Thank you for questions regarding what's the difference between a body lift and a beltectomy and what areas does it address and to what degree. This is a question of nomenclature and what different plastic surgeons believe the body lift and or beltectomly to be. In my plastic surgery practice, there are two types of body lifts. There is the lower body lift and the upper body lift. In my practice, the lower body lift includes a tummy tuck, abdominoplasty, hip lift, hip reduction, buttock lift, and buttock reduction. In my plastic surgery practice, by definition, the lower body lift does not include the inner thigh lift. The body lift in my practice includes the outer and back of the thigh lift. To address the inner thighs, this would require a medial thigh lift or reduction. This is also called a spiral thigh lift or vertical thigh lift. During the lower body lift, the abdomen is flattened, the hips are raised and the buttocks are reduced. Also, the abdominal muscles are permanently sutured together to achieve a flat abdomen. The body lift addresses all these areas to a “significant degree”. It is impossible to objectively answer to what degree. However, there is no other plastic surgery procedure that impacts the lower as much as the 360 circumferential lower body lift. When I perform a body lift, patients may or may not need liposuction. Liposuction is decided upon an individual basis. A “beltectomly” is similar to the body lift, depending on what the “beltectomly” procedure entails. A “beltectomly” by definition is only the removal of excess skin and fat from the belt region. It does not include the correction of the anterior abdominal musculature. In my opinion, the body lift is a much better procedure than the “beltectomly” procedure. Thank you for your question regarding the difference from a body lift and beltectomly. I specialize in reconstructive plastic surgery after weight loss. If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy please contact my office. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 100 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 you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of 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.)
