after bariatric surgery. Operating while weight is still falling means loose skin comes back; operating once it is stable gives a lasting result and a safer surgery.
How long does body lift surgery take?
About four to six hours, under general anesthesia. Because of the length of the operation, most patients stay overnight with nursing care and go home the next day.
How long is body lift recovery?
Plan two to four weeks before desk work and about six to eight weeks before exercise and lifting. You walk bent at the waist for the first week or two, wear a compression garment for about six weeks, and have drains for one to two weeks. Swelling settles over three months and the scar fades over a year. The full plan is in the recovery section above.
Where is the body lift scar?
All the way around the body: low across the abdomen, over the hips and across the lower back, placed so underwear or a swimsuit covers it. It is red and raised for the first months and pale and flat by about a year with scar care. The scar is the trade-off every body lift patient accepts in exchange for a flat abdomen and lifted thighs and buttocks.
Does a body lift include a thigh lift or buttock lift?
It lifts the outer thighs and buttocks, because tightening the skin all the way around pulls them up. It does not treat loose skin of the inner thighs, which needs a separate thigh lift, and it does not add volume to the buttocks; Dr. Salama can restore buttock fullness during the body lift by rotating the tissue that would otherwise be removed, or with a Brazilian butt lift in a later stage.
Can a body lift be combined with other procedures?
Body contouring after major weight loss is planned in stages, usually three or more months apart, and the body lift is normally the first. An arm lift, breast lift, back lift or thigh lift follows. Dr. Salama limits the length of each operation for safety and plans the order with you at the consultation.
Is a body lift painful?
The first week is the hardest: tightness across the abdomen and back, controlled with prescription medication, and walking bent at the waist. Most patients are on over-the-counter medication by the second week and comfortable by the third.
What are the risks of a body lift?
A body lift is a long operation and carries higher risks than a tummy tuck alone: delayed healing of part of the incision, especially where it crosses the back, fluid collection (seroma), infection, bleeding, blood clots, widened scars, asymmetry and the need for a revision. Dr. Salama reduces them by operating only on patients with a stable weight and good nutrition, using blood-clot prevention, an overnight stay with nursing care, drains and early walking. He discusses each risk with you at the consultation.
Will my skin sag again after a body lift?
The skin that is removed does not come back. Normal aging continues, and a large weight gain or loss changes the result, but patients who keep a stable weight keep the result for many years. Pregnancy after a body lift stretches the abdomen again, so Dr. Salama recommends waiting until your family is complete.
How much does a body lift cost in Miami?
At Elite Plastic Surgery a body lift typically runs $14,000 to $18,000, depending on the extent of the lift, whether liposuction or other procedures are added, the time in the operating room and the overnight stay. Your written quote from Elite Plastic Surgery lists the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia fee, the facility and overnight care and your post-operative visits, so you can compare it with other quotes. A body lift is cosmetic and is not covered by insurance; financing is available through CareCredit, United Medical Credit and Alphaeon Credit.
How should I prepare for a body lift?
Hold a stable weight for six months, optimize nutrition with protein and the vitamins your bariatric team recommends, stop nicotine for a month before and after, stop blood-thinning supplements two weeks before, complete labs and medical clearance, arrange a caregiver for the first week, and set up a recliner or bed with pillows so you can rest with the hips flexed.
Sources
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Body lift and Body contouring after major weight loss.
- The Aesthetic Society, Body lift.