[Body contouring surgery in the massive weight loss patient]

An increasing number of patients desire body contouring surgery after massive weight loss, whether from bariatric surgery or a change in lifestyle. The fact that many body regions lose their elasticity and tissue-tension has led to stepwise treatments including abdominoplasty, thigh lift, buttocks and hip lift or liposuction. However, these procedures often do not treat the reason for the deformities. The lower body lift first described by Ted Lockwood in 1993 is a procedure that allows simultaneous skin resection and tightening of different regions including the abdomen, buttocks, hips, and thighs. In this article the authors present their 10-year experience with the body lift. Patient selection, technical details, pre- and postoperative care, complications, and expected results are all discussed.