Plastic Surgery

Abdominoplasty

An abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) tightens the abdominal walls and removes excess skin to create a flatter contour of the abdomen. This procedure is popular with mothers who have passed their childbearing years and is not recommended for women who may get pregnant in the future. Also, people who have undergone bariatric (weight loss) surgery are common subjects of tummy tuck surgery. Anyone who has difficulty reducing abdominal fat and increasing tone despite frequent exercise is a good candidate for this surgery.

The abdominoplasty procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia. There are different degrees of abdominoplasty depending on your needs. A mini-abdominoplasty corrects the lower abdomen and results in a bikini-line scar. A full abdominoplasty results in a longer scar and repositioning the belly-button. Supplemental liposuction can be used to supplement the results.

The procedure is moderately invasive and requires several weeks of recovery before returning to work and even more time before exercise can be attempted. For the first week, patients should not lift any weight heavier than ten pounds. Patients are also advised to wear the compression garment fitted at the end of surgery as much as possible to reduce the swelling.

Liposuction

Tummy Tuck | Abdominoplasty | Liposuction | Woodbury The most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the US today, liposuction sculpts the body by removing undesirable fat from areas of the body such as the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, neck and upper arms that have not responded to diet and exercise. Local anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used and 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 tumescent liposuction, laser assisted, and ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL). In all types a tiny incision is made in as inconspicuous a place as possible. A cannula (small tube) is inserted and moved back-and-forth beneath the skin, breaking up the fat layer and suctioning it out. Tumescent liposuction uses fluid injection, which facilitates fat removal, reduces blood loss, provides anesthesia during and after surgery, and helps to reduce the amount of bruising after surgery. UAL liquefies fat with ultrasonic energy and laser uses a light source to disrupt fat in more fibrous areas.

After surgery, compression garments are worn 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 continues as swelling subsides during the first three months. Scars are small and inconspicuous. Other irregularities in appearance are possible, such as asymmetric or "baggy" skin, numbness and pigmentation changes.