Ruth, A lower body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy, is a procedure that is most commonly done in individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight and their weight has stabilized at an acceptable level. These are significant operations that may take 5 or more hours of surgery and frequently do involve performing liposuction at the same time. The surgeon must always take into account the blood supply to the tissues or healing can be compromised. Thigh lifts can involve limited incisions in the groin or long incisions on the inner part of the thigh along with the groin. Again, liposuction is commonly performed at the same time but must be done carefully to avoid injuring the blood supply to the tissues. The procedure may take from a couple of hours up to 4 or more hours. Both of these procedures, either done simultaneously or in isolation generally require an overnight stay in a surgery center or hospital. Combining the body lift and thigh lift can be done but there may be increased risks of complications related to the anesthetic or procedure. Richard Korentager, MD, FACS Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery Chair, Department of Plastic Surgery Program Director, Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency University of Kansas

Answer from Richard Korentager, M.D.