Body Lift
Serving Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, Bentonville, and the Northwest Arkansas area
Serving Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, Bentonville, and the Northwest Arkansas area
After major weight loss or physical changes over time, many patients are left with loose, hanging skin, discomfort, and clothing that simply doesn’t fit right. Body lift surgery helps remove excess skin and reshape the lower body, resulting in smoother, more natural body contours.
At Michael Spann, MD, we approach each patient and procedure with precision, expertise, and compassion. Dr. Spann is a board-certified plastic surgeon with nearly two decades of experience in body contouring after weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery, and lifestyle-driven transformation. If you’re ready to complete your journey and restore your confidence, let’s explore what makes sense for your goals.
Eliminates loose skin, reshaping the hips, abdomen, and thighs.
Liposuction can be incorporated to address stubborn fat pockets that don't respond to diet or exercise.
Performed under general anesthesia in our AAAASF-accredited OR
Return to light activities in 10-14 days and full activities in about 4-6 weeks
Maintaining a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle helps you enjoy your newly shaped contours long term.
A body lift—also called a lower body lift or belt lipectomy—is a comprehensive surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the lower body. Often combined with liposuction, it not only tightens and lifts but also sculpts stubborn fat deposits for more refined results.
This procedure is especially beneficial for patients who have experienced significant weight loss and are left with loose, sagging skin. Unlike a tummy tuck, which focuses solely on the abdominal area, a lower body lift addresses the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, outer thighs, and sometimes the inner thighs in a single surgery.
By reducing hanging skin, improving elasticity, and pairing with targeted liposuction, a body lift creates smoother, more balanced contours across multiple areas of the body.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Spann will evaluate your goals, areas of concern, and medical history. This in-depth discussion helps you understand your options and begin planning the best surgical approach for your needs. Every body lift procedure is tailored to your body and your priorities, whether you'd benefit from a full circumferential lift or more focused contouring.
Surgery is performed under general anesthesia in our accredited, office-based surgical suite. Dr. Spann makes strategic incisions to access and tighten the underlying tissue, remove excess skin, and sculpt the surrounding tissue for smooth, natural-looking results. To close the incisions, a combination of layered sutures, tissue glue, or skin adhesives may be used to help reduce tension on the incision and minimize scarring. In some cases, post-surgical drains may be placed to drain excess fluid during healing.
You’ll go home the day of your procedure with detailed recovery instructions and post-op appointments scheduled to monitor your healing.
A body lift is designed to improve the shape and firmness of the lower body by addressing areas where excess skin, loose tissue, or sagging skin remain after significant weight loss, aging, or pregnancy. Dr. Spann carefully tailors each surgical plan to your body’s unique needs. Most lower body lift procedures focus on the following regions:
Together, these areas are addressed in one coordinated surgical procedure.
The lower body lift procedure is ideal for those dealing with:
Body lift surgery with Dr. Spann is not about chasing perfection. It’s about finally feeling like your body matches the effort you’ve put in.
Patients often describe body lift results as life-changing. After months or even years of dedication to improving your health, body lift surgery helps resolve the uncomfortable reality of excess skin that no amount of exercise can fix.
Benefits include:
After a body lift, you’ll not only see refined contours, you’ll feel them every time you move.
Candidates for a body lift should be in generally good health and should have maintained a stable weight for at least 6 months. It's also important to hold realistic expectations for the results of surgery.
You may be an ideal candidate for a body lift if you’ve undergone bariatric surgery, lost a significant amount of weight, and now struggle with excess skin and fat in the lower body. Dr. Spann will review your goals, health history, medications, herbal supplements, smoking habits, or history of blood clots to ensure safety.
Recovery following a body lift is different for everyone, but most patients need at least 10–14 days of downtime. This is followed by a gradual return to various activity levels over the next four to six weeks.
Understanding that what happens after surgery is just as important as the procedure itself, we have developed a thoughtful recovery protocol for our surgical patients. We work hard to limit the need for narcotics, and our post-op care includes advanced pain control using anti-inflammatory drugs, long-lasting anesthetics, and lymphatic massage, which helps reduce swelling and promotes quicker healing. You’ll also wear compression garments to reduce swelling, support your newly shaped contours, and reduce the risk of complications like deep vein thrombosis.
Rest assured that you will be supported at every stage of your recovery with clear aftercare guidelines, post-op check-ups, and open communication with Dr. Spann and his team for any questions or concerns.
You’ll notice an immediate improvement in your body contours, especially once swelling decreases. Over the weeks and months that follow, your lower body will continue to refine into a shape that’s more aligned with your goals.
With a healthy diet, active lifestyle, and stable weight, your body lift results can last for many years. Many patients tell us they finally feel comfortable wearing fitted clothes, enjoying movement, and seeing the body they’ve worked so hard for. The results of a body lift can provide a sense of closure and renewed confidence following your weight loss journey.
As a plastic surgeon who is board-certified in both general and plastic surgery, Dr. Spann brings deep expertise and personal dedication to every procedure. With nearly 20 years of experience and a boutique approach to patient care, he prioritizes long-term results and patient satisfaction over volume or speed.
Whether you're considering a lower body lift or combining your body lift surgery with a tummy tuck or thigh lift, you’ll be in skilled, compassionate hands every step of the way. Schedule a consultation today, and let's discuss your goals.
A tummy tuck focuses on tightening the abdominal area, while a lower body lift targets the entire lower torso, including the abdomen, hips, flanks, buttocks, and outer thighs for more comprehensive results.
Most people will notice that you look fitter and more proportionate, but the change looks natural. While scarring is an inevitable part of any surgery, Dr. Spann places incisions where they’re most concealed and uses techniques that help minimize scarring. Most patients find the tradeoff of refined contours for some degree of scarring worthwhile.
Absolutely. Many patients pair a body lift with liposuction, breast surgery (breast lift or breast augmentation), or other procedures to complete their transformation. We’ll guide you through your options to tailor a procedure to your goals.
You’ll need about 2 weeks off work and four to six weeks before returning to exercise. Wearing your compression garments as directed helps speed healing and support your new contours.
Like any major surgery, risks include excessive bleeding, fluid buildup, and poor wound healing. That’s why choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience matters. Dr. Spann will review any medical conditions, including any history of blood clots, and all medications you are taking, including herbal supplements, to ensure that plastic surgery is a safe option for you.
Dr. Spann carefully plans each lift to remove the right amount of skin and fat without compromising function or aesthetics. If small areas of remaining tissue remain, they can often be treated later with minimally invasive options.
Once your weight has been stable for 6 months, and you’re in good health, you may be a candidate. Patients who’ve had bariatric surgery often wait 12–18 months to ensure the most stable results.
Discomfort is normal in the early days of recovery, but we use anti-inflammatory drugs, nerve blocks, and long-acting anesthesia to ease recovery. Most patients are surprised by how manageable it feels.
Costs vary depending on the extent of your surgery and whether additional procedures are incorporated. During your initial consultation, we’ll walk you through a detailed quote and discuss any available financing options. At Little Rock Plastic Surgery, we offer flexible payment options through CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit.
We’ll review your goals and medical history, take measurements, and talk through your concerns in a relaxed, pressure-free setting. This is your time to ask anything and learn what’s right for you.
