Circumferential skin apron
Redundant tissue hanging around the midsection after bariatric surgery or sustained weight loss.
Sieveking/Plastic Surgery/Body Lift
Body Lift in Nashville
After Significant Weight Loss · Circumferential Contouring · Individualized Planning
Reaching a healthy weight is an accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated — yet many patients find that no amount of continued effort resolves the redundant skin that diet and exercise simply cannot address.
Restored contour. Renewed confidence. A shape that reflects the work already done.
Circumferential by design. Conservative by philosophy. Goals set before dates.
A body lift removes circumferential bands of redundant skin and fat from around the midsection — the abdomen, flanks, hips, lower back, and outer thighs — to tighten and reshape the entire lower torso. You may also see it referred to as a circumferential body lift or belt lipectomy. It is not a weight-loss procedure, and not a substitute for continued healthy habits; it addresses the skin laxity that persists after significant weight loss and cannot be resolved through non-surgical means.
Dr. Sieveking approaches every body lift with conservative tissue removal that preserves natural proportions, working closely with each patient to establish realistic goals before a surgical date is ever set. He brings Stanford-trained precision, 25 years of body contouring experience, and a deeply individualized approach to every procedure, helping patients in Franklin, Brentwood, and throughout Middle Tennessee finally see a shape that reflects their effort.
The approach
Matching the procedure to the anatomy.
Body lift procedures vary based on the distribution of excess skin, your individual anatomy, and your surgical goals. Dr. Sieveking will recommend the approach that best addresses your specific concerns during your consultation — from a full circumferential lift to more targeted or deliberately staged plans.
Lower body lift (belt lipectomy) — the most common variant performed after massive weight loss. A circumferential incision at the hip and waistline allows simultaneous improvement of the abdomen, flanks, outer thighs, and buttocks in a single stage, with the scar positioned to fall within the waistband of underwear or swimwear.
Extended tummy tuck — addresses the abdomen and wraps further around the flanks than a standard tummy tuck, without completing the full circumference. Well-suited for patients with more moderate skin laxity concentrated on the front and sides of the torso.
Staged body contouring — some patients benefit from dividing their contouring into two or more planned surgeries spaced several months apart. Staging reduces operating time and physiologic stress while allowing each area to heal fully before the next phase begins; Dr. Sieveking discusses whether staging is appropriate based on your health history and recovery timeline.
Target concerns for a body lift.
Designed for patients who have achieved significant weight loss and are left with skin that no longer reflects their effort.
Sagging outer thighs and hips
Loose skin that creates a draping appearance along the lateral thigh and hip, regardless of exercise.
Flat or descended buttocks
Skin removal and tissue repositioning restore a more lifted, rounded posterior contour.
Lower abdominal laxity
Skin and soft tissue that remains loose despite reaching a stable, healthy weight.
Hygiene and comfort issues
Skin folds causing chafing and moisture-related irritation that affect daily quality of life.
Clothing fit
Redundant tissue that creates discomfort and makes fitted clothing and swimwear difficult to wear.
Why choose this procedure
Benefits of a body lift.
For patients who have already done the hardest part, a body lift aligns the physical form with the achievement of weight loss — from every angle, and for the long term.
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A contoured silhouette
Circumferential skin removal improves the profile from every angle in a way no non-surgical treatment can replicate.
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Renewed confidence
A body lift can align the physical form with the achievement of weight loss — a meaningful and enduring change in self-perception.
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Reduced discomfort
Eliminating redundant folds relieves chafing, moisture retention, and the everyday discomfort loose skin can cause.
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Clothing that fits
Many patients describe wearing fitted clothing and swimwear comfortably for the first time after significant weight loss.
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Readiness optimized in-house
Because surgical care, medical aesthetics, and functional medicine share one roof, nutritional and metabolic readiness can be evaluated and optimized before your procedure.
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Durable, lasting results
Because tissue is removed rather than temporarily repositioned, results hold when a stable weight is maintained.
A body lift is a significant decision, and results are structural and durable — the excess skin has been removed, and the improved contour holds when weight remains stable.
Selected results
Elegant results, designed around the individual.
Body lift cases are included in our full results archive — each pair represents a single patient photographed at the same angle, light, and camera.
The journey from consultation to lasting result.
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Consultation
Thorough and unhurried
Your consultation at Sieveking Plastic Surgery is thorough and unhurried. Dr. Sieveking reviews your weight-loss history, current weight stability, nutritional status, and overall health. A physical examination and photographs guide the individualized surgical plan, and goals, scar placement, and recovery logistics are discussed in full. Because the practice integrates surgical care, medical aesthetics, and functional medicine under one roof, nutritional and metabolic readiness can be evaluated and optimized in-house before your procedure if needed. Ideal candidates have maintained a stable weight for at least 6–12 months.
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Procedure
In the on-site accredited surgical center
Body lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia at the practice’s brand-new, on-site, accredited surgical center in Franklin. A circumferential incision is positioned at the waistline — mapped preoperatively with you standing — through which excess skin and tissue are excised, and the remaining skin is carefully lifted and re-draped. The incision is closed in layers using a meticulous technique designed to minimize tension and support the best possible long-term scar appearance. Operating time typically ranges from 3–6 hours, and patients remain overnight rather than being discharged the same day.
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Recovery
Significant, honestly framed
Body lift recovery is significant, and honest preparation makes a meaningful difference. In weeks 1–2, drains are in place and managed at home; most patients cannot stand fully upright and limit activity to light walking. Drains are typically removed by weeks 2–4, when posture gradually returns to normal, and patients with sedentary jobs may consider returning to work around weeks 3–4. Compression garments remain in use as energy improves, and Dr. Sieveking clears most patients for a gradual return to strenuous activity at or after 6 weeks, based on individual healing. His team guides every phase — garment protocols, wound care, and follow-up.
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Results
Natural, lasting results
Swelling continues to resolve over months 3–6 as the contour becomes more defined, and final results are visible once swelling has fully resolved and scars have settled. Body lift results are structural and durable: the excess skin has been removed, and the improved contour holds when weight remains stable. Scars are permanent, placed strategically at the waistline to fall within the waistband of underwear or swimwear, and they continue to mature and fade over the first one to two years. The functional medicine and longevity support available at the practice can meaningfully support the overall healing environment throughout recovery.
Why Sieveking
Meet Dr. Sieveking
Transformation surgery in experienced hands.
Stanford-trained. Triple board-certified (including The American Board of Wound Management, ABWM) plastic surgeon.
Dr. Nicholas Sieveking is triple board-certified (including The American Board of Wound Management, ABWM) in plastic and reconstructive surgery and fellowship-trained in anti-aging and functional medicine. Stanford-trained, with a post-residency fellowship under Ivo Pitanguy in Brazil, and recognized multiple times as Best Plastic Surgeon in Nashville, he brings more than 25 years of complex body contouring experience to every procedure.
Sieveking Plastic Surgery is the only practice in Middle Tennessee integrating world-class surgery, medical aesthetics, and functional medicine under one roof — so nutritional and metabolic readiness can be evaluated and optimized in-house before surgery, and the healing environment supported after it.
Consultation, surgery in the on-site accredited surgical center, and every follow-up visit happen at 1200 Old Hillsboro Road in Franklin. For surgery this significant, your goals, your history, and your questions receive the full, unhurried attention they merit.
Investment
Cost of a body lift.
The cost of a body lift reflects its scope: the variant performed, whether the plan is staged across more than one operation, anesthesia, and the use of the on-site accredited surgical center. Because no two plans are alike — anatomy, goals, and recovery capacity all shape the surgical approach — pricing is reviewed transparently at your consultation, so patients understand exactly what their individualized plan includes.
Financing options are available for qualified patients, and HSA and FSA funds are accepted where eligible. For surgery that completes a transformation years in the making, the practice believes the numbers should be presented plainly and completely before any commitment is asked.
Questions, answered.
The questions most prospective patients ask before booking a consultation.
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The best candidates have maintained a stable, healthy weight for at least 6–12 months, are in good general health, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations about results and recovery. Significant weight changes after surgery can alter results and stress incisions, which is why stability comes first. A consultation with Dr. Sieveking confirms whether a body lift is the right next step for you.
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A tummy tuck addresses the front of the abdomen only, while a body lift is circumferential — treating the abdomen, flanks, hips, lower back, and outer thighs in a single procedure. For patients with more moderate laxity concentrated on the front and sides of the torso, an extended tummy tuck occupies the middle ground; Dr. Sieveking recommends the right approach at consultation.
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Most patients return to sedentary work at 3–4 weeks and resume strenuous activity at 6 or more weeks, once cleared by Dr. Sieveking based on individual healing progress. Drains are managed at home in the early weeks, compression garments remain in use through the first month and beyond, and full scar maturation can take up to 12 months or longer.
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Yes. A body lift leaves a permanent circumferential scar at the waistline, positioned to fall within the waistband of underwear or swimwear. The incision is closed in layers using a meticulous technique designed to minimize tension and support the best possible long-term scar appearance, and scars gradually fade and soften over 1–2 years.
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Yes. Weight stability for at least 6–12 months is a prerequisite for body lift surgery, as significant weight changes afterward can alter results and stress incisions. Because Sieveking Plastic Surgery integrates functional medicine under the same roof, nutritional and metabolic readiness can be evaluated and optimized in-house before your procedure if needed.
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In carefully selected patients, complementary procedures such as an inner thigh lift, liposuction, or breast lift may be incorporated into a staged contouring plan. Staging reduces operating time and physiologic stress while allowing each area to heal fully before the next phase. What is combined, and when, is determined at your consultation based on your health profile and recovery capacity.
More in Plastic Surgery.
Facial Sculpting
Begin your journey
Begin your body lift consultation at Sieveking Plastic Surgery in Franklin, TN.
A body lift is a significant decision, and you deserve a surgeon you trust completely. Dr. Sieveking welcomes patients from Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and throughout Middle Tennessee to schedule a consultation at 1200 Old Hillsboro Road — where surgery, medical aesthetics, and functional medicine share one roof. Your goals, your history, and your questions will receive the full, unhurried attention they merit. Contact the practice today to take the next step toward a silhouette that reflects everything you have already accomplished.
1200 Old Hillsboro Road, B2 · Franklin, Tennessee
Mon–Thu 9–4:30 · Fri by appointment