| Typical Timing/Age |
25-60 years old |
| Problem |
Excess abdominal skin and subcutaneous fat that continues around the back in addition to abdominal wall muscle laxity. If the problem is a falling (lax) buttock and lateral thighs, a lower body lift may be a more appropriate procedure. If there is minimal to moderate skin and fat excess of the flanks and back then an abdominoplasty with or without liposuction may be the more appropriate procedure. |
| Procedure |
Through a horizontal incision on your lower abdomen, continuing around your back circumferentially – excess skin and subcutaneous fat are removed from the abdomen and lower back. Also through this incision your abdominal wall muscles are sutured together to improve your abdominal contour. There are no sutures to remove as they are all internal. The resultant scars are a horizontal scar all the way around your waistline and a small scar around your belly button. Surgical drains are usually used. The total operating room time varies depending on the number of additional body contouring procedures such as liposuction, brachioplasty and/or a medial thigh lift. |
| Goal |
To improve lower body contour (waistline). |
| Facility |
Hospital |
| Preparation |
Patients should be at a stable weight, healthy, nutritionally replete with good protein stores and cannot be using any nicotine containing substances. |
| Anesthesia |
General anesthesia |
| Recovery |
|
| Hospital stay |
Most patients choose to spend the first night after surgery in the hospital. Drs. Leveque and Butler will help decide what is best for you. |
| Positioning |
After a belt lipectomy you will need to be cognizant of undue tension on the incision because bending forward or backwards may place too much tension on the back or front incisions, respectively. |
| Assistance |
You will need someone to help take care of you after surgery as you will not be able to lift children, heavy items, etc. |
| Walking |
You are encouraged to walk around as much as possible to help reduce the risk of DVT and thromboembolism. |
| Showering |
After 48 hours you should remove your dressings and take a shower. |
| Exercise |
2 weeks for light exercise. 4 weeks for regular exercise. 6 weeks for abdominal exercises. |
| Sex |
Wait 4 weeks because you don’t want to stress your incisions or increase your blood pressure during the early healing period. |
| Work |
1-2 weeks depending on your type of work |
| Swelling |
Can persist for 3-6 months |
| Bruising |
Usually subsides after 2-3 weeks |
| Follow-up Appointments |
1-3 days after surgery, 7-10 days, 4 weeks, 6 months, 1 year. |
| Risks & Complications |
Hematoma, Seroma, Infection, Poor scarring, Dehiscence, Delayed wound healing, Skin necrosis, Asymmetry, Numbness, Thromboembolism, Contour irregularities, Need for revision, Complications related to anesthesia. |
| Performed by: |
Dr. Leveque, Dr. Butler |
