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 avoid any nicotine-containing substances.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

Recovery

Hospital stay

Most patients go home the day of surgery.

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 the house as much as possible after surgery 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

Follow up appointments will be scheduled by your doctor according to your treatment plan.

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.