So After a Belt Lipectomy; Can You Sit? is It Painful?

Thank you for your question. Body contouring after weight loss has become increasingly common, which includes lower body lifts. With a lower body lift, or belt lipectomy, the excess skin of the belly, flanks, buttocks, and lateral thighs is removed, which recontours these areas. This does leave a scar that circles the body, but can be quite effective in treating the skin excess.

People are able to sit after a lower body lift. Though there is some recovery time, it is manageable  After 2 weeks time, most people are able to resume normal activities of daily living.

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding surgical recovery after a belt lipectomy, when can you sit, and is it painful? It's good that you're doing your research on the belt lipectomy, also known as a 360-degree circumferential lower body lift. Belt lipectomy is a confusing term. Lipectomy means the removal of fat. The term belt lipectomy suggests that you are just removing fat from the belt region. The 360 circumferential lower body lift is much more than just removing fat from the belt region. The 360 circumferential lower body lift also includes removal of excess skin from the abdomen, mons pubis, hips, and buttocks. In addition, the rectus abdominis muscle is plicated, as well as procedures such as mons pubis or FUPA lift and reduction, hip lift and reduction, and buttock lift and reduction. Regarding pain after a 360 circumferential lower body lift or belt lipectomy, the post-operative pain is subjective. That means everybody interprets pain differently. Most plastic surgeons who specialize in reconstructive plastic surgery after massive weight loss have had patients take only one or two Tylenols after undergoing a 360-degree circumferential lower body lift. Generally, pain medications are typically taken for the first seven to ten days. Then, their pain is over. However, other patients who undergo 360-degree circumferential body lifts experience pain differently. These patients take stronger pain medication like Schedule II narcotics for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. However, on average, most patients take narcotics for approximately seven to ten days after the 360 circumferential lower body lift. Recovery is straightforward after a 360 lower-body lift. You are instructed to lie on your back at a 45-degree angle to relieve pressure on both your back and abdomen. You're instructed to keep in this position for approximately ten days. You're encouraged to ambulate every day. Most plastic surgeons who specialize in reconstructive plastic surgery after massive weight loss agree that too much activity can cause incisions to open. Therefore, activity should be limited. You must follow your plastic surgeon's specific protocols regarding post-operative activity and activity restrictions. A little ambulation means approximately 10 feet or more. After a 360-degree circumferential lower body lift or belt lipectomy, you can sit at approximately a 45° angle by the two-week mark. This position entails sitting at the edge of the chair and then reclining approximately 45° till your shoulders hit the chair. Multiple pillows are placed at the base of your back to support your lower back. Sitting initially is slightly painful as the body adjusts to its new outer layer of skin. On average, if your job is active, plan to take off three to four weeks. If your job is mostly sedentary, plan on a recovery period of approximately two to three weeks. In terms of returning to physical activity after a 360 circumferential lower body lift or belt lipectomy, you should be able to return to approximately 25% of your preoperative exercise routine after a belt lipectomy at approximately six weeks; you should be able to be approximately 50% of your exercise routine at six to eight weeks; at approximately, eight to twelve weeks, you should be 75% of your exercise routine.

Thank you for your question regarding surgical recovery after a belt lipectomy, when can you sit, and is it painful? I hope this information helps you in your search for answers regarding the 360 circumferential lower body lift. If you have any further questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy, please consult with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. Since the body lift is a major procedure, it would be best for you to consult an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in performing lower body lifts. Do your research. Ensure they have performed at least 150 circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced lower body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if necessary. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA (Aesthetic, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon), President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, , and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Belt lipectomy surgery removes excess skin from the abdomen and back. Patients can anticipate limited physical activity for ten to fourteen days following surgery. I typically tell my patients bathroom and kitchen privileges initially with slow resumption of normal activity over the next two weeks. During this period, it's reasonable to sit in a recliner chair. This should provide no risk to the integrity of the wound closure.Although it's not unusual for patients to experience pain following belt lipectomy, the vast majority of patients tolerate this pain without difficulty. The pain associated with this procedure is severe in the first 24 to 48 hours following surgery, but rapidly diminishes with time. We typically use a synthetic codeine derivative called hydrocodone, which has a decreased incidence of nausea compared to codeine. We replace narcotic pain relievers with Tylenol as soon as possible following surgery to avoid the potential for drug problems. Pain tolerance varies from patient to patient following belt lipectomy, but when these steps are taken, most patients do well and tolerate their pain without difficulty.

The body lift is a very effective procedure for contouring the buttock, love handles, lateral thighs and abdomen.  It is most commonly used in patients who have experienced significant weight loss with lax skin.   The excellent results seen by these patients have prompted its increased use in cosmetic patients.  While the procedur is uncomfortable, sitting is possible even if the buttock is augmented.  Exercising before surgery increases functional reserve and makes transferring and recovery much easier in my experience.  Good luck!

Thank you for your questions.  When I perform body contouring procedure, like a belt lipectomy, I make sure that all of my patient have several copies of my instructions to ensure the smoothest recovery.  Basically, I recommend taking it easy for 7-10 days, but I do want my patients walking around to help stimulate good healing.  As far as pain goes, I inject a lot of numbing medicine during the procedure so the inital recovery involves little pain.  Then, I recommend around the clock pain pills for several days to help through the initial post-operative period.  After that, many of my patients actually switch to ibuprofen or Tylenol.  Sitting is allowed right after surgery, but no exercise for 10 days.  Good luck!  Dr. Schreiber....Baltimore plastic surgeon

Usually patients have discomfort that usually improves during the first week.  As for sitting, it should be OK to do so as I perform it. 

I have my patients ambulating immediately after surgery.  However, immediately after surgery, you will be walking flexed at your waist (in the skier's position).  Each day, you will be gradually able to straighten.  It generally takes 5-10 days (on average 7 days) for my patients to walk straight.  I do instruct my patients to sleep in a recliner or sleep in their bed propped up with pillows to mimic a the recliner or lawnchair position.  By 10-14 days after surgery, you should be getting close to your baseline ( able to drive, walk straight etc).  Most patients are able to get back to a desk job in about 2-3 weeks.  However, no heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 6 weeks after your surgery.  You need to give time for all your incisions to heal.  During this 6 week period, most surgeons will recommend some form of compression garments to help minimize your postop swelling.   Talk to your plastic surgeon to learn more about his/her specific postoperative care protocol.   Hope this helps.

There is discomfort with any operation, and this is quite a large one. But the pain is manageable with medications. As to post-operative posture, that will vary from patient to patient. If the closure is quite tight, and this may not be the case in the back, you may be advised not to sit. 

When you ready for an in person consultation, RealSelf has listings of surgeons in your area. You should consider cross referencing the listings from the The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery dot org). A listing in the ASPS website assures you that your surgeon is not only board certified,  but also is a member in good standing of the major plastic surgery organization in the U. S.

Thank you for your question, best wishes.