Liposuction

Liposuction or body sculpting is performed to remove unwanted localized deposits of fat cells from the body. The procedure is meant for body contouring. It is not a replacement for diet and exercise. There will be permanent improvement to the areas treated as long as there is no significant weight gain. There are different liposuction techniques that will be reviewed with you at the time of consultation to determine which procedure is best for you. A combination is very common to use. The tumescent technique is using a saline solution with local anesthetic which is infused into the area to be treated. A small cannula connected to a suction machine is maneuvered into the fatty tissue through very small incisions. The unwanted fatty deposits are gently suctioned away.

An ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) sound wave emulsifies the fat prior to being suctioned from the body using less pressure than traditional liposuction. Liquefying the fat first with ultrasound allows us to remove larger amounts of fat with much less bruising to surrounding tissues. Good candidates for body sculpting are healthy patients with localized areas of fat who also have good skin tone. Local sedation or general anesthesia can be used and the procedure is performed by me in an accredited surgical facility or hospital setting on an outpatient basis. Recovery is usually two to seven days. Patients may need to wear an elastic dressing or garment to aid healing.

Tummy tuck

A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to flatten a protruding abdomen. Pregnancy, weak abdominal muscles, the loss of a great deal of weight, or excess fat and loose skin that does not respond to diet and exercise, are indicators that a tummy tuck may be needed. A full abdominoplasty for those with severe laxity would be performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility or hospital setting. The surgery would require an incision from hip bone to hip bone. The entire abdominal wall is tightened and excess skin and fat is removed with the navel repositioned. Patients are normally back to work in two weeks.

A mini tummy tuck can be performed if most of the excess skin is below the belly button. The procedure requires a smaller incision in the bikini area with much faster recovery. Patients may have a 23-hour overnight stay or go home the same day, depending on the individual’s preference.

Body lifts

Body lifts are quite common for people that have experienced dramatic weight loss. Each body lift is customized to the individual’s specific needs. It is a surgical procedure to remove excessive skin and fat on one or more of the following areas: abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, groin, and buttocks. Occasionally, this procedure requires extensive incisions, but they can be placed in certain locations where a patient can conceal them in most clothing, including bathing suits. The procedure is a combination of liposuction and removal of excess skin.

A body lift is performed under general anesthesia on a one-night stay basis in a hospital setting. Depending upon the extensity of the procedure, it can take 2 to 8 hours. My patients are able to return to work in a few weeks, but healing will continue for several weeks. The incisions will also continue to improve over time. No strenuous exercise is advised for 4-6 weeks depending upon the patient’s healing time and the surgery performed. Body lifts should be very long lasting if patients maintain their weight.

Arm lifts

The arm lift procedure also known as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin on the upper arms. In massive weight loss patients the large amounts of skin is often referred to as “bat wings.” Smoother, tighter skin on the arms is achieved by this procedure. Arm Lifts are performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia on an out-patient basis in an accredited out patient medical facility or hospital setting.

Incisions are placed in the inner arm area starting from the armpit continuing to the elbow. All my patients are strongly advised these incision lines are permanent but will be much less noticeable in time. Healing time varies with each patient, but typically takes about 2 weeks with no strenuous activities for 6 weeks. Patients can wear sleeveless tops after this procedure with confidence, minus the “wings"!