Plastic Surgery Cosmetic Breast Surgeons Anne Nickodem, M.D.

Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten muscles of the abdominal wall. Abdominoplasty is not a surgical treatment for being overweight. Obese individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body contouring surgery until they have been able to maintain their weight loss.

There are a variety of different techniques used by plastic surgeons for abdominoplasty. Abdominoplasty can be combined with other forms of body-contouring surgery, including suction-assisted lipectomy, or performed at the same time with other elective surgeries.

Abdominoplasty is an elective surgical operation. Alternative treatment would consist of not undergoing the surgical procedure. Suction-assisted lipectomy surgery may be a surgical alternative to abdominoplasty if there is good skin tone and localized abdominal fatty deposits in an individual of normal weight. Diet and exercise programs may be of benefit in the overall reduction of excess body fat. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative surgical forms of treatment.

A body lift is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the middle and lower abdomen, hips, outher thighs, back, buttocks, and to tighten muscles of the abdominal wall. A body lift is not a surgical treatment for being overweight. Obese individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body contouring surgery until they have reached a stable weight.

There are a variety of different techniques used by platic surgeons for a body lift. A body lift can be combined with other forms of body-contouring surgery, including suction-assisted lipectomy, or performed at the same time with other elective surgeries.

Alternative forms of management consist of not treating the areas of loose skin and fatty deposits. Liposuction may be a surgical alternative to a body lift if there is good skin tone and localized abdominal fatty deposits in an individual of normal weight. Diet and exercise programs may be of benefit in the overall reduction of excess body fat and contour improvement. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative surgical forms of treatment.

Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure that is used to help remove the excess skin and fatty tissue from the axilla and upper arm. Brachioplasty is not a surgical treatment for being overweight. Obese individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body-contouring surgery until they have reached a stable weight.

There are a variety of different techniques used by plastic surgeons for brachioplasty. Brachioplasty can be combined with other forms of bondy-contouring surgery, including suction-assisted lipectomy, or other elective surgeries. Your surgery may require the transufsion of blood products; however, this varies on a case by case basis.

Brachioplasty is an elective surgical operation. Alternative porms of management consist of not treating the areas of loose skin and fatty deposits. Liposuction surgery may be a surgical alternative to brachioplasty if there is good skin tone and localized fatty deposits in an individual or normal weight. Diet and exercise regimens may be of benefit in the overall reduction of eccess body fat. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative forms of treatment.

A buttock lift is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the hips, outer thighs, back, and buttocks. A buttock lift is not a surgical treatment for being overweight. Obese individuals who intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body contouring surgery until they have reached a stable weight.

There are a variety of different techniques used by plasti surgeons for a buttock lift. A buttock lift can be combined with other forms of body-contouring surgery, including suction-assisted lipectomy, or performed at the same time with other elective surgeries. Your surgery may require the transfusion of blood products; however, this varies on a case by case basis.

Alternative forms of management consist of not treating the areas of loose skin and fatty deposits. Suction-assisted lipectomy surgery may be a surgical alternative to a buttock lift if there is good skin tone and localized abdominal fatty deposits in an individual of normal weight. Diet and exercise programs may be of benefit in the overall reduction of excess body fat and contour improvement. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative surgical forms of treatment.

Liposuction is a surgical technique to remove unwanted deposits of fat from specific areas of the body, including the face and neck, upper arms, trunk, abdomen, buttocks, hips and thighs, and the knees, calves, and ankles. This is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method for removing localized deposits of fatty tissue that do not respond to diet or exercise. Liposuction may be performed as a primary procedure for body contouring or may be combined with other surgical techniques such as facelift, abdominoplasty, or thigh lift procedures to tighten loose skin and supporting structures.

The best candidates for liposuction are individuals of relatively normal weight who have excess fat in particular body areas. Having firm, elastic skin will result in a better final contour after liposuction. Skin that has diminished tone due to stretch marks, weight loss, or natural aging will not reshape itself to the new contours as readily and may require additional surgical techniques to remove and tighten excess skin. Body-contour irregularities due to structures other than fat cannot be improved by this technique. Liposuction by itself will not improve areas of dimpled skin know as "cellulite".

Suction-assisted lipectomy surgery is performed by using a hollow metal surgical instrument known as a cannula that is inserted through small skin incision(s) and is passed back and forth through the area of fatty deposit. The cannula is attached to a vacuum source, which provides the suction needed to remove the fatty tissue.

In some situations, a special cannula may be used that emits ultrasonic energy to break down fatty deposits. This technique is known as ultrasonic-assisted lipectomy. Depending on your needs, your surgeon may recommend suction-assisted lipectomy alone, or in combination with ultrasound-assisted lipectomy. This is generally used in flanks, outer thighs and male breasts.

There are a variety of different techniques used by plastic surgeons for liposuction and care following surgery. Liposuction may be performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Tumescent liposuction technique involves the infiltration of a high volume of fluid containing dilute local anesthetic and epinephrine into areas of fatty deposits. This technique can reduce discomfort at the time of surgery, reduce blood loss, as well as reduce post-operative bruising.

Support garments and dressings are worn to control swellling and promote healing. These are worn 24 hours a day for 3-6 weeks.

Alternative forms of management consist of not treating the areas of fatty deposits. Diet and exercise regimens may be of benefit in the overall reduction of excess body fat.

Direct removal of excess skin and fatty tissue may be necessary in addition to liposuction in some patients. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative forms of treatment that involve surgery.

A medial thigh lift is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the medial thighs. A medial thigh lift is not a surgical treatment for being overweight. Obese individuals whe intend to lose weight should postpone all forms of body contouring surgery until they have reached a stable weight.

There are a variety of different techniques used by plastic surgeons for a medial thight lift. A medial thigh lift can be combined with other forms of body-contouring surgery, including suction-assisted lipectomy, or performed at the same time with other elective surgeries. Your surgery may require the transfusion of blood products; however, this varies on a case by case basis.

A medial thigh lift is an elective surgical operation. Alternative formsof management consit of not treating the areas of loose skin and fatty deposits. Suction-assisted lipectomy surgery may be a surgical alternative to a medial thigh lift if there is good skin tone and localized fatty deposits in an individual of normal weight. Diet and exercise regimens may be of benefit in the overall reduction of excess body fat and contour improvement. Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative surgical forms of treatment.

This information is only intended as an introduction to the various procedures. It should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor to guarantee the result. The best method of determining your options would be to see a board-certified plastic surgeon for a thorough history and physical examination. Only at this time could your candidacy for any procedure be determined. The information provided is not intended to serve as medical advice.