Cosmetic Body Procedures

Cosmetic body procedures include:

• Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
• Body Contouring
• Breast Augmentation (Breast Enlargement)
• Breast Lift
• Breast Reduction
• Liposuction
• Necklift

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) A tummy tuck removes excess fat and skin. This creates an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer, often enhancing your body image and confidence

Procedural Steps: A tummy tuck involves the surgical removal of excess abdominal fat and skin and includes tightening of the abdominal wall where muscles have weakened. A full tummy tuck requires a horizontal incision in the area between the pubic hairline and navel. Incision size is largely dependent on the amount of excess skin to be removed.

Results: Swelling should subside and initial results may appear in 2-4 weeks. Final results could appear in 8 weeks. Incision lines will continue to flatten and fade for up to 1 year. ( back to top)

Body Contouring After weight loss or bariatric surgery, body contouring can improve the shape and tone of your underlying tissue that supports fat and skin and removes excess sagging fat and skin. The skin and tissues often lack elasticity and cannot conform to the reduced body size. As a result, skin that has been severely stretched now is unsupported:

• Upper arms may sag and appear loose
• Breasts may flatten and hang with nipples pointed downward
• Abdominal area may extend around the sides and into the lower back area
• Buttocks, groin, and thighs can sag and cause hanging skin

Procedural Steps: All body contouring procedures require incisions to remove excess skin. In many cases, these incisions may be extensive. Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as personal preference and your doctor’s surgical judgment. Depending on your body and goals, some or all of these specific areas will be included in this procedure:

• Lower Body Lift: corrects sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin and outer thighs
• Breast Lift: corrects sagging, flattened breasts
• Arm Lift: corrects sagging of the upper arms
• Thigh lift: corrects sagging of the inner, outer and mid thigh

Results: After your body contouring procedure is completed, bandages will be applied to the incisions. The results are visible almost immediately. However, it may take as many as one to two years or more for the final results of all the recommended body contouring procedures to fully develop. Visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness.  ( back to top)

Breast Augmentation (Breast Enlargement) Breast Augmentation involves using implants for fuller breasts or to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy. Implants also may be used to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy or injury. Breast augmentation can:

• Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
• Improve balance of your figure
• Enhance self-image and self confidence

Procedural Steps: Common incision locations include the breast crease, underarm, or around the areola (pigmented skin surrounding the nipple). Placement of implants beneath the chest wall muscle or directly behind breast tissue using implants creates the desired volume.

Results: Immediate. Swelling should subside in 2-4 weeks. Incision lines will continue to flatten and fade for up to 1 year.  ( back to top)

Breast Lift A breast lift raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast.

Procedural Steps: Excess skin is surgically removed to raise the nipple and tighten the breast tissue. Incision patterns vary, depending on degree of excess skin and amount of lifting required.

Results: Swelling should subside in 2-4 weeks. Breast shape may take 1-3 months to fully refine. Incision lines will continue to flatten and fade for up to 1 year. ( back to top)

Breast Reduction A Breast Reduction removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts. Procedural Steps: The technique used to reduce the size of your breasts will be determined by your individual condition, breast composition, amount of reduction desired, your personal preferences and the surgeon’s advice.

Generally, an incision is made at or near the areola. Underlying breast tissue is reduced, lifted and shaped. Occasionally, for extremely large breasts, the nipple and areola may need to be removed and transplanted to a higher position on the breast.

Results: The results of your breast reduction surgery are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. ( back to top) Liposuction Liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat to improve your body contour and proportion. Liposuction may be used to reduce localized fat deposits of the:

• Thighs
• Hips and buttocks
• Abdomen and waist
• Upper arms
• Back
• Inner knee
• Chest area
• Cheeks, chin and neck
• Calves and ankles

Procedural Techniques: There are three common variations:

• Surgical suctioning of excess fat deposits
• Tumescent or super-wet technique-uses saline solution with adrenaline to remove excess fat
• Ultrasound-uses ultrasonic energy to liquefy excess fat prior to surgical suctioning

Results: Swelling should subside, bruising should fade and initial results may appear in 2-4 weeks. Final results could appear in 2-6 months. Significant weight gain can cause recurrence of fatty deposits. ( back to top)

Necklift A necklift is a procedure used to enhace the appearance of the neck and to addresse various cosmetic issues, including:

• Excess fat
• Too much skin
• Turkey Wattle-weakened or loose neck muscles

Procedural Steps: The neck lift is actually a combination of procedures. The first procedure is cervicoplasty (excess skin is removed), and the second procedure is platysmaplasty (where neck muscles are removed or altered). During cervicoplasty, two incisions are made either under or behind the ear. When combined with a platysmaplasty, a small incision is made under the chin. Sections of skin are trimmed, lifted into place and sutured. Then, a section of fat and muscle is removed and the ends are sutured together at the front of the neck. The skin can be brought together under or behind the ear to further firm up appearance of the neck. Results: Patients wear a compression garment for several days after necklift surgery to help healing faster. Swelling takes a few weeks to subside, however patients should be able to start seeing the results of their neck lift within a week following surgery. Patients will notice more definition in their neck and under the jaw line. ( back to top)