Reconstructive Surgeons - Plano, Texas - American Institute For Plastic Surgery

LIPOSUCTION

No matter how diligent you may be with your diet and exercise, excess fat in certain places sometimes just doesn’t seem to budge. If those annoying bulges become a big source of frustration hindering clothing options and fashion choices, then you may want to consider liposuction. And whether you call it liposuction or body sculpting, it is safer and more effective than ever. Liposuction has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed worldwide.

Body Procedures

TUMMY-TUCK
(ABDOMINOPLASTY)

Consultation Tummy tuck procedures are for women or men who are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose skin that just will not respond to diet or exercise. In addition, it is beneficial for those who have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin with excessive weight or childbirth. Liposuction alone can remove the fat, but no skin is removed with liposuction. Furthermore, skin tightening is not a key feature of liposuction, especially if there is considerable excess skin present. However, an abdominoplasty features removal of large amounts of excess skin as well as the ability to simultaneously tighten the muscles. Frequently, a flat abdomen is uncovered beneath the excesses above. During the consultation, Dr. Harris or Dr. Raphael will inform you of how much skin they will remove and what expectations you may have following a tummy tuck. They will show you where the scar will be and inform you of the possible complications of this surgery. Lastly, they will tell you if muscle tightening is necessary for you to achieve your goals.

Surgical Procedure A tummy tuck takes 2-3 hours to perform and is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. This procedure may be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures, such as liposuction or breast augmentation. An incision is made in the area above the pubic region and extends frequently hipbone to hipbone. The incision is placed low enough that it can be hidden by most swimsuits, although the location of the scar can be customized to some extent based on the kind of swimwear you enjoy wearing. In cases in which the underlying muscles will be tightened, permanent (non-dissolving) sutures are used to flatten the stomach. Excess skin is then removed, followed by creating a new opening for the navel. The majority of sutures are internal and dissolvable. After surgery, a special type of surgical tape covers the main incision.

One or two drains are inserted under the skin to remove excess fluid from the surgical site and are typically removed in 1 to 3 weeks. It is recommended that you take one to two weeks to recover, however, this may vary depending on your lifestyle and the type of tummy tuck that was performed. Extremely strenuous activity should be avoided for 3-6 weeks although walking is encouraged following surgery as it may minimize post-operative complications.

Consultation The body lift procedure is performed on patients that have excessive skin in the abdomen, buttock and thigh areas or post-bariatric surgery patients that have had massive weight loss (e.g. more than 100 pounds). The nature of this surgery is to remove the excess skin and fat from the entire midsection (torso) of the body. The incision may wrap around the entire torso or, in the cases of a posterior body lift, just around the backside.

THIGHPLASTY
(INNER/OUTER THIGH LIFT)

Consultation Patients who have loose skin from excessive weight loss or childbirth are ideal candidates for thigh lift. However, if your inner thighs seem as though they have a lot of fatty tissue present it might be best to do liposuction first on order to eliminate as much excess fat as possible. After a few months, your doctor will re-evaluate your thighs to see if you will benefit from a thigh lift in addition to the liposuction. The thigh lift procedure is designed to tighten the skin of the thighs and to reduce saggy, loose skin of the inner or outer thigh. Dr. Raphael and Harris perform this procedure either alone or in combination with other procedures such as a body lift or liposuction. Excess skin is lifted and removed through incisions made in the inner thigh and/or high upper outer thigh region. The incisions may be lengthy depending upon the patient, but are not visible with typical clothing. A compression garment or girdle is worn for 4 weeks.

BRACHIOPLASTY
(ARM LIFT)

Consultation Brachioplasty, also known as Arm Lift or Arm Tuck, is a procedure designed to remove the redundant, loose skin of the upper arms. Hanging arm skin, also known as “bat wings”, can interfere with one’s ability to fit into sleeved tops, as well as causing underarm rashes or irritation. The majority of candidates for brachioplasty are those who have experienced a massive weight loss, but may also include those who have, for genetic reasons, accumulated a large amount of upper arm flabbiness or loss of skin elasticity.

Surgical Procedure The incisions are made inside the upper arm or in the armpit region. By means of this incision, excess skin and fat is removed. A drain is placed on each side and a compression garment is worn for 4 weeks. The arm lift procedure tightens the skin of the arms by eliminating the sagging skin. This procedure may be performed alone, or in conjunction with other procedures. It usually takes one week to recover, however, this may vary depending on your lifestyle. Strenuous activity should be avoided for 3-4 weeks, but walking is encouraged following surgery.

Liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body at the same time. Fat removal or contouring may be performed on any of the following areas:

• Chin/Neck
• Upper Arms
• Breast or Chest Area
• Mid and Upper Back
• Abdomen, Midriff (upper abdomen area)
• Waist, Hips, Love Handles
• Thighs
• Inner Knees
• Calves, Ankles

Surgical Procedure The duration of the surgery depends on how many areas are being treated. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Liposuction can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures. Since very small incisions are made, it’s almost a “scarless” procedure. Here, at the Institute, we have performed a wide variety of liposuction methods, but now usually use the “tumescent technique”-- in which fat is injected with a water solution containing small amounts of epinephrine to minimize blood loss. The pre-injection of water into the areas prior to the actual suctioning, prepares each area for removal of fat. Then the actual suctioning is performed. Afterwards, the areas that were suctioned are dressed in a tight compression garment or girdle that helps control swelling, keeps fluid from accumulating, and aids in the healing process.

We generally recommend you take one week to recover, however this may vary depending on your lifestyle. Many patients have the surgery done on a Friday in order to take advantage of the next full week and weekend for their recovery. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for the first week or two following surgery and then gradually resumed. Walking is encouraged during the first 2 weeks, which bolsters the circulation and prevents complications.

This procedure can be done alone or in conjunction with other procedures, such as arm lift or breast procedures, although usually just a single additional procedure may be added to the list. Because of the nature of the surgery and how much time etc. that it takes to perform, it is wise to limit the list of procedures to just 2 or 3. During your consultation, your doctor will inform you about what would be best for you. In addition, they will tell you where the scars will be, how much excess skin will be removed, and how you can expect your final result to appear.

Surgical Procedure The body lift procedure is done under general anesthesia. The Institute recommends that you stay overnight with one of the nurses. There are drains placed through the incisions that remain in place for 2-3 weeks. The circumferential body lift may be best described as getting a tummy tuck, outer thigh lift, and buttock lift all at the same time. The skin closure is tailored to enhance the figure with attention given to the style of clothes you like to wear. Following the body lift procedure, patients are placed in a compression garment or girdle for about 4 weeks. The patient should plan to be off work for 2-3 weeks and strenuous activity should be avoided for 3-4 weeks following surgery.