1. More Than One Way to Lift a Body
Lower body lifts are a popular cosmetic surgery option for many people who wish to rid themselves of sagging skin around the belly, hips and buttocks. A variety of lower body lift methods exist, wherein the patient can choose exactly which area of the lower body they wish to target. Some methods are very specific, such as the belt lift (reshaping the belly at the belt-line to a more desirable shape) or thong lift (reshaping the buttocks), while others combine more than one surgery and method and target the entire waist to hips area. One of these is the torsoplasty (a tummy tuck in conjunction with another surgical method such as liposuction) or belt lipectomy.
2. Tightening Your Belt
A belt lipectomy is ordinarily done when a person has lost a substantial amount of weight (usually at least 100 lbs.), leaving the skin around the stomach, hips and buttocks loose and sagging. Many of these patients have undergone gastric bypass surgery and lost weight quickly. Less commonly, a belt lipectomy is used when age has left the skin in these areas sagging. A belt lipectomy is a combination of an abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck) and a circumferential removal of excess skin and fat. This surgery is not used for people who are overweight or obese.
3. Cutting Away Your Old Self
During the procedure, the patient is sedated through an IV or by general anesthesia. The entire operation takes up to five hours, depending on whether the patient is getting more than one procedure done. Excess skin is removed from around the middle as well as hips and buttocks. Incisions are made along the low abdomen, as close to the pubic area as possible, and along the lower back, and excess fat is removed. When healed, these incisions are usually not very visible, and are below the waistband of underwear and swim suits.
4. Bouncing Back After Surgery
It generally takes about two to three weeks to recover from a belt lipectomy. Pain and discomfort will be present, but can be tolerated with medication (sometimes a "pain pump", which slowly releases an anesthetic into the body, may be used). Temporary drainage tubes may be used to remove excess fluid buildup in the areas operated on. These are removed within six days following surgery. Postoperative body massages about a week or two after the procedure are encouraged to help manage soreness, pain and swelling.
5. Possible Risks
As with any surgical procedure, some risks associated with a belt lipectomy are to be considered. Infection and excessive bleeding are among the top concerns. Seroma formation (collection of fluid under flaps of skin, seen most commonly after a mastectomy) is also a complication associated with a belt lipectomy. Following doctor's instructions for post-operative care is the best assurance of avoiding any of these complications. A successful belt lipectomy, followed by a healthy lifestyle, will last a lifetime.
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