Lower Body Lift / Belt Lipectomy
Lower Body Lift / Belt Lipectomy
Although significant weight loss may help to improve your general health, it inevitably leaves you with a large amount of hanging excess skin in your abdomen, buttocks, and thigh areas. There is a new surgical procedure that is being utilized to help remove this excess skin called a lower body lift or belt lipectomy. This procedure is a combination of three different surgeries (tummy tuck, thigh lift, and buttock lift) all done simultaneously. The goal of this procedure is to leave you with a smooth contour to the abdomen, lower back, buttocks, and thighs that is free from excess hanging skin. The goal of this procedure is to leave you with a smooth contour to the abdomen, lower back, buttocks, and thighs that is free from excess hanging skin.
The ideal candidate for a lower body lift surgery is:
- Someone with excess skin due to a substantial weight loss either from gastric bypass or from diet and exercise
- Someone who is physically healthy
- A non-smoker
- Someone who has specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of their appearance
- Someone who has maintained a stable weight for a minimum of nine months
- Someone who has established maximum weight loss
Why Choose Dr. Chahin?
Dr. Chahin prides himself in providing his patients with an environment of safety, comfort and care along with a high level of skill and expertise in the field of plastic surgery. Over 20 years of surgical experience has allowed him to build his practice in such a way that you will feel at ease and confident throughout your entire journey. Dr. Chahin strives to achieve natural looking, attractive results with a minimal recovery time and high patient satisfaction. With utilizing the most advanced, safest and least invasive techniques available in today’s sophisticated world of plastic surgery, he is specialized in providing the ultimate refinement of his skills in body contouring, facial aesthetics and breast sculpturing surgical techniques. Dr. Chahin provides his patients with an individualized plan, highlighting his exquisite attention to detail and personal touch. Through kindness, sophistication and exceptional quality of work, Dr. Chahin and his experienced team of staff members will go above and beyond to ensure their patients’ profound confidence and satisfaction.
“Thank you for all of your patience and help, I appreciate you and all of the work you do for the office and your patience. Thank you for always being there whenever I had questions. Everything you do, you do with a welcoming spirit.”
“Dear Dr. Chahin,
We wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your fantastic care of my daughter. Your quality and integrity as a surgeon and more fundamentally as a human being.”
“Dearest Doc,
Every day is a special day for your patients to have you! How lucky and grateful we all are for all of your expertise and care you give to each person.”
– Thank You, Ann
“Thank you for all of your patience and help, I appreciate you and all of the work you do for the office and your patience. Thank you for always being there whenever I had questions. Everything you do, you do with a welcoming spirit.”
“Dear Dr. Chahin,
We wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your fantastic care of my daughter. Your quality and integrity as a surgeon and more fundamentally as a human being.”
“Dearest Doc,
Every day is a special day for your patients to have you! How lucky and grateful we all are for all of your expertise and care you give to each person.”
– Thank You, Ann
Final Thoughts
Due to the extensive nature of this procedure, you must also realize that you will be left with significant scarring in replace of the excess skin. For most individuals this tradeoff is minimal in comparison to a living a life with the excess skin, and they are willing to deal with the scars. The lower body lift procedure is usually done in conjunction with other surgical procedures such a liposuction. Dr. Chahin will discuss with you these procedures, and what is mutually felt to be the best method of treatment to aid in achieving optimal results for you.
Lower Body Lift/Belt Lipectomy FAQ
Generally, if your health insurance provider has covered (or partially covered) the cost of weight loss surgery, there can be some assistance with the skin removal procedures. The front area generally referred to as the “pannus” is something that insurance carriers could deem medically necessary. Because the belt lipectomy or lower body lift is circumferential, you will incur a financial obligation for the back portion of the procedure as well as any liposuction that is done in conjunction. Our office can help navigate any insurance questions that you may have regarding this procedure or combined procedures.
Due to the complexity of this procedure, it is generally recommended that patients stay locally 1-2 nights. Our office has referrals with local after care facilities or aftercare nursing that can aide our patients following a lower body lift or belt lipectomy procedure.
Yes, generally patients will have a minimum of 2 drains (one from the tummy portion and one extending for the back portion). These drains generally will stay in place about 7 days following surgery and will require assistance with basic maintenance. The drains will be removed while you’re in our office at a follow up. Showering will not be permitted while the drains are in place, with patient’s being released to resume showering 24 hours after removal.
The total operative time can vary anywhere from 6-8 hours depending on the extent of the procedure. Patients are required to arrival one hour prior to surgery so they can go through pre-op and will be required to remain in the office a minimum of 1 hour following the procedure while they recover. A family member or ride will be notified once the patient goes into recovery so they can accurately plan for the discharge timing.
Generally patients will wear the garment for 6-8 weeks following lower body lift/ belt lipectomy procedure. Initially, the patient will be required to wear the surgical garment, however, they will be released to transition into a compression garment of their choice. Our office can help recommend garments that can be purchased once you have been released to transition.