Belt Lipectomy Surgery Sydney
What is a belt lipectomy?
After losing a significant amount of weight, some patients are left with excess skin and fat deposits that cannot be removed without surgery.
A belt lipectomy, or circumferential abdominoplasty, can address the area from the front of the abdomen to around the hips and back. Using specialised techniques, it can remove a high amount of excess skin and any localised fat deposits.
Apart from aesthetics, a 360 belt abdominoplasty can also be performed to reduce discomfort. Excess skin can sometimes cause daily discomfort, including skin irritation and rashes due to difficulty maintaining good hygiene in the area, chafing and back pain.
What is the difference between a belt lipectomy and an abdominoplasty?
While both procedures remove excess skin and fat pockets, they differ in terms of the areas they can address, the technique used, and whether or not underlying muscles are addressed.
An abdominoplasty focuses on the front of the abdomen. It can remove excess skin and fat pockets, tighten underlying muscles, address diastasis recti, a condition where the abdominal muscles have split, and reposition the navel.
A belt lipectomy addresses the front of the abdomen, the sides, hips and back. It addresses a larger amount of excess skin than an abdominoplasty, as it is specifically performed to remove excess skin after massive weight loss. It does not typically include the tightening of underlying muscles and may not reposition the navel.
A consultation will help your surgeon to understand your needs and recommend the procedure that is suitable for you.
Your consultation at Aesthetic Edge in Sydney
At your consultation, your surgeon will assess your medical history and evaluate your general health to ensure you’re a suitable candidate for the procedure.
After this, the surgeon will have a detailed conversation with you about your expectations and the available surgical options, helping you make an informed decision about whether the belt lipectomy aligns with your personal goals and circumstances. The discussion will focus on what you hope to achieve and how the procedure might address your specific concerns, allowing you to carefully weigh your options before moving forward.
During the discussion, your surgeon will also go over the necessary preparation for the surgery, such as any lifestyle adjustments you may need to make beforehand, such as quitting smoking or modifying certain medications.
The recovery process will also be thoroughly explained, including the typical healing timeline, potential side effects, and the kind of post-operative care that will be required. This ensures you have a clear understanding of what to expect after the procedure, from the immediate aftereffects to longer-term recovery.
To book your consultation, you’ll need a referral from your GP. You are welcome to contact our team to learn more about scheduling your consultation so that we can guide you through the process.

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Suitable candidates for a belt lipectomy (360 belt abdominoplasty)
The reasons for undergoing a belt lipectomy can vary based on your personal goals and the specific surgical plan developed for you. This procedure is generally chosen to address concerns related to excess skin after weight loss, which can often cause discomfort and interfere with daily life.
In some cases, the removal of excess skin can also help improve mobility, particularly when the extra tissue limits your range of motion or makes daily activities more challenging. A belt lipectomy may be beneficial in reducing skin irritation or rashes that occur due to constant friction or moisture trapped in skin folds. For some, the surgery can also decrease infections caused by these same skin conditions, offering relief from ongoing discomfort.
By addressing these physical and health-related issues, the belt lipectomy can serve a functional as well as an aesthetic purpose, providing a more comfortable and manageable outcome.
In terms of suitability, you may be a suitable candidate if you are in good general health and close to your goal body weight, as it is best to be at a weight that will remain relatively stable after the procedure. While having a BMI below 30 is generally recommended, patients with a BMI between 30 and 35 may still be considered for the procedure.
Candidates who have already had children and are not planning future pregnancies are often suitable for this surgery, as it offers longer-term results when no further body changes are expected from pregnancy.
To be suitable, you may be asked to quit smoking, stop taking certain medications or supplements, or make other adjustments for a sufficient amount of time before undergoing the procedure.
All of these factors that must be considered when it comes to being suitable for a belt lipectomy will be discussed during your consultation.


The belt lipectomy procedure
As a major surgical procedure, a belt lipectomy is performed under general anaesthesia and can take up to four to six hours to perform.
The surgery begins with your surgeon making a low incision just above the pubic area, extending around to the lower back. The circumferential incision allows access to both the front and back areas, which is why the procedure is often referred to as a 360 belt abdominoplasty.
Once the circumferential incision is made, your surgeon will carefully separate the skin and fat layers from the underlying muscles. Any excess fat and loose skin can then be removed, and the remaining skin from the abdomen, back, and sides can be pulled downward while the skin on the outer thighs and buttocks is lifted upward. The upper and lower edges of the skin are then stitched together to close the incisions. Using these techniques aims to reduce irregularities and achieve a result that aligns with the patient’s body shape.
When the procedure is complete, a sterile wound dressing is applied over the incision. You’ll be moved to a recovery area and be monitored as you wake from the general anaesthesia.
Recovery after a
360 belt lipectomy
Recovery after a belt lipectomy can vary from person to person, but there are some general experiences you can expect following the procedure.
Drainage tubes are typically placed at the incision site for several days to help remove any excess fluid that accumulates. Swelling is common and usually starts to decrease between three and six weeks after surgery, with most subsiding within two to three months.
During your recovery, you may be advised to wear compression garments to help manage swelling. Bruising is also expected, often peaking within the first two weeks and gradually fading over the following month. Pain and discomfort tend to be most noticeable during the first few days after surgery, with significant improvement as you progress through the initial recovery phase.
Most patients are able to return to their normal activities within about four weeks, while strenuous exercise can typically be resumed around six weeks after the procedure.
During a consultation, your surgeon will give you recovery instructions that specifically consider your personal case, individual needs and the details of your surgery. Following your instructions will help you manage your recovery well, reduce swelling and discomfort, and minimise the chance of encountering certain post-surgical complications.

Costs of a belt lipectomy at Aesthetic Edge in Sydney
The cost of a belt lipectomy can vary significantly based on factors like the complexity of your procedure and the required fees that need to be included.
Fees will generally include the surgeon’s fees, anaesthesia fees, hospital fees, and any other costs that may be required during the procedure.
When a 360 belt abdominoplasty is performed for reasons that are viewed as medically necessary, a patient may be able to apply for Medicare cover and receive cover from their private health insurance provider.
Medicare can cover part of the procedure’s costs if patients are able to meet the requirements outlined by the specific Medicare Item Number. Your GP or your surgeon can guide you through the process and advise if you would be eligible.
When it comes to private health cover, this can depend on your provider and type of cover, so we advise you to contact them before undergoing your procedure.
During your consultation, you can discuss the costs of your procedure in much further detail and receive a personalised quote. You are welcome to contact our team if you have any questions about the costs of the procedure before your consultation.
Possible risks and complications
All surgeries can be associated with risks and complications. These will be discussed during your consultation and can be minimised by choosing a qualified plastic surgeon, using sufficient techniques, and carefully screening your suitability for surgery.
Initial side effects include swelling, bruising and discomfort, which typically subsides during recovery. Some patients can also experience numbness around the incision sites, which can be temporary or sometimes permanent.
As with any surgery, the procedure carries a risk of scarring, nerve damage, bleeding, infection and prolonged healing, which your surgical team will always aim to minimise as much as possible. Further risks include adverse reactions to anaesthesia, blood clots, hematoma (a build-up of blood beneath the skin) and seroma (a build-up of fluid beneath the skin).
Follow-up appointments with your surgeon will allow them to monitor your healing progress and act on possible complications early if they occur. You will also be advised to monitor your healing at home and seek medical advice if you notice any symptoms of infection or other complications.
Belt Lipectomy Surgery FAQs
When the body loses a large amount of weight, the skin can struggle to retract fully. Over time, as weight increases (which can occur due to a wide variety of factors), the skin stretches to accommodate the additional fat, which can reduce its elasticity. Once the skin loses elasticity and stretches in the area and excess weight is lost, surgery is often sought as a method to remove the excess skin, as it generally cannot be reduced without surgery.
An abdominoplasty and belt lipectomy are typically performed for different purposes, differ in the specific areas that they address and differ in terms of whether or not underlying muscles are addressed. Choosing between the two procedures will depend on the amount of excess skin you have if you want to address the front of the abdomen alone (abdominoplasty) or extend to around the hips and back (belt lipectomy), and if you want to address stretched muscles or diastasis recti (the separation of the abdominal muscles).
Generally, a belt lipectomy is suitable for those who have experienced massive weight loss, as its purpose is to remove excess skin and fat deposits around the abdomen, hips and back. An abdominoplasty can be suitable for those who may have experienced skin laxity or stretched abdominal muscles after pregnancy due to the natural ageing process or other factors.
Ultimately, your surgeon can help you decide between the two procedures during a consultation and identify which procedure is more suited to your needs and expectations.
You can prepare for your surgery by ensuring that you ask your surgeon any questions you may have and by taking some notes during your consultation. Your surgeon will discuss the preparation instructions that you will need to follow before surgery, such as changing medications or quitting smoking. As well as preparing for your surgery, you can also prepare for your recovery by filling prescriptions, arranging for help with daily tasks during your recovery, and organising your home so that it is a comfortable place to recover.
Preparing for your procedure can help to support your suitability for surgery, minimise complications that can occur during surgery, and make the recovery process easier to navigate.