The abdominal area is one of the most complicated and stubborn areas to contour or reshape, but fortunately, there are different surgical options that can reshape and slim this area, such as belt lipectomy, which has started to gain increasing popularity among people.
The procedure can grant you a toned appearance and helps you reshape your midsection even if diet and exercise fail to do this job. Also, it can remove the fat pockets accumulated due to pregnancy, genetics, and other factors.
What Is a Belt Lipectomy?
A belt lipectomy, also known as circumferential body lift or lower body lift, is a surgical procedure to remove fat and loose skin around your belt line or the waist and give you a more toned appearance. Some people call it a “tummy tuck”, but there are differences between the two procedures. More on that later.
During the procedure, your surgeon makes a cut around your belly and lower back to remove excess tissues. As with any surgery, you must receive anesthesia to prevent feeling pain. This procedure is different from liposuction in Turkey.
The procedure is often recommended for women and men after losing excessive weight or undergoing weight-loss surgery.
Benefits of Belt Lipectomy
Many studies have stressed the cosmetic value of the procedure. Besides helping you tone and smooth the appearance of your midsection and belly, the procedure offers you other benefits and advantages, such as:
- Remove extra folds of skin tissue around the abdomen and midsection
- Tighten sagging skin, especially after losing an excessive amount of weight
- Prevent rashes and infection resulting from loose skin around the waist
- Improve the level of hygiene around the belt-line area
- Allow you to find better flattering clothes that fit your body perfectly
- Boost your self-confidence, self-esteem, and overall image
Candidates for Belt Lipectomy
Doctors often suggest the procedure to people who meet the following criteria:
- Have loose, overhanging skin along the belly, waist, or the buttocks
- Have stable and average body weight with minimal fluctuation
- Don’t have critical health conditions that may impact recovery after surgery
- Have realistic expectations and are open to the possibility of having scars on their waist
- Don’t smoke tobacco
The Procedure of Belt Lipectomy
Before providing the surgery, your surgeon may do some blood tests to check for infections and other issues. If your health is ok and ready to undergo the procedure, the surgeon may follow the next steps during the procedure:
Mark the Incisions
Your surgeon will start by drawing distinct marks around your belly and midsection and identify the right places for incisions.
Anesthesia
Next, they give you general anesthesia to put you to sleep and prevent pain sensations.
Making the Incisions
To remove the excess skin and fat, your surgeon must make incisions around your entire torso. They may also reposition tissues and tight muscles.
Closing the Incisions
Finally, they close the incisions with stitches and may use skin clips to seal them. Placing drains may also be necessary in certain cases.
Size 16 Belt Lipectomy
Size 16 belt lipectomy is a procedure that benefits women with larger sizes above size 16. Some people also may refer to it as plus size 360 lipo. Although performing liposuction on plus-sized people is a controversial topic since the recommendations go against it, some doctors offer liposuction for obese people and can actually get good results.
Size 16 belt lipectomy involves making a large 360-degree incision to remove fat from the lower abdominal area and buttocks. Keep in mind that belt lipectomy isn’t a weight loss surgery, but rather a fat reduction method to remove fat from certain spots. Also, keep in mind that doctors often refuse to provide liposuction or belt lipectomy to plus-sized people as this may lead to complications.
Belt Lipectomy Before and After
Most patients express a high degree of satisfaction after having the procedure. Below are some belt lipectomies before and after pictures:
Belt Lipectomy vs Tummy Tuck
Some sources call belt lipectomy with another name: Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. On the surface, this might be true since there are many similarities between the two procedures. In fact, some studies define belt lipectomy as an abdominoplasty but with circumferential excision of skin and fat. In any case, the table below displays those differences in terms of targeted areas and subtypes.
| Tummy tuck | Belt lipectomy | |
| Targeted Areas | Targets fat in the abdominal or front area of the stomach | Targets both the fat and skin of the entire lower torso/body |
| Subtypes | Can be mini or full tummy tuck | Can include tummy tuck |
Belt Lipectomy Recovery Time
After the procedure, you may notice a small tube underneath your skin to extract excess fluid from the surgical site. You’ll also notice dressings or bandages wrapped around the site as well. The recovery phase after the procedure may involve the following:
- You may feel some pain, but you can take painkillers to relieve the symptom.
- In some cases, people may need to stay overnight in the hospital, but most people can back home on the same day.
- You must avoid strenuous activities and sleep on the side of the surgical site.
- You must take care of your wound after the procedure and report any abnormal symptoms to your doctor.
- You are maybe able to see the results immediately after the surgery.
Risks of Belt Lipectomy
Although the procedure is safe in most cases, some selected cases may suffer from side effects such as:
- Infection or bleeding
- Asymmetrical contours
- looseness of skin
- Blood clots
- Swelling or numbness
- Healing delay
Cost of Belt Lipectomy
Don’t expect the procedure to be cheap since it targets multiple areas at once. Clinics around the world charge at least 5000-7000 US dollars for the procedure.
Some may ask for 20000 US dollars or even higher. Many factors play a role in determining the cost of belt lipectomy, including the doctor’s reputation and location.
Turkey is known for being an affordable destination, not just for belt lipectomy, but for other plastic surgeries such as liposuction and Brazilian butt lift (BBL).
In any case, the following table displays the cost of belt lipectomy in different countries:
| Turkey | 4800-8500 US dollars |
| United States | 10000- 15000 US dollars |
| United Kingdom | 8000-10000 US dollars |
| Canada | 15000-20000 US dollars |
| Germany | 6000-10000 US dollars |
The Bottom Line
A belt lipectomy is a great choice for you in case you want to remove fat and loose skin from your waistline and lower body or upper buttock. The procedure can provide dramatic changes in body shape and contour, but it’s not cheap or affordable for all people.
International clinics offers different types of plastic surgeries including a lower body lift and liposuction. Thousands of patients from all around the world prefer to undergo these procedures in our clinics, thanks to the high-quality services and packages that we provide. Click on the Contact Us buttons below to reach us immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does a Belt Lipectomy Do?
Belt lipectomy removes both loose skin and accumulated fat around the belt line or waist. The procedure can also target the lower abdomen and buttocks.
How Painful Is a Belt Lipectomy?
A belt lipectomy isn’t a painful procedure. Surgeons rely on general anesthesia to prevent pain sensations. However, you may feel minor discomfort during and after the procedure, which is a normal thing.
Is a Belt Lipectomy the Same as a Lower Body Lift?
According to most trusted sources, belt lipectomy is the same as a lower body lift. However, other sources may contradict this and claim that these are different procedures.
Does a Belt Lipectomy Include Tummy Tuck?
A belt lipectomy is different from a tummy tuck, but it may include a tummy tuck, depending on the patient’s preferences and needs.
How Long Does Belt Lipectomy Last for?
Your surgeon needs between 2-3 hours to complete the procedure of belt lipectomy. If they’re willing to remove more fat and skin, the required time may increase and reach up to 5 hours.
How Should I Sleep After Lipectomy Belt?
You must avoid putting pressure on the treated area during your sleep. You can sleep on your back while your head is a bit elevated.
How Much Weight Can You Lose with a Lipectomy Belt?
Expect to lose between 10-20 pounds (5-10 kg) after a belt lipectomy. The weight lost is mostly fat and skin.
Read more: Liposuction cost in Turkey
