Gluteal Lipectomy (Buttock Lift Surgery) After Weight Loss in Newcastle NSW
A gluteal lipectomy (buttock lift) removes excess skin and fat from the lower back and buttock region after significant weight loss. It is the posterior component of a belt lipectomy (body lift), and in selected patients I perform it as a standalone operation. For the full clinical detail on this procedure, see my comprehensive guide.
Is This the Right Operation for Your Skin Pattern?
A standalone gluteal lipectomy (buttock lift) suits a specific pattern: excess skin concentrated over the lower back and buttocks, with the abdomen and flanks relatively spared. If your loose skin extends around the flanks and onto the abdomen, which is the more common pattern after significant weight loss, a belt lipectomy (body lift) that treats the full circumference is usually the better operation.
Where a patient is suited to it, my preference is to treat the loose skin in a single comprehensive operation, which means one anaesthetic and one recovery. For some patients, staging the work across separate operations is the more appropriate path, for example an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) first and the posterior gluteal lipectomy at a later date. Which approach suits you depends on your skin pattern, your medical history and your overall health, and is determined at consultation.
What the Operation Involves
- An incision across the lower back, positioned along the belt line so the scar sits where a waistband would cover it
- Excision of the excess skin and fat from the lower back and upper buttock region
- Elevation and repositioning of the buttock tissue
- Layered closure of the incision
- Surgical drains are placed when necessary, typically involving two drains on each side.
- General anaesthetic
- Operating time of approximately
- Performed at Maitland Private Hospital with an overnight stay
Why Come and See Me?
I am a Specialist Surgeon (FRACS) and my practice is focused on body contouring surgery after significant weight loss. Lower body procedures, including the gluteal lipectomy (buttock lift), belt lipectomy (body lift) and my circumferential hybrid abdominoplasty, make up a large part of my operating week.
Your surgery is performed at Maitland Private Hospital, which has 24-hour nursing cover and an on-site intensive care unit. I do daily ward rounds while you are admitted.
Your first consultation with me runs for about 1 hour. A second consultation is always included at no cost, and can be done by telehealth if you live outside the region. After surgery, follow-up is intensive for the first 2 weeks, with 2 to 3 visits per week for nurse or doctor review and dressing changes. I then review you at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. All follow-up is included in your surgical fee.
Risks and Recovery
This is major surgery and recovery takes time. Risks include wound healing problems, infection, seroma (fluid collection), bleeding, and blood clots (DVT or pulmonary embolism), and the belt line scar takes many months to mature. Most patients need 2 to 3 weeks away from work and wear a compression garment for 6 weeks. Results vary from patient to patient. I have written detailed guides on both topics: recovery after gluteal lipectomy (buttock lift) and complications after gluteal lipectomy (buttock lift).
Cost and Medicare
The cost of a gluteal lipectomy (buttock lift) depends on the extent of surgery and whether you meet the Medicare criteria for a rebate, which also affects private health fund cover. The relevant MBS item number is 30169 for a standalone gluteal lipectomy, or 30179 where it forms part of a circumferential belt lipectomy (body lift), and eligibility is assessed at consultation. You receive a written quote after your consultation with all fees itemised, and I explain the full breakdown in my cost guide: gluteal lipectomy cost article.
Your Steps to Surgery
1. Get your GP referral
A GP referral is required before any consultation.
2. Consultation with me
Your first consultation runs for about 1 hour. I examine your skin pattern, review your medical history and weight stability, and we work out whether a standalone gluteal lipectomy (buttock lift), a belt lipectomy (body lift) or a staged approach suits you. A second consultation is included at no cost.
3. Written quote
You receive a written quote with surgical, anaesthetic and hospital fees itemised, along with any applicable MBS item numbers.
4. Prepare for surgery
Pre-operative blood tests, weight stability, stopping smoking, and medication planning are all worked through before your surgery date.
5. Have your surgery at Maitland Private Hospital
General anaesthetic, overnight stay, daily review while admitted.
6. Recover with structured follow-up
Intensive review in the first 2 weeks, then follow-up at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months, all included in your fee.