A belt abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that involves a circumferential removal of excess skin and fatty tissues located in the midsection of the patient; typically around what we call “the belt area.” This includes the belly, the love handles, and the lower back. Another name for it is a circumferential abdominoplasty or a body lift.
People who request this body sculpting surgery are those who have some excess fat and skin in their love handles that goes all the way to the lower back and the area above the buttocks. If you are unsure about the exact type of plastic surgery you need, meet with Dr. Olivier Deigni and learn if you would benefit from a belt abdominoplasty in Houston.
The belt abdominoplasty includes a hip lift and buttock lift, in addition to the regular abdominoplasty. In other words, a belt abdominoplasty treats the loose skin and excess tissues all around the midsection, whereas the regular abdominoplasty focuses only on the belly area.
A belt abdominoplasty in Houston facilitates the removal of the excess skin and fatty tissues in the love handles and the lower back. This improves the contours around the hips and buttocks by lifting any saggy tissues in those areas. Many patients report an increase in their quality of life, especially in finding appropriate clothing for many activities that they engage in.
On the day of the surgery, you will be taken to our surgical suite. Once you are placed under general anesthesia, Dr. Deigni will proceed to remove the excess skin and fat in the areas you discussed during your initial consultation. He will typically place you on one side and start with the lower back and then the upper buttock and hip area, before turning you on the other side and repeating the procedure there. He will then put you on your back and perform a drainless tummy tuck on your belly.
Good candidates for a belt abdominoplasty are those who have lost a significant amount of weight and have some excess loose skin and fatty tissues in the belly area, the love handles, and the lower back that bothers them. Patients need to be healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia, have a realistic expectation of results, and be dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
A healthy lifestyle is helpful in preparing for this procedure and patients who have a high BMI will be asked to lose weight first. Any medical conditions will be optimized, including strict blood glucose control for patients who have diabetes, adequate blood pressure control for patients with hypertension, and smoking cessation, if applicable.
As with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of bleeding and infection, as well as delayed wound healing and adverse scarring. Specific to belt abdominoplasty, there is an increased risk of blood clots. In order to minimize such risks and make sure any medical problems are optimized prior to proceed proceeding with surgery, Dr. Deigni also places his patients on blood thinners for a few days after surgery.
When you go home following the belt abdominoplasty in Houston, we will give you some painkiller medications. Most patients will wean off their post-op narcotic medications over 7 to 10 days. During that time, you will be walking more and more every day, and getting back to a normal erect posture, thereby avoiding any lower back discomfort. You will resume light activity (such as a brisk walk) and your normal day-to-day activities around two to three weeks after. You should continue to increase your activity as tolerated. Then, by six to eight weeks, you may resume some core training with weightlifting, if desired.
Tummy tucks are one of the most popular types of plastic surgery but sometimes you need work beyond the fat that gathers at your belly. We provide belt abdominoplasties in Houston, which can alter your contours around your entire waist. You can call us at 281-721-4373 and schedule a consultation to learn the benefits of this procedure.
