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BODY CONTOURING
Liposuction
The most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S. today, liposuction sculpts the body by removing undesirable fat that has not responded to diet and exercise from areas such as the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, chin, cheeks, neck and upper arms. Local anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used, and the procedure can last anywhere from one to five hours depending on the amount of fat being removed.
There are several different methods surgeons use when performing liposuction, including Power - assisted liposuction (PAL) and suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL). In both types, fluid is injected into the area to be treated. Then a tiny incision is made in as inconspicuous a place as possible, and a cannula (small tube) breaks up the fat layer and suctions it out.
Liposculpture can also be performed in thin, athletic people to further define muscle definition such as the 'six-pack' abdominal region and external oblique muscles.
After surgery, drainage tubes, compression garments and antibiotics may be needed to facilitate the healing process. Patients are encouraged to walk as soon as they are able and many return to work within a few days, although strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month. Results are visible immediately, though improvement may continue as swelling subsides during the first three months.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Abdominoplasty helps to flatten and shape the abdomen and waist by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles. The best candidates have pockets of fat or loose skin that haven't responded well to diet and exercise. The procedure can also be useful for women with stretched skin and muscles from pregnancy.
The procedure takes approximately two to four hours and is performed under general anesthesia. This may be combined with other procedures such as liposuction. Recovery time ranges from two to four weeks and usually requires one to wear an abdominal binder (compression garment) for about one month. Abdominoplasty will leave a permanent scar stretching between the hips, although it should be low enough for even a bikini to conceal it. With a balanced diet and regular exercise, results are long-lasting.
Thigh Lift
A thigh lift is performed to remove excess skin and fat from the upper legs. Candidates typically suffer from loose, inelastic skin after extreme weight loss due to diet, exercise or bariatric surgery. Because of this, the procedure is often combined with others such as breastlifts, facelifts and armlifts to retain an attractive body proportion.
In a medial thigh lift (inner thigh lift), the surgical incision is made in the inner thigh along the line where the leg meets the groin. In a lateral thigh lift (outer thigh lift), the incision is made from the groin around the back of the body, so that the buttocks are lifted along with the thigh.
Lower Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy)
Also called belt lipectomy, torsoplasty. the circumferential body lift is performed to remove excess skin from the torso and upper legs.
Candidates for body lifts typically suffer from loose (inelastic) skin on many or most areas of the body as a result of age, childbearing or significant weight loss due to diet, exercise or bariatric surgery. Because of this, the procedure is often combined with others such as breast lifts, arm lifts and liposuction to retain a proper body proportion. Body lifts tighten and tone the abdomen, back, buttocks, hips and thighs.
Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
After substantial weight loss, weight gain or simply from the effects of aging, skin on the upper arms can become inelastic, loose and flabby. Arm lifts, also known as brachioplasty, remove that excess skin and fat. Patients who have significant amounts of fat may want to consider combining the procedure with liposuction. The scar may be limited to the axillary (armpit) area in those with minimal fat and skin laxity of the upper arm. In those who need a significant lift, the scar runs from the axilla (armpit), down the inner part of the arm and down to the area just above the elbow crease.
Labiaplasty (Labia Reduction)
Labial surgery, or labiaplasty, serves many functions: it can improve the appearance of the vagina, relieve discomfort, aid in proper hygiene, prevent chaffing from undergarments and clothing, and boost self-confidence. The procedure may be performed to correct external problems. External labiaplasty trims the vaginal inner lips (labia minora) to remove excess skin and achieve a balance in size and overall much more pleasing and natural, youthful appearance.
Buttocks Lift and Augmentation
If you want to enlarge or re-shape your buttocks and have discovered that they do not respond to diet or exercise, buttock implants may be the solution. Implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are made of soft silicone, which provide a firm, smooth yet natural feel. They are placed away from the bony area on which you sit. The procedure takes about two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. Incisions are made inconspicuously in the depression between the buttocks. It may be performed in conjunction with liposuction for a more dramatic change in contour.
