My Plastic Surgery Group

Body Lift & Body Contouring

About Body Lift Surgery

Body liftbelt lipectomy and extended abdominoplasty (extended tummy tuck) are all cosmetic surgical procedures that expand on the tummy tuck procedure.

Procedure Details

Belt lipectomy and extended abdominoplasty are two terms describing the same cosmetic procedure. The incision we use in a tummy tuck will normally stop on or near the hip bone area on both sides of the abdomen. In an extended abdominoplasty, or belt lipectomy, the incision doesn’t stop at the hip bones; it continues around the entire body and stops right above the buttocks where it meets the other incision. This incision is placed so that it is usually able to be hidden under bathing suits, briefs and underwear. Often, major weight loss patients have significant sagging of the skin on their buttocks and outer thighs. Because this incision goes all the way around the body, some lifting of the buttocks and outer thighs will occur and will be more proportionate to your new tummy.

An extended abdominoplasty, or belt lipectomy, is a plastic surgery technique commonly referred to as extended tummy tuck surgery. During an extended abdominoplasty, skin and tummy fat are removed from the mid and lower abdomen in addition to simultaneously removing tissue from the lower sides and back to refine the waistline. Next, as with a tummy tuck, upper abdominal skin is pulled downward and the muscular wall is repaired by pulling the abdominal muscles tightly back together. As the upper skin is pulled taut downward, a new opening is created for the navel which has been preserved throughout this procedure.
Oftentimes, it is necessary to place drains in the wall space which will stay in place throughout a portion of the extended tummy tuck recovery period.
Body lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is designed to lift the sides of the thighs. Done through the same incision as an extended abdominoplasty and belt lipectomy, it differs, however, in its extensive undermining of the outer thigh skin all the way to the side of the knee. This is a more extensive and expensive operation that fewer patients need now that improvements have been made in the extended abdominoplasty. Deciding whether or not to have a body lift or an extended abdominoplasty will require a more detailed conversation and evaluation with your surgeon during your consultation.

Minor wound complications are, unfortunately, quite common in these procedures. The operations done in most major weight loss patients involve very long skin incisions. In addition, force is applied to these incisions as the skin and underlying tissues are tightened. These two situations mean that the incision may not heal as rapidly in some areas as others. These complications, as well as what to expect during your recovery will be discussed with you, at length, during your consultation with the surgeon. Protein supplements started before, and continued after surgery have been shown to improve wound healing.

Before & After

bxa-Body-Lift-Extended-Tummy-Tuck-1bxa-Body-Lift-Extended-Tummy-Tuck-2

Real Results

View before-and-after pictures of real patients of My Plastic Surgery Group.

Meet Dr. Aker

Dr. Aker, an Indianapolis plastic surgeon affiliated with several area hospitals, has lectured and is published widely on a variety of plastic surgery topics. Dr. Aker brought several new techniques in cosmetic surgery to Indianapolis and Carmel including the endoscopic breast augmentation (“endo aug”) and Asian eyelid surgery.

Meet Dr. Beckman

After receiving her medical degree with honors, Dr. Beckman was selected for a highly competitive integrated plastic surgery residency position at Rutgers University, where she rigorously trained in both aesthetic and complex reconstructive plastic surgery for six years. During residency, she developed a strong passion for plastic surgery education and research. She earned several teaching and clinical excellence awards and served as Chief Resident in her final year.

After residency, Dr. Beckman was selected for an aesthetic plastic surgery fellowship position at H/K/B Cosmetic Surgery, one of the nation’s premier aesthetic plastic surgery practices. This additional year gives her the unique opportunity to learn from some of the most recognized names in aesthetic plastic surgery and to train with the most innovative procedures and products available.

Related Procedures

Mini Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck Extended

Liposuction

Thigh Lift

9550
Scroll to Top