Tummy Tuck vs Circumferential body lift vs Panniculectomy

These procedures are all similar but different based upon the patient’s unique situation. The patient who was heavy and lost some weight and has abdominal skin hanging over the pants (similar to an apron) are generally panniculectomy candidates. A panniculectomy removes the skin below the belly button. The belly button is not repositioned, but mildly pulled lower.  Often this can be an insurance benefit. 

Patients who were never very heavy, however have gained mild to moderate weight and have lost this weight are generally abdominoplasty candidates. These patients either have excess abdomen skin and might have areas that need minor liposuction. Often these patients had children and have an abdominal diastasis, where the rectus muscles are off the midline, thus creating a protrusion of the anterior abdominal wall (which often people think is fat, but it is laxity of the abdominal wall – diastasis, not fat). An abdominoplasty removes the lower skin and repositions the belly button and often has liposuction performed at the same time. 

Then there are the patients that have lost over 40 lbs and have sagging/ hanging skin in the buttock, thighs, and abdomen. These patients are best served with a lower circumferential body lift. This is an abdominoplasty on the front, with removal of a ‘belt’ of skin and fat around the backside. This procedure often augments the buttock, which is usually flat after losing excessive weight; thus returning the buttock and the shape of the female figure.

The recovery from these surgeries is about the same, 2-3 weeks off work (for a desk job) or 3-4 weeks for a manual labor job. No exercise for 4 weeks. No swimming for 6 weeks. No travel for 6 weeks.