 
Women may have liposuction performed under the chin, on their hips, thighs, and stomach, and in the under arm and breast area. 
For men, common sites include under the chin and around the waist. 
As healing progresses, a more proportional look will emerge. 
A slimmer body contour can help you feel more confident and comfortable. back to top 
An incision just above the pubic area is used to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen. 
Abdominal skin is drawn down and excess is removed. With complete abdominoplasty, a new opening is cut for the navel. Both incisions are stitched closed. 
After surgery, the patient has a flatter, trimmer abdomen. Scars are permanent, but will fade with time. back to top back to top back to top |
body proceduresYour body is important to you, which is why we take the time with you, to explain every step of the procedure, questions you may have, or what to expect after surgery, all in a private and confidential environment. See the descriptions below or call us at (602) 354-7600 and a trained staff member will assist you.
Liposuction The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas. You should be physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in your expectations. Your age is not a major consideration; however, older patients may have diminished skin elasticity and may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin. All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk Liposuction is normally safe. Though they are rare, complications can and do occur. Risks increase if a greater number of areas are treated at the same time, or if the operative sites are larger in size. Removal of a large amount of fat and fluid may require longer operating times than may be required for smaller operations. The scars from liposuction are small and strategically placed to be hidden from view. However, imperfections in the final appearance are not uncommon after lipoplasty. The skin surface may be irregular, asymmetric or even "baggy," especially in the older patient. Numbness and pigmentation changes may occur. The Surgery The time required to perform liposuction may vary considerably, depending on the size of the area, the amount of fat being removed, the type of anesthesia and the technique used. Liposuction is a procedure in which localized deposits of fat are removed to recontour one or more areas of the body. Through a tiny incision, a narrow tube or cannula is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is pushed then pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. The suction action is provided by a vacuum pump or a large syringe, depending on the surgeon's preference. Fluid is lost along with the fat, and it's crucial that this fluid be replaced during the procedure to prevent shock. For this reason, patients need to be carefully monitored and receive intravenous fluids during and immediately after surgery. Technique The basic technique of liposuction, as described above, is used in all patients undergoing this procedure. Dr. Milbourn most commonly uses the “super-wet” technique. Fluid — a mixture of intravenous salt solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and epinephrine (a drug that contracts blood vessels) — is injected into the tissue before liposuction to help the fat be removed more easily, reduce blood loss and provide anesthesia during and after surgery. Fluid injection also helps to reduce the amount of bruising after surgery. Usually the amount of fluid injected is equal to the amount of fat to be removed. This technique often requires IV sedation or general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours of surgery time. Small areas may be done under local anesthesia only. You will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body quite soon after surgery. However, improvement will become even more apparent after about four to six weeks, when most of the swelling has subsided. After about three months, any persistent mild swelling usually disappears and the final contour will be visible. Tummy Tuck The best candidates for abdominoplasty are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery. Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait, as vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery can separate again during pregnancy. All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk Thousands of abdominoplasties are performed successfully each year and the results are generally quite positive. Nevertheless, there are always risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. Post-operative complications such as infection and blood clots are rare, but can occur. Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but will prolong your hospital stay. You can minimize the risk of blood clots by moving around as soon after the surgery as possible. The Surgery Most commonly, the surgeon will make a long incision from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic area. A second incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. With partial abdominoplasty, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be moved, although it may be pulled into an unnatural shape as the skin is tightened and stitched. Next, the surgeon separates the skin from the abdominal wall all the way up to your ribs and lifts a large skin flap to reveal the vertical muscles in your abdomen. These muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline. The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed. A new hole is cut for your navel, which is then stitched in place. Finally, the incisions will be stitched, dressings will be applied, and a temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site. After Your Surgery For the first few days, your abdomen will probably be swollen and you're likely to feel some pain and discomfort which can be controlled by medication. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be released within a few hours or you may have to remain hospitalized overnight. In general, stitches will dissolve and do not have to be removed. The drain tubes will be removed about one week after surgery. It may take you weeks or months to feel like your old self again. If you start out in top physical condition with strong abdominal muscles, recovery from abdominoplasty will be much faster. Some people return to work after two weeks, while others take three or four weeks to rest and recuperate. Calf Implants Most people want their calves to look natural, full, and curvaceous. In many men, the overwhelming emphasis is to augment the size and bulk of the calves in order to make them look as if you have worked out. Thigh Lift The procedure is performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis unless otherwise advised by the surgeon. Wide variations in the design of the incisions to meet clothing or personal desires are possible. Lifting the inner thighs requires only short incisions extending from the anterior part of the thigh/groin crease around to the buttock crease. Lateral or anterior thigh lifts can be performed as separate procedures if desired. The buttocks can be lifted with upper or lower scars. Arm Lift Mid-Body Lift Gluteal Lift Recovery Patient is advised not to sit for at least 1 week to help reduce tension on the incision site. Sutures are removed in 7-10 days. Depending on your type of work you may be able to return to work in 2 weeks if there is not a lot of sitting involved. It is advised (as with all scars) to protect and cover the incision site for at least 1 year out of the sun or tanning beds to prevent the scar from becoming darker or thicker. Gluteal Implants A vertical incision is made between the cheeks in order to insert the implant under or over the gluteal muscles and under the connective tissue. Semi solid implants are used as silicone implants are not approved in the USA. The implants have a muscular feel to them and give the fullness the patient wants. Recovery Sitting down is very difficult within the first 10 days. It can take up to 1 month or more before normal activity can be resumed. Rigorous activity can take up to 2 months. Patient's seeing their results realize that the time invested was well worth it. Content courtesy of PlasticSurgery.org |
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