TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty)
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, can restructure the stomach by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the abdominal muscles. The incision is made horizontally along the lower abdomen and is concealed by most bathing suit bottoms.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT TUMMY TUCK
- How long is the procedure?
- Surgery takes anywhere from 3 to 5 hours to complete.
- What can I expect after surgery?
- For the first three to five days after surgery you will have two drains to collect any excess fluid or serum.
- It will take approximately two weeks until you feel like yourself again.
- You will sleep in a semi-sitting position with three pillows behind your head and two under your knees. This is to prevent any tension on the suture line.
- You will be given a compression garment that you will wear at all times for four weeks. This may be taken off only to shower.
- We ask you not to lift anything heavier than ten pounds for six weeks from the date of your surgery.
- Am I a good candidate?
- The best candidates are men and women who are relatively good shape, but bothered by large amount of loose abdominal skin or fatty deposit that will not respond to diet or exercise.
- The surgery is especially helpful to women who have had multiple pregnancies and who have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they will return to normal.
- If you intend to lose a lot of weight, you should postpone the surgery until after the weight loss.
- Women who plan future pregnancies are encouraged to wait until they have had all of their children. The abdominal muscles are tightened during surgery and will separate with pregnancy.
LIPOSUCTION (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy)
Liposuction removes unwanted pockets of fat. Areas such as the outer thigh (saddlebags), abdomen and flanks (love handles) are the most improved after this procedure. This procedure is not a substitute for weight loss or exercise.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT LIPOSUCTION
- How long does surgery take?
- Traditional liposuction may take 2 hours or more depending on how many areas are addressed.
- What can I expect after surgery?
- Bruising and swelling occur and resolve usually over the first two weeks.
- We attempt to control the bruising and swelling by the use of a compression garment and, at times the use of drains.
- Bruising will gravitate downward along the areas that underwent liposuction.
- Expect numbness and tingling in the areas that underwent liposuction.
- You may feel a burning sensation as your healing. You may also feel twinges of pain. This is normal as the nerves are regenerating.
- A garment will be worn for 24 hours a day for a period of 4 weeks. It may be removed to shower.
- Expect to be slightly heavier for a week or two because of the extra fluid that was given and also because of the swelling.
- At approximately three or four weeks after surgery, most patients notice a significant difference in their contour. It will take on average three months before you will see 90 % of the results and up to six months or one year before you see 100 % of the result
- What is the recovery time?
- Every patient is different.
- On average, it takes approximately one week until patients resume activities of daily living.
- More strenuous activities may be limited for a period of two weeks depending on the amount of surgery performed.
- Am I a good candidate?
- The best candidates are those of relatively normal weight (within 10 to 20 pounds of their ideal weight) who have excess fat in a particular body areas.
- Having firm elastic skin will result in a better final contour after surgery.
ARM LIFT
Aging, gravity and significant weight losss can cause the skin of the upper arms to be stretched, loose or sag. Arm lift, or brachioplasty, is designed to recontour the arm. During the procedure loose skin and excess fat are removed. It will be necessary to wear a supportive garment for a short time following the procedure to obtain the best results.