Body Contour Procedures

Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure designated for men and women with local deposits of adipose tissue in defined areas. It is not recommended for obese patients. Please refer to the nutrition section of the site for your own free nutritional assessment. The procedure is fairly straightforward requiring minimal down time.

Local or general anesthesia is administered. A small incision is made in the skin and a narrow tube called a "cannula" is inserted through the incision to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is pushed and pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. More than one site may be treated during the surgery.

Intravenous fluids are administered to replace the fluid that is being lost along with the fat. After surgery, some patients are fitted with a snug elastic garment to wear during recovery. The side effects if they occur may include swelling, bruising, numbness, soreness.

The recovery time is rapid. Patients are usually back to work in 1-2 weeks; more strenuous activity in 2-4 weeks; full dissipation of swelling and bruising in 1-6 months.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is done for women and men who have excess skin in the abdomen. Typically women who have given birth or men who have lost a considerable amount of weight come for this procedure.

Quite often however many people describe excercising vigorously in an attempt to "tighten up their abs" but cannot seem to shake the excess skin. The procedure is fairly straight forward requiring general anesthesia to be administered. An incision is made in the lower abdomen (just above the pubic bone) from hipbone to hipbone, and another small incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue.

The skin from the abdominal wall is separated to the level of the ribs and the underlying abdominal muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and tightening them into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline. The skin flap is is brought down and extra skin is removed. A new hole is made for the navel, which is stitched in place. Finally, the incisions are closed with stitches, dressings are applied, and a temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site. Some side effects may include swelling, bruising, and discomfort. The recovery time is a bit more when compared to liposuction for the same area. The patient is usually back to work in 2-4 weeks; strenuous activity in several weeks witth fading of scars in 9+ months.

Buttock Lift

A buttock lift is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the hips, outer thighs, back, and buttocks. A buttock lift is not a surgical treatment for being overweight. Obese individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body contouring surgery until they have reached a stable weight.

There are a variety of different techniques used by plastic surgeons for a buttock lift. A buttock lift can be combined with other forms of body-contouring surgery, including suction-assisted lipectomy, or performed at the same time with other elective surgeries. Your surgery may require the transfusion of blood products; however, this varies on a case-by-case basis.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the thighs. A thigh lift is not a surgical treatment for being overweight. Obese individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body contouring surgery until they have reached a stable weight.

There are a variety of different techniques used by plastic surgeons for a thigh lift. A thigh lift can be combined with others forms of body-contouring surgery, including suction-assisted lipectomy, or performed at the same time with other elective surgeries. Your surgery may require the transfusion of blood products; however, this varies on a case-by-case basis.