Body Contouring Questions

A complete tummy tuck is performed to remove excess fat from the abdominal area below and above the navel. Once the excess fat is removed, the skin is pulled tightly over the abdomen. To offer more tone and tighter muscles in the abdominal area, the surgeon will also pull the muscles together and stitch them to make the abdomen flatter and provide more contour to the waist.

The best candidates for abdominoplasty are women or men who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit and or loose abdominal skin that will not respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through the stretching of multiple pregnancies, have abdominal muscles and skin that will no longer return to normal. Lost skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Women planning future pregnancies should consider waiting. The muscles tightened during abdominoplasty can separate again during pregnancy. Skin restretched may again not return to normal proportions. Previous abdominal scars need to be evaluated during an in-office examination to see if they might effect possible surgery. Prominent abdominal contour scars like those sometimes seen after Caesarian delivery and other surgery can be improved during this abdominal sculpting. Abdominoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence. It will not necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat your differently. Think carefully about what this surgery has to offer. Reasonable expectations are essential to a happy outcome.

Often after an individual has undergone gastric bypass surgery, there is a large amount of excess skin left hanging in the abdominal area. A tummy tuck can serve to remove the excess skin and to pull and tighten remaining skin over the abdominal area. In a patient who has had necessary gastric bypass surgery, the muscles have no tone or definition because they have not been exercised for a long period of time. During a tummy tuck, the plastic surgeon can also pull the abdominal muscles together and stitch them to give the patient’s abdomen a flatter, more toned appearance.

Patients undergoing a tummy tuck must give up smoking one month prior to surgery. Smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin and can seriously interfere with the healing process and may increase the risk of infection.

The healing process after a tummy tuck, like any other surgery, largely depends on the individual. Factors such as the type of abdominoplasty you have received and your general health and healing ability have a lot to do with the amount of time it may take you to recover as well. It also depends on how active you were on a regular basis prior to your surgery. If you maintained light to moderate activity levels before your tummy tuck, it will take less time for you to resume a normal activity level than it will for someone who is accustomed to rigorous work-outs a few days a week.

It can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months for you to feel well enough to resume your normal activity level. Start out slowly and listen to your body. If you feel up to it, slowly raise your activity levels. If you feel strained and exhausted, slow down and give your body more time to recover.

Liposuction can improve your body shape by removing fat deposits with a tube and vacuum device. Common locations for liposuction include chin, neck, upper arms, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles. Liposuction is particularly well-suited for individuals who are of relatively normal weight but have isolated pockets of fat that cause certain areas of their body to appear disproportionate. These localized fat deposits may sometimes be an inherited trait and typically do not respond to dieting or exercise. Liposuction is often the only way to eliminate them. While it is possible to undergo liposuction at almost any age, you will obtain the best results if your skin still has enough elasticity to achieve a smooth contour following fat removal. Liposuction should not be considered a substitute for overall weight loss, nor is it an effective treatment for cellulite, a condition that gives the skin an uneven, dimpled appearance. Liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body at the same time, and it can also be done in conjunction with other aesthetic plastic surgery.

Your surgery will be performed at one of our three surgery centers. Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure and various monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood. Fat is removed by first inserting a small, hollow tube, called a cannula, through one or more tiny incisions near the area to be suctioned. Incisions are usually less than one-quarter inch in length and are placed as inconspicuously as possible, often within skin folds or contour lines. The cannula is connected by tubing to a vacuum pressure unit. The suction device literally vacuums away the unwanted fat.

When the surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. There may be some discomfort, but this can be controlled by medication which you may continue taking at home. A compressive dressing such as an elasticized bandage or specially designed garment may have been placed over the areas that were suctioned. Dr. Broadway will tell you how long you should wear the garment and will instruct you on how to remove it so that you may shower or bathe. Most patients will go home after a few hours, although some patients may stay overnight in our facility if the surgery is extensive.

You may experience temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness and burning sensations. During the first 24 hours, you will experience temporary fluid drainage from the incision sites and you will be required to replace your bandages several times a day for the first few days. Risks include asymmetry of the areas and rippling or bagginess of skin. There could be pigmentation changes or possible skin injury. As with any surgery, there is always chance of infection. Dr. Broadway will make every effort for a safe and comfortable healing process and you will be given a detailed manual with instructions for your recovery.

The decision to have body contouring surgery is a very personal one, and it is also an important medical decision. To have a detailed discussion, schedule a body contouring consultation with Dr. Broadway at Broadway Plastic Surgery today.