Mercy Hospital Surgeons Team Up to Offer Surgical Solution
for Massive Weight Loss Patients
-Belt lipectomy offers meaningful solution in removal of
excess skin as a result of dramatic weight loss-

(Mercy, Iowa – November 11, 2004) The final step for many weight loss patients is the removal of excess skin that has lost its elasticity after being stretched out by extra pounds over many years. Drs. Al Aly and Albert Cram, both of whom recently joined Mercy Iowa City as part of its new plastic surgery program, are one of only a few surgical teams in the United States that perform belt lipectomy. The procedure involves the removal of this excess skin in a single surgery, rather the patient having to undergo several smaller procedures.

When a person loses a substantial amount of weight, the outer skin of the belly, hips and back acts like a deflated balloon and develops many extra folds. The belt lipectomy was developed to treat this problem, and it can assist in transforming bodies that have gone through dramatic weight loss or pregnancy.

The belt lipectomy involves removal of a “tire” of hanging skin and tissue from around the entire body. A patient ends up with firmer skin, a flatter belly, a more defined waist, lifted outer thighs and higher buttocks, according to Dr. Aly.

“Although most patients have worked very hard to lose significant amounts of weight, they are unable to see a tremendous difference in their appearance because it is masked by hanging skin and fat,” says Dr. Aly.

Surgery after massive weight loss has dramatically increased in the last ten years. In 2003, a total of 52,049 Americans underwent plastic surgery as a result of dramatic weight loss.

“In my experience, the belt lipectomy can make a meaningful change in the lives of patients, leaving them with increased self-esteem and an improved body image,” says Dr. Aly.

The benefits of the surgery are not just cosmetic; quality of life is enhanced as well. Moisture from perspiration or bathing commonly gets trapped in between skin flaps, resulting in yeast and bacterial infections. Dr. Aly says these infections can be very painful.

Teamwork
Drs. Aly and Cram say there are significant benefits to the patient from having a team of two surgeons performing a belt lipectomy.

Patients can expect for the procedure to last four hours in Mercy’s operating room, which would typically be longer if there was one surgeon performing the procedure. Additionally, as a result of the shortened surgery, the patient’s time under anesthesia is shortened.

“Patients also benefit by having two surgical experts working together on their behalf,” says Dr. Aly.

Recovery time from belt lipectomy ranges from between 4 to 6 weeks with a 2-day hospital stay.

Mercy Iowa City is an acute care community hospital, as well as a regional referral center offering a full range of medical services. Mercy’s medical staff of more than 150 represents all major specialties and subspecialties. In addition to its 218 beds, Mercy provides 20 private outpatient rooms and 14 surgical suites, and has facilities that include a 24-hour physician-staffed emergency room, a mental health unit and a 16-bed skilled nursing unit.