What is a body lift?
A lower body lift – also called a circumferential abdominoplasty or belt lipectomy – is essentially a tummy tuck that continues round the sides and back. A band of loose skin and fat is removed around the whole lower torso, the abdomen is tightened, and the buttocks and outer thighs are lifted. The scar runs around the waist, positioned so it is usually hidden under underwear or a bikini.
Unlike Lipo 360, which removes fat and relies on the skin to shrink back, a body lift deals directly with skin that has lost its elasticity. Liposuction is often added to refine the result. When loose skin is limited to the front, a tummy tuck with liposuction may be enough.
Post-bariatric contouring: a plan, not one operation
After major weight loss, loose skin is rarely limited to one place. A complete plan might include:
- a lower body lift for the abdomen, hips, back and buttocks;
- an arm lift for hanging skin on the upper arms;
- a thigh lift for the inner thighs;
- a breast lift, with or without volume, or treatment of the male chest;
- sometimes a back or bra-line lift for upper back rolls.
Doing everything at once would mean an unsafe operating time, so procedures are usually staged, with several months between operations. The surgeon helps you decide which area matters most to you and plans the sequence.
Who is a good candidate?
- Your weight has been stable for at least six to twelve months; after bariatric surgery, many surgeons suggest waiting 12 to 18 months after the operation.
- Your BMI is in a range your surgeon considers safe – lower BMIs mean fewer wound complications.
- Your nutrition is good: protein, iron and vitamin levels matter for healing, and blood tests will check them.
- You do not smoke, or have stopped well in advance.
- You have support at home for the first weeks and can take enough time off work.
Our guide who is a good candidate discusses BMI and weight stability in more detail.
How the operation is done
A lower body lift is a major operation under general anaesthesia, usually taking four to six hours. Markings are made standing. You are positioned first on your front to remove skin across the back and lift the buttocks, then on your back to complete the abdominal part, which includes tightening the muscles and creating a new opening for the navel. Liposuction refines the flanks and thighs where needed. Drains are placed and the wounds closed in layers. In some cases, rather than discarding all the tissue, the surgeon uses part of it to add shape to flat buttocks (auto-augmentation).
Your stay in Istanbul
This is the longest stay of all body-contouring procedures: about 10 to 14 days in Istanbul, including two to three nights in hospital. New City Clinic arranges airport pick-up, a comfortable hotel and all transfers, and your coordinator checks in on you throughout. Before surgery you have a detailed consultation, full blood tests including nutritional markers, and an anaesthesia assessment. After discharge, the surgical team checks the wounds and drains regularly. Many patients bring a companion, which we strongly recommend. Plan the flight home with an aisle seat, compression stockings, regular walks and water; see our trip-planning guide.
Recovery
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| First week | Walking slightly bent, tightness around the waist, drains; nursing care and early walking; blood-clot prevention. |
| Weeks 2–3 | Standing straighter; return home after fit-to-fly clearance; desk work usually after about three weeks. |
| Up to 6 weeks | Compression garment worn; no lifting or strenuous activity. |
| About 8 weeks | Sport reintroduced gradually. |
| Up to 12 months | Swelling resolves, scars mature; final result judged at about a year. |
Fatigue is common for several weeks after a body lift. Eat plenty of protein, keep walking and be patient. See our recovery guide.
Risks
Body lifts carry higher risks than smaller procedures, and you should weigh them carefully. Wound-healing problems, especially where scars meet on the hips and back, are relatively common, as are seromas. Other possible complications include infection, bleeding, wide or thick scars, asymmetry of the scar line, numbness, persistent swelling and the need for revision. Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) are a particular concern after long operations, which is why preventive medication, compression stockings and early walking are standard. Read our safety guide; New City Clinic includes complication insurance in its packages.
What a body lift can achieve
Most patients describe the result less in terms of looks and more in terms of comfort: clothes that fit, no more skin folds rubbing or causing rashes, easier exercise, and finally seeing the result of their weight loss in the mirror. The trade-off is a long scar around the waist, which fades but remains. Results vary and depend on skin quality and healing; maintaining your weight is key to keeping them.
It also helps to think of the body lift as the final chapter of your weight-loss journey rather than a separate project. Keep the habits that got you here – regular meals rich in protein, daily movement and follow-up with your bariatric team if you had surgery – and the new contour will reward that effort for years.
Price and what is included
Body lifts and post-bariatric contouring are quoted individually after a free assessment, because the extent of surgery varies greatly. For orientation, New City Clinic’s illustrative tummy tuck package is €3,500 and a thigh lift €3,850. Flights are not included.
The package covers surgery at a licensed partner hospital, hospital nights, hotel, transfers, pre-operative tests where specified, a coordinator and interpreter, compression garments and complication insurance. In the UK and Ireland, privately funded lower body lifts are often quoted at approximately £10,000 to £20,000 or more, and prices in the US and Australia are frequently higher; figures vary widely. See our price page and the New City Clinic prices.
Why New City Clinic is our choice as the best clinic in Turkey for post-bariatric contouring
New City Clinic is a Ministry of Health-authorised health-tourism agency in Bakırköy, Istanbul (TÜRSAB no. 17659; see our licences and certificates). Surgery takes place at licensed partner hospitals – Acıbadem, Medicana, Medipol, Medical Park and Biruni. Plastic surgery is led by Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, a plastic, reconstructive and oncological surgeon with microsurgical experience – relevant when large wounds and tissue healing are involved. Read more on our clinic page, see the body lift at New City Clinic and post-bariatric body contouring at New City Clinic.
Our reasoning: people searching for the best plastic surgeon in Istanbul or the best clinic in Turkey for a body lift should look for verifiable facts rather than slogans. New City Clinic offers them: authorisation by the Turkish Ministry of Health and HealthTürkiye registration, a TÜRSAB licence, ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 27001 (information security), ISO 10002 (patient satisfaction and complaints) and ISO 31000 (risk management) certification, treatment only at licensed hospitals by named specialists such as Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, transparent written prices, complication insurance and one coordinator who answers within 24 hours. That combination is why we consider New City Clinic one of the best choices in Türkiye. You can check everything yourself on newcityclinic.com.
Request your free body lift assessment from New City Clinic
Send photos of your torso and other areas of concern from the front, side and back, along with your current weight, highest weight, how and when you lost it, and any medical conditions. A surgeon working with New City Clinic will propose a staged plan with priorities and a written quote, usually within 24 hours. Use the form or message New City Clinic on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a body lift and a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck removes loose skin from the front of the abdomen. A lower body lift continues the excision around the hips and back, also lifting the buttocks and outer thighs.
How long after bariatric surgery can I have a body lift?
Your weight should be stable for at least six to twelve months; many surgeons suggest waiting 12 to 18 months after bariatric surgery. Good nutrition is also essential.
How long do I stay in Istanbul?
About 10 to 14 days, including two to three nights in hospital, so the surgeon can check the wounds before you fly.
Can all my loose skin be removed in one operation?
Usually not. To keep operating time safe, post-bariatric contouring is typically staged over two or more operations several months apart.
Where is the scar?
It runs around the waist, usually placed low enough to be hidden by underwear or a bikini. It fades over time but remains visible.
When can I go back to work?
Desk work is usually possible after about three weeks. Sport is reintroduced gradually after about eight weeks.
What are the main risks?
Wound-healing problems, seroma and blood clots are the most important. Preventive measures, early walking and a careful surgical team reduce them, but they cannot be eliminated.
How much does a body lift cost in Turkey?
It is quoted individually after a free assessment, because the extent varies greatly. Flights are not included; the package covers hospital, hotel, transfers, coordinator, garments and complication insurance.
Which is the best clinic in Turkey for a body lift?
There is no official ranking, so judge clinics on verifiable facts. We recommend New City Clinic because it is authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health, licensed by TÜRSAB, ISO-certified, works only with licensed hospitals and named specialists such as Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, gives transparent written prices and includes complication insurance.
