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A body lift, or belt
lipectomy, tightens
droopy, sagging skin
around the abdomen, over
the hips and buttocks.
It also lifts the
buttocks and hips. In a
single operation it has
the greatest ability to
rejuvenate the entire
abdomen and waistline.
The body changes greatly
after pregnancies or
massive weight loss.
Sagging skin, stretch
marks and even muscle
separation are common
problems. A body lift
can help address these
issues: excess abdominal
fat, bulging separated
abdominal muscles,
excessive skin around
the entire abdomen and
sagging buttocks.
Because individual
conditions vary, the
belt lipectomy technique
helps healthy adult
patients manage their
entire waistline,
achieving a flatter,
trimmer, more youthful
body shape.
Deciding if You Are
Right For a Belt
Lipectomy (Body Lift)
Patients presenting for
a belt lipectomy always
have: •Excess skin from
their ribs to their
pubic area •Loose skin
over their hip bones and
on to the lower back and
upper buttocks •Loss of
muscle strength or a
separation of the
abdominal muscles called
diastasis, resulting in
an abdominal bulge
Sagging hips and/or
buttocks. The amount
of fatty tissue ranges
from almost none to
fairly thick. Most
patients are female
having had one or more
pregnancy. Weight-loss
patients are also very
common and patients that
have hereditary
characteristics for
looser skin or a bulging
abdomen.
How It's Done. A
belt lipectomy is
defined by an incision
that runs across the top
of the pubic area up
along each side from hip
to hip and around the
top of the buttocks.
This procedure is
recommended for the
patient who has a lot
more than just a little
lower abdominal bulge.
The patient usually has
rectus diastasis/separated
abdominal muscles, a
large abdominal bulge
and sagging skin that
continues all the way
around the hips and
upper buttocks. The
patient also usually has
sagging hips and upper
thighs with sagging
buttocks. A belt
lipectomy tightens loose
skin entirely around
your waist line,
including the abdomen,
hips and buttocks/lower
back. The procedure has
the greatest corrective
power to improve the
entire waistline.
Recovery. The
belt lipectomy is one of
the most painful
procedures performed in
all of plastic surgery,
about the same as a
tummy tuck or
abdominoplasty.
Tightening of the rectus
muscles (abdominal
muscles) adds to the
discomfort. Since the
On-Q® PainBuster® was
invented, Dr. Alan N.
Larsen has used this
device to help control
pain in patients. This
device adds numbing
medicine underneath the
skin to significantly
decrease postoperative
discomfort. Pain
medications are usually
still needed. The most
difficult time is the
first night after
surgery. Over the next
3-4 days the discomfort
rapidly decreases and
patients are up moving
around much easier
within their home. By
two weeks patients are
back to work and by four
weeks they are returning
to a limited exercise
routine. It takes a full
eight weeks to return to
full activities and
strenuous exercise.
Results to Expect.
The bottom line is that
the patient should
expect a flatter abdomen
with tighter skin and
loss of some or all of
their stretch marks. The
skin should be tightened
not only on the abdomen,
but also over the hips,
lower back and upper
buttocks. There are,
however, several hurdles
to overcome. First of
all is the tenderness
that is experienced
after surgery. Within a
week after surgery, the
discomfort should be
much better controlled.
Results should be seen
immediately after
surgery, however there
is still considerable
swelling called edema.
The edema rapidly
resolves and by three
weeks, the abdomen
should look much better.
By three months, the
abdomen should start to
take on its final
contours. It will be one
year, however, before
full results are
realized. Diet and
exercise are essential
to create the optimal
outcome.
Risks. As with
any surgical procedure,
there are risks
associated with body
lift surgery. Absolutely
following your post
operative instructions
and returning for
post-op care will
minimize your risks.
Please see informed
consent/belt lipectomy
for a complete list of
possible risks.
Recovery Timeline.
The first day is very
uncomfortable.
On days 2-5, tenderness
rapidly resolves. You
should be able to move
around the house more
freely without
assistance.
At 10 days to two weeks,
you can usually return
to work although no
strenuous work or
activity is allowed.
At 3-4 weeks, you can
increase activities such
as walking and light
exercise which won't
stress abdominal
muscles.
At 6-8 weeks, you can
return to full exercise.
Over your lifetime,
continue with diet,
exercise and healthy
lifestyle changes
Read more:
www.buckheadplasticsurgery.com/body-lift.html
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