Lower body lift technically uses an incision that extends from the anterior hip points and goes all the way across the upper buttock to meet the other side. It is often combined with an abdominoplasty and is the referred to as a "Belt Lipectomy".
Unlike the abdominoplasty which pulls the abdomen down to a relatively fixed pubic and anterior thigh area, the lower body lift uses a stable flank and low back that then lifts and pulls up the lateral hips and thighs as well as buttock itself.
This is a powerful procedure that contours and tightens the lateral hip and buttock by adding a tightness that no other procedure does. This frequently Is combined with liposuction of the low back and flank areas. Additionally as the upper buttock area is lifted it often causes a flattening of the buttock as well. Therefore, the irony here is that the resected fat and skin makes the buttock tighter and smaller, but can then require fat transfer to the middle and lower aspect of the buttock to make sure it has a nice buttock shape.
Drains are utilized for this procedure and they stay generally 10 to 14 days. This is a similar time out of work as well. Not that you can't return with drains, but this is a pretty rough/sore recovery as surgery and incision goes all the way around giving you no real break. Generally compression is worn for 4 to 6 weeks depending on the extent of liposuction.