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Woollahra Sydney . Wollongong NSW
While a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can fix only the front of the abdomen, the 360 belt abdominoplasty also removes excess skin and fat from around the hips and back.
Dr Jeremy Hunt is an experienced plastic surgeon in Wollongong and Sydney who offers belt lipectomy to post-bariatric patients who have lost substantial weight. He has experience performing circumferential abdominoplasty to help you attain your more desired belly, waist, and lower back. The results will not be the same for each patient, so you should ensure to explain your goals to Dr Hunt beforehand.
How Is a Belt Lipectomy Different from an Abdominoplasty?
An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck and a belt lipectomy are both procedures that remove extra skin and fat after major weight loss. They both aim to reshape the abdomen according to the patient’s needs and desires.
A belt lipectomy is different from an abdominoplasty since:
- An abdominoplasty removes skin and fat from the front of the stomach only; whereas a 360 abdo also removes tissue on the sides, hips, and back
- An abdominoplasty also tightens the abdominal muscles while the circumferential abdominoplasty doesn’t usually involve split muscle tightening (Diastasis recti)
- A circumferential abdominoplasty may not reposition the navel as the traditional abdominoplasty does
- A belt lipectomy can lift the buttocks and outer hips, unlike an abdominoplasty
A 360 belt lipectomy may be a more desirable surgical option for you than an abdominoplasty if you have excess skin and fat on your belly, hips, and back. If you just have a small amount of excess tissue in the front lower abdomen, then a mini abdominoplasty or traditional full abdominoplasty might be better options for you than a 360 belt lipectomy.
Why Patients Might Consider Belt Lipectomy Surgery
Depending on your motives for seeking surgery, and your individualised surgical plan, a belt lipectomy surgery may be undertaken for a number of different reasons, including:
- Addressing aesthetic concerns about excess skin
- Helping to improve mobility in cases where excess skin impedes movement
- Helping to improve rashes and skin irritation
- Reduction in infections caused by excess skin
With a circumferential lipectomy, Dr Hunt helps his patients complete their weight loss journey and achieve the aesthetic results they’ve been aiming for. This will be in accordance with individual surgical plans.
How is the Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty Performed?
The abdominoplasty is often performed with the patient under general anaesthesia, as the procedure can take one to three hours, depending on the complexity of each case.
The number and length of incisions are dependent on the type of abdominoplasty to be performed. For example, in the case of the mini abdominoplasty, there is just one small incision placed on the inferior part of the abdomen, over the suprapubic area. A full tummy tuck/abdominoplasty often entails a larger incision on the lower abdominal area and another one used to reposition the navel. The extended tummy tuck/abdominoplasty requires incisions on the flanks, too, that allow Dr Hunt to eliminate excess skin from the sides.
After the incisions are performed, Dr Hunt will detach the skin tissue and bring together and tighten the abdominal muscles for a firmer-looking tummy (not performed in case of the mini abdominoplasty). The skin is then redraped over the underlying tissues, and the excess skin is eliminated. The incisions are sutured, and compressive bandages are used.
Am I suitable for Belt Lipectomy Surgery?
You can benefit from circumferential lipectomy surgery if:
- You’ve had dramatic weight loss that resulted in loose skin on your belly, hips, and lower back
- You’re having health problems related to the overhanging excess skin (rash, irritation, infection, pain)
- You’ve reached a stable weight (goal weight) through diet, exercise, or weight loss surgery and are looking to remove excess skin, especially the midsection
- You’ve already had children and are not planning on getting pregnant in the future
Ideally you will have a BMI below 30, but some patients between a BMI or 30-35 may be acceptable. Please aim to be near your ideal weight before surgery as having extra weight increases risks of surgical complications.
All in all, a 360 abdominoplasty is an option for extreme weight loss patients who want to shape and contour their entire midsection.
About Belt Lipectomy Surgery
A belt lipectomy surgery is performed while you’re under general anaesthesia.
- First, your surgeon will make an incision low in your belly just above your pubic area. The incision will extend all the way to the back where your butt and lower back come together (like a belt)
- Then, the skin and fat layers are separated from the underlying muscle layer. Excess fat and skin flaps are cut and removed
- Next, your surgeon will pull down the remaining skin and fat of your abdomen, back, and sides while pulling up the skin of your outer thighs and buttocks. This can help remove irregularities.
- After that, the upper and lower skin edges are sutured together
- Finally, a sterile wound dressing will be applied and you will be transferred to the recovery room to wake up
The 360 belt is major surgery and can take around 4-6 hours to complete.
