A pubic lift, formally called a monsplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the mons pubis, the soft mound of tissue just above the pubic bone. The goal is to create a flatter, tighter contour in that area. It typically costs between $3,000 and $8,000, and most insurance plans consider it cosmetic.
Why People Get a Pubic Lift
The mons pubis can become enlarged or saggy for several reasons. Significant weight loss is one of the most common: when someone drops a large amount of weight, the skin and fat in this area often don’t shrink to match. Aging, hormonal changes, childbirth, and genetics also play a role. Some people find the extra tissue uncomfortable during exercise or intimacy, while others are bothered by a visible bulge under clothing.
One detail that surprises many people: a tummy tuck and liposuction don’t lift the pubic area. In fact, the mons pubis can look even more prominent after those procedures because the surrounding tissue has been flattened while the mound stays the same. This is why surgeons often recommend adding a pubic lift during an abdominoplasty rather than assuming the tummy tuck will address it on its own.
What the Surgery Involves
The procedure varies depending on how much correction is needed. For patients with excess fat but decent skin elasticity, liposuction of the mons may be enough. When loose, hanging skin is the main issue, the surgeon removes a wedge of skin and fat, then tightens what remains. The incision is usually placed low, along the natural crease where the mons meets the lower abdomen, so any scar sits within the bikini line or underwear.
When combined with a tummy tuck, the surgeon lifts the entire pad of fat that makes up the mons and anchors it higher on the abdominal wall using permanent sutures. The fat pad is typically fixed at three points along the muscle sheath beneath to keep the natural triangular shape of the area intact. The extent of the lift depends on how much drooping is present.
Less invasive techniques also exist. One approach uses a nonabsorbable tape threaded under the skin from one hip bone to the other, passing beneath the mons. Pulling this tape upward lifts the tissue, and the tape is then sutured to the fibrous covering of the hip bone on each side. This method requires only small incisions near each hip and avoids larger scars across the pubic area.
Anesthesia and Setting
A standalone pubic lift with liposuction alone can sometimes be performed under local anesthesia, meaning only the treatment area is numbed and you stay awake. When the procedure involves skin excision or is combined with a tummy tuck, general anesthesia is standard, and the surgery takes place in an operating room or accredited surgical center. Combined procedures naturally take longer, often two to four hours total.
Recovery Timeline
Swelling and bruising in the pubic area are expected for the first one to two weeks. Most people take about one to two weeks off work, depending on how physical their job is. Sitting and walking may feel tight initially because of the sutures and swelling in a sensitive area. Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and sexual activity are generally off-limits for four to six weeks to let the tissue heal and reduce the risk of complications.
Compression garments are typically worn for several weeks to minimize swelling and support the new contour. Final results can take three to six months to fully appear as residual swelling resolves and the tissue settles into its new position.
Risks and Complications
The risks are similar to other body-contouring surgeries. Fluid collection under the skin, called seroma, is one of the more common complications, especially when the surgery involves separating tissue layers over a wide area. Surgeons reduce this risk using techniques like quilting sutures, which tack the skin flap down to the underlying tissue. Research shows these sutures cut seroma rates by roughly 70% compared to relying on drains alone.
Other possible complications include infection, bleeding, changes in skin sensation around the incision, delayed wound healing, and scarring that’s thicker or wider than expected. Asymmetry is also possible, though minor unevenness often improves as swelling resolves.
An Unexpected Benefit for Bladder Control
A study of 66 patients who had a tummy tuck with an added mons lift found a striking secondary benefit: improved bladder control. Of the patients who had stress urinary incontinence (leaking urine during coughing, sneezing, or exercise), 44 out of 66 achieved complete continence after surgery, and 10 more saw significant improvement. The likely explanation is that lifting the mons tissue also tightens the connective tissue of the pelvic floor, which lengthens the urethra and improves the angle at the bladder neck. This isn’t the primary reason people seek a pubic lift, but it’s a meaningful bonus for those who experience leakage.
Cost and Insurance
The average cost for a monsplasty is around $5,500, with a range of $3,000 to $8,000 depending on the surgeon’s experience, geographic location, and whether liposuction is included. When combined with a tummy tuck, the total cost increases but is usually less than having the two procedures separately because you share anesthesia and facility fees. Most insurance plans classify the procedure as cosmetic and won’t cover it. In rare cases where the excess tissue causes documented skin infections, rashes, or functional problems, partial coverage may be possible, but patients should expect to pay out of pocket.
How Long Results Last
Results from a pubic lift are considered long-lasting because the removed skin and fat don’t grow back. However, significant weight gain, pregnancy, or continued aging can stretch the remaining tissue and diminish the improvement over time. Maintaining a stable weight gives the best chance of preserving the outcome. When the surgeon anchors the tissue with permanent sutures to the underlying muscle wall, the structural support tends to hold well even as skin naturally loses some elasticity with age.