Body · the procedure family

Body Lift in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A lower body lift — also called a belt lipectomy — removes the loose skin that circles the waist after major weight loss. It is a tummy tuck carried all the way around: the front is tightened, and the outer thighs and buttocks are lifted from behind.

It is the biggest single operation in post-weight-loss contouring, and it is planned as such: stable weight, good nutrition, an overnight stay, and help at home. When the loose skin is mostly in front, a tummy tuck alone may be the better plan — the exam decides.

Performed by the surgeons of Tulsa Surgical Arts — the practice behind the AACS-certified cosmetic surgery fellowship — in an AAAHC-accredited surgery center with a private overnight guest suite. The waistline, rebuilt all the way around.

Book a consultation See real body results Call 918-392-7900

How it works

What happens in the operating room.

You get anesthesia (medicine that makes you sleep).
The surgeon marks the belt of extra skin with you standing — the pattern is planned awake, with you, before surgery.
The front is done like a tummy tuck: the extra skin is removed, and the stretched abdominal muscles are repaired when needed.
You are turned, and the same line is carried around the back: the skin of the outer thighs and buttocks is lifted and the extra is removed.
The deeper tissue is anchored so the lift holds. The cuts are closed in layers. Drains are usually placed for a few days.
A compression garment goes on. Surgery takes several hours. An overnight stay is planned.

The plain-language guide — body contouring after weight loss

Arm, thigh and lower-body lifts, explained simply — written at an 8th-grade reading level — plain words, no jargon.

Read the guide →
Download the PDF →

The honest risk list — read it before your consult

Every surgery has risks. These are the main ones, in plain words — and we go over all of them with you in person.

Wound healing problems are the most common issue. Long cuts and thinner tissue heal slower, and small separations along a scar this long are common.
Fluid buildup under the skin (a seroma) that may need draining.
A long scar around the waist. It is the trade for removing the skin. It fades but never vanishes, and parts of it can widen.
Low protein or low vitamin levels slow healing. We check labs and fix them before surgery.
Numb skin over the belly, hips, and outer thighs. Feeling usually returns over months. Some areas can stay numb.
Bleeding. Some bleeding can need another trip to the operating room.
Infection. Signs are spreading redness, warmth, pus, or fever.
Blood clots in the legs. A clot can travel to the lungs. That is an emergency. An operation this size carries more clot risk than smaller ones — early walking lowers it, and prevention is planned.
Problems from anesthesia (the medicine that makes you sleep). These are rare in healthy people.
Uneven results. The two sides of the body are never a perfect match.
The need for another surgery to fix a problem or improve the result.

Recovery, honestly

What the weeks actually look like.

The arc

First few daysSore and slow, walking bent at the waist. An overnight stay, then help at home is a must. Walk a little every few hours.

One weekStill bent and tender. Drains usually come out around now. Short walks several times a day.

Two weeksStanding straighter. Many return to desk work. No lifting over ten pounds.

Six weeksFull activity for most people, until the next planned stage.

One yearScars fade. Results from all stages come together.

When to call, day or night

In any emergency, call 911 first

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department now — do not drive yourself, do not wait:

Chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing.
Fainting, sudden confusion, or weakness on one side of the body.
One leg swells, or one calf hurts more than the other.
Blood soaks a bandage and does not slow down with gentle pressure.

Otherwise call 918-392-7900, day or night, if:

A growing bulge of fluid under the skin, or a wound edge that turns dark.
You have a fever of 101.5°F (38.6°C) or higher.
Redness spreads out from a cut, or you see pus.
A wound pulls open, or stitches come apart.

The full Patient Resource Center →

Cost, answered

What a body lift actually costs.

We don’t do internet price tags. Pricing moves with your anatomy, primary versus revision, and what your plan combines — so your consultation ends with one written, all-in number: surgeon, anesthesia, AAAHC-accredited facility, and follow-up included. We honor it.

How pricing works Financing — PatientFi · CareCredit · Cherry

A body lift is usually the first and largest stage of a post-weight-loss plan. Each stage is priced as its own written number, and the sequence is set with you at consultation.

Questions

Asked at nearly every consult.

How long does the surgery take?

Several hours — it is the largest single operation in body contouring. An overnight stay is planned, with an adult to help when you go home.

When can I be back at work?

Desk work at about two weeks for most people. Full activity at six weeks. If more stages are planned, they are spaced months apart.

Will there be scars?

Yes — a scar that runs around the waist, planned to sit where underwear or swimwear covers it. It is long by design; that is what removing a belt of skin takes. It fades over a year but never vanishes.

What does it cost?

Pricing is personal — it depends on your anatomy and the complexity of your plan. Your consultation ends with one written, all-in number: surgeon, anesthesia, AAAHC-accredited facility, and follow-up included.

Start here

One conversation. Zero pressure.

Meet the surgeon, get examined, and leave with a written plan and a written number — both yours to keep.

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