The Real Butt Lift
The buttocks lift, or “Butt Lift” is different than the Brazilian Butt Lift that involves fat transfer. “The Real Butt Lift” is designed for patients who have developed actual sagging in the buttocks region. This may be in 2 different areas:
- The body of the buttocks
- The banana roll region below the buttocks.
Dr. Schneider performs 2 different style lifts depending on what the patient requires.
The Body of the Buttocks
This is treated with an incision above the buttocks. This technique was invented by Dr. Ted Lockwood who developed this in Kansas City where Dr. Schneider trained in Plastic Surgery.
This butt lift involves placing an incision above the buttocks that runs courses under the top of the panty line and runs from hip to hip. Usually, a large segment of loose skin is removed with this process which allows Dr. Schneider to lift the body of the buttocks, increase its size if necessary, decrease bulging of the lateral thigh and hip if necessary, and also tighten the outer part of the thigh.
The operation is performed with all internal suturing and takes about 2 hours to perform in our AAAHC certified office surgery center. Dr. Schneider uses a very long-lasting anesthetic in the skin and tissues, and because muscle is not actually tightened, the discomfort is typically less than that seen with a tummy tuck.
The Banana Roll Region
Many patients are bothered by sagging, cellulite or laxity below their buttocks on the backside of their legs. For this, the Buttocks Lift, invented by Dr. Pitanguy, uses an incision that runs in the buttocks crease at the top of the thigh is used. In some patients, this may be hidden under the bathing suit line and in others, under the buttocks crease.
Dr. Schneider has performed this even in bodybuilder patients to enhance their shape for posing and on-stage performance. The incision is designed so that it is inconspicuously hidden. The procedure takes about 2 hours to perform, and it may be performed alone or it may be combined with either a tummy tuck, liposuction, or an inner thigh lift.
Body Lift
When we combine an abdominoplasty, liposuction, and a “Real Butt Lift”, the result is called a body lift. The abdominoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the front of the torso, liposuction of the flanks, outer thighs and hips is performed, and the real buttocks lift removes excess skin and fat from the flanks, hips and posterior torso.
This is ideal for someone who has some sagging skin in the abdomen, the outside of their thighs, and in the buttocks. It is commonly performed in patients who have successfully lost large amounts of weight. This procedure dramatically reshapes the torso circumferentially.
With the body lift, there are no staples or sutures that need to be removed as all sutures are dissolvable and placed in the deep tissue and under the skin. The skin edges are then gently joined with special tapes. The procedure typically takes 3-4 hours to perform in our AAAHC certified surgery center and patients are able to go home the same day. We like our patients up and walking the night of the surgery. Patients are able to shower within 24-48 hours after the procedure and the tapes on the skin can get wet. These tapes are removed about one week following surgery. Most patients are able to return to modified activities and work in 10-14 days.
Inner Thigh Lift
The inner thigh lift is designed to remove loose and sagging skin on the inside of the thighs. Sometimes patients may see Dr. Schneider for consultation of inner thigh lift and really all they need is either a little liposuction or non-surgical Exilis. If this is all that is necessary then the recovery can be minimal or very quick. If an actual inner thigh lift is recommended, then this will lift the skin of the inner thigh and reduce the fullness of fat from the inner thigh down to the knee.
The inner thigh lift is performed with the patient asleep, and it involves hiding the incision in the groin crease. From this incision, the loose skin of the region is removed, and the remaining skin lifted and tightened.
All the suturing is either internal or dissolvable so that no sutures need to be removed. At the same time as the thigh lift is performed, liposuction is used to decrease the volume of the fat from the inner thigh all the way down to and including the knee.
The inner thigh lift can produce a dramatic improvement in the shape and size of the inner thigh. Many patients are amazed that they may see a small gap we call the triangle of light between their thighs. The 2-hour inner thigh lift procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure with most patients being able to return to modified activities within 7 – 10 days of the thigh lift.