A traditional tummy tuck removes excess skin (and the fat underneath it) from the abdomen. But it doesn’t do anything for excess skin of the hips or the back, which can be an issue for people who have lost a massive amount of weight.
A circumferential tummy tuck (otherwise known as a belt lipectomy) is a fairly large operation which removes excess skin and fat from circumferentially around the body. As you can probably gather, the surgery is performed partly while you are lying on your tummy and partly on your back. It’s performed under general anesthesia and creates a permanent, lengthy scar that extends all the way around your body at approximately the level of the belt (hence the name, belt lipectomy).
Although this operation has a significantly higher complication rate compared to a traditional tummy tuck, the results can be quite impressive. Make sure to only have this performed by a real, board-certified plastic surgeon who is ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
