What is a body lift 360°?
A body lift 360° is a circumferential body-contouring surgery that removes, in a single procedure, the excess skin and fat surrounding the entire trunk: the abdomen in front, the waist and flanks at the sides, and the lower back behind. The incision runs all the way around the waistline —at belt level— and, as it closes, it tightens the abdominal wall in front and, behind, lifts the buttocks and the outer thighs. It is also known as a circumferential trunk lift, belt lipectomy or lower body lift.
Its main indication is skin laxity that wraps around the whole body after significant weight loss —whether from bariatric surgery or from a large diet-driven loss— when the skin has lost the elasticity to retract and a hanging excess remains in 360 degrees. It is also considered in patients with marked circumferential laxity from other causes.
The difference with an abdominoplasty is geometric: an abdominoplasty works only the anterior surface of the abdomen. When the excess skin continues toward the flanks and back, correcting the front alone leaves lateral "dog-ears" and an incomplete result. The 360° lift exists precisely because some excesses do not end at the side — they go all the way around.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
The surgical plan is defined at the assessment, according to how much skin must be removed, tissue quality, and whether it is better to do everything in one stage or to divide it. The tools that are combined are:
- Circumferential resection (belt lipectomy): the central component. A continuous band of skin and fat is removed around the waist, and the incision is closed along a vector that lifts both the front and the back at once.
- Abdominoplasty as the anterior component: in front, this includes repair of the rectus diastasis (the separation of the abdominal muscles) with plication, and usually repositioning of the navel, just as in a conventional abdominoplasty.
- Buttock auto-augmentation and preservation: when lifting the posterior tissues, care is taken not to flatten the buttock; where tissue allows, part of the resected skin is repositioned to preserve or improve projection rather than simply tightening.
- Combination with liposuction (lipo 360): the areas that are not resected —waist, upper back, hip— are sculpted to refine the contour alongside the skin that is removed. The safety of combining both maneuvers in the same stage is assessed.
- Staged surgery: in cases with very extensive excess, dividing the procedure into two stages (usually the front and then the back, or the reverse) shortens each session and can be safer. The decision is individual.
- Association with other lifts: arm lift (brachioplasty) or thigh lift are usually assessed separately, in a different operation, because adding them lengthens an already long surgery too much.
How is it performed?
The body lift 360° is performed under general anaesthesia in a hospital operating room, and lasts approximately 4 to 6 hours depending on the extent and whether it is combined with liposuction. Much of the surgery is carried out with the patient prone and supine, so sterile position changes are made. Drains are placed to evacuate fluid, a compression garment is applied, and 1 to 2 nights of hospital stay are usually needed for monitoring and pain control.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Who is a good candidate?
A candidate has circumferential laxity of the trunk and meets the safety conditions reviewed at the assessment:
- Excess skin wrapping around the trunk after significant weight loss (bariatric surgery or diet), or marked circumferential laxity from other causes.
- Stable weight, ideally for 6 to 12 months: operating before the weight has stabilised compromises the result.
- Good nutritional status. After bariatric surgery it is common to need correction of anaemia, protein and vitamins before surgery; that is part of the preparation, not a formality.
- Not smoking, or stopping tobacco with the lead time indicated: tobacco compromises skin circulation and increases the risk of healing problems along such a long incision.
- Good general health, with no uncontrolled disease and no contraindications to a surgery of this length.
- Realistic expectations: this surgery leaves a long, permanent scar around the waist in exchange for removing the excess skin. Understanding that trade-off is part of being a good candidate.
Recommended post-surgical treatments
To support a more comfortable recovery and reduce swelling, Dr. Arístides may recommend, depending on the case, manual lymphatic drainage, hyperbaric chamber sessions and disciplined use of the compression garment for as long as indicated; once matured, treatment of the scars may also be suggested. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
The body lift 360° is quoted at consultation rather than by a fixed tariff, because it is a made-to-measure surgery: how much skin must be removed, whether it is combined with liposuction, and whether it is done in one or two stages completely change the plan and the hospital and anaesthetist fees. For reference, its components on their own start from $80,000 MXN (abdominoplasty) and $70,000 MXN (liposuction). Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. See the price list.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
Before deciding on a surgery of this magnitude, it is worth choosing carefully who operates on you: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla: the complete guide — part of the informational guide series reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Days 1–3Hospital stay or close monitoring; early walking in a slightly bent posture to avoid tension on the incision. Discomfort managed with prescribed analgesia and a permanent compression garment.
- Weeks 1–2Drains removed gradually as fluid output decreases; dressings and wound checks. Relative rest at home.
- Weeks 3–4Light daily activities and, in many cases, desk work can resume. Posture straightens progressively.
- Weeks 6–8Higher-effort exercise is gradually authorised, as medically advised.
- Up to 12 monthsThe circumferential scar matures and lightens over time; the definitive contour is seen as swelling fully resolves.
Frequently asked questions
What is a body lift 360°?
It is a circumferential body-contouring surgery that removes excess skin and fat around the entire trunk —abdomen, waist, flanks and lower back— through a single incision that runs around the waist. As it closes it lifts the abdomen, the buttocks and the outer thighs at once. It is the reference procedure after significant weight loss. Results may vary.
What is the difference between a body lift 360° and an abdominoplasty?
An abdominoplasty works only the front surface of the abdomen. A 360° lift is circumferential: it continues toward the flanks and back and runs all the way around the waist. It is chosen when the excess skin does not end at the side but wraps around the whole body, which is common after massive weight loss.
How much does a body lift 360° cost in Puebla?
The cost is defined at the in-person consultation rather than by a fixed tariff, because it depends on how much skin must be removed, whether it is combined with liposuction, and whether it is done in one or two stages. For reference, its components on their own start from approximately $80,000 MXN (abdominoplasty) and $70,000 MXN (liposuction), plus hospital and anaesthetist fees. Results may vary.
Am I a candidate if I lost a lot of weight after bariatric surgery?
Often yes, but safety conditions must first be met: stable weight for 6 to 12 months and good nutritional status, since after bariatric surgery it is common to need correction of anaemia, protein and vitamins before surgery. All of this is reviewed in detail at the assessment.
How long is recovery after a body lift 360°?
Light activities usually resume between the third and fourth week, and higher-effort exercise is gradually authorised around 6 to 8 weeks. The scar continues to mature until around 12 months. Timelines are individual and results may vary.
Does it leave a large scar?
Yes. It leaves a long, permanent scar around the waist, placed so that it stays hidden under underwear or a swimsuit. That is the trade-off of this surgery: in exchange for removing the excess skin that wraps around the trunk, a circumferential scar is accepted, which improves and lightens over time.
Is it done in one stage or in stages?
It depends on the amount of excess. In many cases it is done in a single stage; when the excess is very extensive, dividing the procedure into two stages can shorten each session and be safer. The decision is individual and is defined at the assessment.
Is this surgery dangerous?
All major surgery carries risk and requires prior medical assessment; the 360° lift is a long surgery with an extensive incision, so preparation and candidate selection are especially important. Performed by a licensed surgeon with a specialty licence, in a hospital operating room and with proper follow-up, it is planned to minimise those risks. Individual risk may vary.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.