Plastic Surgery for Body

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Abdominoplasty is cosmetic surgery for reshaping the abdomen. Sagging abdominal wall skin and relaxation of the abdominal wall muscles can happen after pregnancy or with weight fluctuations. Stretch marks in the skin may be the result of pregnancy. Exercise may be unhelpful in restoring a flatter abdomen or more proportional shape.

• A mini-abdominoplasty has a shorter scar and is best used for the select group of patients whose problems are limited to the lower abdomen and have a lesser amount of skin and fat to be removed.
• An extended abdominoplasty is used for patients that have excess skin that continues from the front to the backside of the trunk. This is particularly common after losing large amounts of weight. 

The best candidates are healthy nonsmokers, with a Body Mass Index preferably of less than 30, who are in good nutritional balance. Scars, though inevitable, normally fade quite a bit over a few months. A tummy tuck is frequently combined with a breast lift and liposuction.

Body Lift after Major Weight Loss

Aging, sun damage, pregnancy, significant fluctuations in weight, and genetic factors may contribute to poor tissue elasticity that can result in sagging of the abdomen, buttocks and thighs. Often after massive weight loss, skin elasticity may be destroyed, leaving excess skin. The skin laxity may leave breasts deflated and saggy, leave folds of overhanging skin in the abdomen, arms or legs, and may lead to jowls or a “turkey neck” obscuring the underlying bone structure. No amount of diet or exercise will cause the folds of skin to disappear.

A body lift improves the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports fat and skin. Excess sagging fat and skin are removed and the procedure(s) can improve the irregular skin surface. Often, two or three areas can be addressed at once, as long as the surgery time is kept to safe limits (five to six hours). The best candidates are nonsmokers who have stable weight, a favorable Body Mass Index (BMI) (preferably less than 30) and are in good nutritional balance.

Insurance: Some surgeries after massive weight loss can be covered by insurance. If the skin and fat of the abdomen is very large and overhangs, called a panniculus, rashes and skin irritation can develop. Insurance companies occasionally pay for the removal of this excess skin and fat if they consider it medically necessary. Hernias can also develop after an open bariatric surgery. Most hernia repairs will be covered by insurance. Other procedures for massive weight loss patients are considered cosmetic such as arm lifts, breast lifts, face lifts, and thigh lifts, and would not be covered under insurance plans.

Fat Grafting,  Lipotransfer,  Liposculpture

Fat transfer is an evolving technique for plastic surgeons. It may be referred to as fat grafting, lipotransfer, lipostructure, fat injection or liposculpture. The principle is that fat is removed from one part of the body, processed and reinjected into an area that needs increased fill. It takes three to six months to see how much of the transferred fat will be retained. Sometimes several stages of lipotransfer are required to achieve the desired results.  The best candidates are healthy nonsmokers, with a Body Mass Index preferably of less than 30, who are in good nutritional balance.

Facial Fat Transfer: Aging affects all tissues of the face, not just skin. As we age there is a “deflation” of tissues that goes with volume loss.  During facial lipostructure fat is harvested, carefully processed to preserve fat cell viability and reinjected in small droplets to the cheekbones, chin, lips, nasolabial folds, or any place that could use some softening. It is best used in conjunction with a facelift. The final result takes a number of months to see but fat that is present at six months should be long lasting.

Fat Transfer to the Breast: Fat transfer to increase breast size is a procedure that has been growing in popularity. It is an appealing prospect to take fat from a bulge you do not want and reposition it where it is needed. Unlike breast implants, no long-term maintenance is required. Fat is readily available to donate in women of normal body weight. For many, there can be a double advantage. Breast size and shape can be improved at the same time as contouring body curves.  The downsides to the choice of fat grafting are that the size increase is smaller than women typically get with a breast implant, and that it can be hard to find enough fat for the procedure in women that are thin. Underweight women are more likely to be small breasted. Fat transfer to the breast provides shape improvement and usually a small increase in size, on average one cup. 

Fat transfer to the body: Fat can be transferred for breast and chest wall shaping and to the buttocks. Many people who desire a fuller, more rounded buttock will opt for a “Brazilian butt lift,” which uses fat transfer to provide a more curvaceous buttock without the use of an implant. 

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgery that improves body shape by removing excess fat. Even people who are healthy and active choose liposuction surgery to refine their bodies. Much about your physique is genetically determined, such as the way fat is distributed. For some people, even a sound diet and exercise program won't reduce love handles, saddlebags and tummy pooches.  

Areas like the outer thighs and the lower abdomen are particularly good targets for liposuction as are the hips, back, upper arms, knees and chin. The best candidates for liposuction surgery are near their ideal body weight with good skin and muscle tone; however, some overweight people can use the surgery as a jumpstart to take better care of their bodies. 

Liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss, and does not have the same benefit as diet and exercise. It will not reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes or in any way benefit metabolism and works best when coupled with lifestyle changes. 

Liposuction is often combined with other surgeries such as a tummy tuck, body lift, thigh lift, buttock lift or arm reduction. The success of contouring by liposuction alone, or with a method to remove excess skin, depends on your body type and your goals.

Mommy makeover

Not Just for Mommies: Despite its name, mommy makeover surgery can be a good choice for anyone who wants to target multiple areas of the body in one procedure. Typically, mommy makeovers improve the look of sagging breasts, excess skin around the abdomen, unwanted fat deposits in the hips and thighs, and stretch marks. These results can be obtained through a series of surgeries, including liposuction, breast lift or augmentation, and a tummy tuck. The best candidates are healthy nonsmokers, with a Body Mass Index preferably of less than 30, who are in good nutritional balance. Scars, though inevitable, normally fade quite a bit over a few months.

Abdominoplasty: Abdominoplasty is cosmetic surgery for reshaping the abdomen. A Tummy tuck involves removal of skin and fat in the lower abdomen between the belly button and pubic region and extending hip to hip. The underlying muscles are tightened for better internal support.

Liposuction: Liposuction is a surgery that improves body shape by removing excess fat. Even people who are healthy and active choose liposuction surgery to refine their bodies. For some people, even a sound diet and exercise program won't reduce love handles, saddlebags and tummy pooches.  Areas like the outer thighs and the lower abdomen are particularly good targets for liposuction as are the hips, back, upper arms, knees and chin.

Breast Reduction: A breast reduction is considered when overly large breasts cause discomfort. Most women that seek this operation have hopes of both improving the symptoms caused by the weight of the breast and improving their appearance. Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty) decreases weight of heavy breasts, repositions the breast higher on the chest and improves breast shape.

Breast Augmentation: Breast enlargement (augmentation) increases breast size and improves breast shape. Women often choose augmentation when they have decreased breast volume after pregnancy or weight loss or to balance breast asymmetry when there is a significant difference between the sizes of the breasts.

Breast Lift: Women choose a breast lift or mastopexy to counter the effects of gravity and improve breast shape and fullness.  For some, breasts drop to the extent that they contribute dramatically to a changed appearance. A breast lift will raise and reshape breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning the remaining gland and nipple areola complex.