Trunkplasty vs belt lipectomy - what is the difference?

Hello Severalia for your question. There is a moderate amount ofconfusion regarding terms to describe the lower body lift. There
aremany surgical procedure names in which are also used to describe
thisrelatively new procedure. In addition, there are certain parts
of thelower body lift that may not be included in your surgeon’s
techniquefor a lower body lift. Other terms that describe a lower body
lift are:360 Body Lift, Circumferential Lower Body Lift, Belt Lipectomy,Abdominoplasty and Posterior Body Lift.Each of these terms describes a procedure. However, each surgeon
mayor may not do all the procedures the same. A belt lipectomy
typicallyremoves skin and fat from the lower body. This includes removal
ofabdominal skin, lower hip or love handle skin and fat, and
superiorbuttock skin and fat. A circumferential body lift, also known as
a 360body lift, includes removal of skin and fat from the abdomen,
bilateralhips, and upper buttocks. In addition, it includes tightening of
the rectusabdominal muscles. This leads to a permanent flat abdominal
wall. Thebelly button is preserved. The skin around it is removed and the
bellybutton is then placed in its natural position. The belt
lipectomy may ormay not include muscle tightening or the placement of the new
bellybutton.A trunkplasty is a generic term that is described for any
surgery that isperformed on the trunk of the body. This could presumably
describethe abdomen, hips, buttocks, and upper torso. This could also
includeexcess skin and tissue that is in the armpit region, across the
upper backand it could even include surgeries that are in the chest area.
As you cansee, the trunk area includes everything from the clavicle to the
bottomof the pelvis. Technically, any surgery done to the trunk can be
atrunkplasty.A belt lipectomy is anything that done to the trunk or lower
torso.You should be able to resume activities from any of these
surgeriesabout 3-4 weeks after surgery. You will have to take things
slowly atfirst and then slowly increase activity.If you have any questions feel free to contact my office. Good
luck.Sincerely,J. Timothy Katzen, M.D

A common first line of attack for patients who have lost weight is a
body lift procedure. Most plastic surgeons refer to a body lift as a
circumferential body lift = belt lipectomy. This procedure is
essentially 3 procedures in one: extended tummy tuck + waist/lateral
thigh lift + buttock lift (with the option of buttock augmentation). A
physical exam would be needed to make any recommendations. Please
visit with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic
Surgery to learn more about your options.

Best wishes,

Dr. Basu

Houston, TX

Trunkplasty and belt lipectomy are both body contouring procedures, but they target different areas. Trunkplasty focuses on the abdomen and lower back, addressing excess skin and fat in that region. Belt lipectomy, on the other hand, involves a circumferential removal of excess skin and fat, typically addressing the abdomen, hips, and lower back in a “belt-like” manner. The choice between them depends on the specific areas you want to target and your overall aesthetic goals. Consulting with a plastic surgeon would provide recommendations based on your needs.

Hello and thank you for your question. A trunkplasty is a modified version of a fleur-de-lis.  It usually requires a horizontal incision under the breasts. It gives a strong pull centrally to narrow the waist. You are therefore left with a scar from the bottom of the sternum down to just above the pubis. There may be horizontal scars at the bottom and top of the vertical scar.A belt Lipectomy is a 360 degree incision but high in the waist and back and lower in the front. It elongates the buttocks  and does not allow for auto augmentation of the buttocks and hips. The first one does nothing  for the hips buttocks or thighs.You probably can tell that I am not a fan of either one, especially if you are a weight loss patient.My practice is 80% post massive weight loss body contouring. I think you should look at other board certified plastic surgeons who do lots of post massive weight loss body contouring procedures. Check to see if they do lower body lifts, because that is the procedure you probably will need IF you are a weight loss patient.Peter Fisher M.D.