BELT LIPECTOMY SURGERY SYDNEY
Belt Lipectomy Sydney: 360 Excess Skin Removal Surgery
Massive weight loss after bariatric surgery or dieting can be great. However, losing a lot of weight can leave you with a lot of excess skin. In some cases, the loose belly skin can be so droopy that it hangs down like an apron – an abdominal apron on the front, sides and rear.
Excess Skin Reduction
Other than being aesthetically unpleasant, overhanging skin and fat apron can cause skin irritation, rashes, chafing, poor hygiene, physical discomfort, and back pain.
While a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can fix only the front of the tummy, the 360 belt abdominoplasty also removes the loose saggy skin and excess fat around your hips & Back and lifts the butt.
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 extensive skills performing circumferential abdominoplasty to give your belly, waist, and lower back a more defined contour and a better tone.
BELT LIPECTOMY SURGERY SYDNEY
Belt Lipectomy Sydney: 360 Excess Skin Removal Surgery
Massive weight loss after bariatric surgery or dieting can be great. However, losing a lot of weight can leave you with a lot of excess skin. In some cases, the loose belly skin can be so droopy that it hangs down like an apron – an abdominal apron on the front, sides and rear.
Excess Skin Reduction
Other than being aesthetically unpleasant, overhanging skin and fat apron can cause skin irritation, rashes, chafing, poor hygiene, physical discomfort, and back pain.
While a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can fix only the front of the tummy, the 360 belt abdominoplasty also removes the loose saggy skin and excess fat around your hips & Back and lifts the butt.
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 extensive skills performing circumferential abdominoplasty to give your belly, waist, and lower back a more defined contour and a better tone.
What Is a Belt Lipectomy?
A belt lipectomy is a post weight loss surgery that removes the extra tissue (fat and skin) from your belly, waist (beltline), and back in one procedure. A circumferential lipectomy can surgically remove the stretched skin, loose fat, and correct the entire trunk from the chest area down to the hips and all the way around to the back.
There are a lot of reasons why you could put on a lot of weight. It could be pregnancy, lack of exercise, unhealthy eating habits, or simply genetics. When you gain weight, your skin stretches to make room for the extra fat hence losing some of its elasticity (tensile strength).
You can lose a lot of weight after gastric bypass surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, or childbirth. In many people, however, the skin does not completely retract after massive weight loss. This can result in flaps of extra sagging skin and fat hanging from the belly, hips, and lower back. Getting a belt lipectomy can help you get rid of excess skin.
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 flaps after major weight loss. They both aim to contour the trunk and make the body more proportional.
A belt lipectomy is different than an abdominoplasty since:
- A tummy tuck – 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 is a better 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 mummy pooch in the front lower abdomen, then a mini abdominoplasty or traditional full abdominoplasty might be better options for you than a 360 abdo.
Benefits of Belt Lipectomy Surgery
After getting rid of heavy flaps of skin and fat by a belt lipectomy surgery you’ll have:
- Better mobility: you’ll be able to move around better with the loose skin flaps out of the way
- Fewer rashes and skin irritation: you’ll get rid of the chafing caused by saggy skin flaps
- Fewer skin infections: you won’t have extra skin folds where bacteria can grow causing unpleasant smells
Even after massive weight loss, remnant overhanging skin flaps can obscure the great results.
With a circumferential lipectomy, Dr Hunt helps his patients complete their weight loss journey and achieve the aesthetic results they’ve been aiming for.
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 flaps (rash, irritation, infection, pain)
- You’ve reached a stable weight (goal weight) through diet, exercise, or weight loss surgery and are looking to contour your body, 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 flattens any irregularities and gives your whole mid-section a slimmer and smoother contour
- 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.
Recovery after a Belt Lipectomy
Recovery after body contouring surgery differs from one person to another, but you can expect the following after your belt lipectomy:
- Drainage tubes will be placed at your incision site for several days to collect extra fluid
- You’ll have swelling that starts to go down 3-6 weeks post-belt lipectomy. Most of the swelling disappears 2-3 months after the surgery
- You’ll likely be asked to wear compression garments to control the swelling during your recovery period
- Bruising that peaks during the first two weeks and then starts to fade within a month
- Pain and discomfort are most noticeable during the first two to three days following 360 abdo and then start to subside
Most patients take around 4 weeks to return to normal activity and 6 weeks to resume strenuous exercise after a circumferential lipectomy. Make sure you follow your surgeon’s recommendations for a smoother and faster recovery after belt abdominoplasty.
Belt lipectomy and Abdominoplasty Real Patients Results
Belt Lipectomy Cost Sydney - How much does Belt Lipectomy surgery cost in Sydney NSW? Prices & Fees
Belt Lipectomy is a complex surgical intervention. Hence, the cost varies from one patient to another. Anaesthetist fees and hospital fees also impact the price depending on the time in theatre.
To find out the estimated price of belt lipectomy surgery in Sydney please contact Dr Hunt’s team. After your first consultation, Dr Hunt will give you a more precise estimate of the surgery costs.
Is belt lipectomy surgery covered by Medicare or private health insurance?
If you meet the strict Medicare criteria, you might be eligible for a partial rebate by medicare or health insurance subsidy for plastic surgery.
You can also learn more about possible Medicare & Health Fund coverage, a Belt Lipectomy Surgery Payment Plan, or the costs for body contouring surgery on our Surgical Costs page.
Take the next step today
With over 20 years of experience as a plastic surgeon, Dr Jeremy Hunt aims to get optimal results using different surgical techniques.
Join the thousands of past patients today by booking a consultation with Dr Hunt at your earliest convenience.
Next Step – Fill in the Enquiry form or call Dr Hunt’s Team on 1300 157 200.
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About Dr Jeremy Hunt
Dr Hunt has worked with thousands of patients across his 20-year career. This is reflected in his role as Spokesperson for the ASPS – Australian Society of Plastic Surgery. Dr Hunt is also a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) and Supervisor of Plastic Surgery Training at Sydney Children’s Hospital.
Dr Hunt has a strong interest in helping his patients achieve their desired results by employing the most appropriate practices for each individual patient.
