In principle a single operation to lift the entire body (“total body lift”) is feasible and is the wish of many patients. However, due to the lengthy duration of such an operation and the risks a lengthy operation entails for the patient, this operation has not proved to be successful.
For this reason we carry out several operations, first correcting the trunk (abdomen, back, flanks, buttocks, upper and lower thighs = lower body lift) followed by the upper body (breast, upper arms, side wall of the breast = upper body lift). The order can be altered depending on the severity of the affliction and the physical complaints.
There are two different types of lower body lift. In the original method the incision is made from the inner side of the upper thigh in an arc across the iliac crest, and then leading downwards towards the fold of the buttocks. This method is particularly suitable when the skin is slack on the inner and outer sides of the upper thigh and the abdominal wall is only moderately affected. Repositioning of the navel is not necessary in this case. By means of a connecting incision at the level of the similarly slack mound of Venus, this can be lifted at the same time.  The resulting scar has a bikini-cut design and can be higher or lower according to the wishes of the patient.
If the slackness of the abdominal wall is more pronounced, the modified method is more suitable, which is in principle like an abdominal wall lift, continuing into an upper thigh and buttocks lift. In this case repositioning of the umbilicus is always necessary, resulting in a circular scar around the navel.
Following on from the two methods above, there is also a combination method used in cases of an extremely slack abdominal wall and upper thighs. The combination method also opens up the possibility of lifting the inner side of the upper thigh at the same time, which is usually also extremely slack.