Body surgery
Arm, thigh and buttock lift (Dermolipectomy)
Liposuction
Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Excessive sweating treatment (Dysport for hyperhydrosis)
Arm, thigh and buttock lift (Dermolipectomy)
People who loose a lot of weight often have a lot of excess sagging skin, which makes body look unattractive and often creates a multitude of problems such as daily hygiene and finding clothes that fit properly. With significant weight loss over a relatively short period of time (usually 15-18 months), the remaining skin often does not retain the elastic qualities necessary to "shrink back down" to your new underlying shape.
To remove the excess of abdominal skin and a laxity of the muscles of the abdominal wall abdominoplasty is used. Hanging skin under the arms requires arm lift (brachioplasty). Wrinkling and excessive bagginess of the thighs often requires lift of the inner thighs.
During the consultation, plastic surgeon assesses anatomy of your body as well as your own priorities to help you develop a comprehensive plan for your body contouring.
Women who have had a mastectomy should not have an arm lift. If you have had phlebitis (inflamed blood vessels) in either of your legs, you may not be a candidate for thigh lift surgery, as well.
For most of these procedures general anesthesia is used. While you are standing, your plastic surgeon will make marks on the skin identifying certain landmarks as well as the intended incisions. It also allows you to review the operative plan one more time with your surgeon before undergoing the procedure.
Depending on the combination of procedures you choose, surgery will probably last between 2 - 6 hours. After the incision has been made skin and fat are elevated off the underlying structures.
For a tummy tuck, the muscles of the abdominal wall are usually tightened. After removing the excess skin and fat, plastic surgeon reshapes the skin over the underlying structures. One or more drains may be placed beneath the incisions, what assist in draining any fluid that may accumulate beneath the incisions and delay the healing.
For thigh lifts, excess skin is lifted and removed through incisions made in the inner thigh and/or high upper outer thigh. The incisions are extensive but are usually not visible when clothing is worn. Simultaneous lifting of the thighs and buttocks is done when necessary, though buttock lift is not a common procedure, because it requires leaving scars across the buttock or in the fold. This is usually not desirable and patients opt for liposuction instead.
Arm lift (brachioplasty) is designed to remove excess, sagging skin and fat from the upper-inner arms. The incision is generally placed within the upper-arm from the armpit to the elbow. If a patient has no loose skin of the upper-inner arms but only has localized areas of fat, then he or she may be a candidate for liposuction alone without removal of the skin.
Compression garment is applied to the region of the body being treated. This compression garment helps support your incisions during healing, decreases postoperative swelling, and helps decrease any bruising that may occur. You should plan to wear this garment for three weeks following the surgery. Most probably you will stay overnight in the hospital. You should be up and walking the following day after the surgery, although you will be sore for several days. Applying cold compresses or ice packs will reduce swelling and relieve discomfort. You will be able to shower on the third day after the surgery and you should be able to resume your normal daily activities within several days following the surgery. All of your physical activities are allowed within three to four weeks after the surgery. Your plastic surgeon will remove the drainage tubes within several days following the surgery as the drainage decreases.
Of course, like any operation, there are potential complications, which will be explained by your doctor.
You will notice an improvement in your body contour immediately. However, your shape will continue to improve in the following weeks as the mild swelling subsides. Back
Liposuction
Liposuction is commonly used to remove excess fat in the abdomen, flanks, buttocks, thighs and knees.
Removing body fat by suction procedure has proven to be a safe and effective surgical alternative that results in a better body contour with minimal scarring. The procedure gives the best results when used to remove localized areas of unwanted fat after the desired weight is reached with diet and exercise.
Procedure usually must be performed under the general anesthesia. Except for removing very small amounts of fat, this in most cases, can be done as an outpatient procedure. When plans are to remove large amounts, it is safer to do the procedure in the hospital. The length of the procedure varies depending on how much fat has to be removed from 1 to 4 hours.
Before the surgeon begins the liposuction, the areas to be suctioned are infused with large quantities of a special fluid. This is called the tumescent technique. It has been in widespread use for several years and is a great advance to liposuction. It makes it easier for the surgeon to remove the fat, and there is less bleeding and postoperative bruising and pain. Patients recover faster and are back to their normal activities sooner than after the earlier technique.
A small, 2 cm incision is made near the area where the fat is to be removed. A thin, blunt-tipped, hollow rod is inserted under the skin and carefully manipulated through the fat tissue. The hollow rod is attached to a high-vacuum hose that suctions out the unwanted fat cells. When the desired fat is removed, the incisions are closed and dressings are applied. Patients wear a pressure garment over the suctioned area. This minimizes swelling and discoloration and helps the healing process. In spite of this, there will be some swelling and discoloration. The discoloration subsides in several weeks, but the swelling may take months to disappear.
After the surgery, pain is controlled with oral medication. Patients should drink plenty of fluids the first few days after the surgery. Sport drinks containing electrolytes are recommended. Patients can return close to their normal activity in about one week, but it may take several weeks before tough exercise can be recommenced.
As in any operation, complications can occur but their degree and number are relatively small. Occasionally, antibiotics are required for minor infections. The most common problem is waviness or sagging skin, which is caused by irregular fat removal or inadequate skin shrinkage over the newly contoured areas. In some cases, there may be depressions from too much fat removal. Cellulite (dimpling) and other surface irregularities that were present before surgery will still be present afterwards. Back
Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Women often develop excess abdominal skin, fat, and stretched abdominal muscles as a result of pregnancy or weight loss. Abdominoplasty, surgical removal of loose skin and excess fatty tissue, corrects these problems. If the patient's only complaint is excess fat in the abdomen, the problem can sometimes be corrected by liposuction alone.
Abdominoplasty is performed through an incision across the lower abdomen. An incision is made around the belly button, leaving it attached to the abdominal wall. The skin and fat are then elevated from the abdominal wall and muscles to the level of the rib cage. Surgeons may remove some fat from the flanks with supplemental liposuction and, if needed, the abdominal muscles are tightened by suturing them together in the midline and shortening them. Surgeons remove excess skin and fat at the upper line of the incision. The belly button is then brought out through a small incision and sutured to the new skin in its normal position.
Abdominoplasty is usually performed under the general anesthesia and takes 2 to 3 hours. The patient usually must spend one to several nights at the hospital. Pain is regulated with oral medication. The patient is also given an abdominal binder to provide support while healing.
Following the surgery, patients should restrict their activities for two to three weeks, and exertion is prohibited for four weeks. The stitches generally are removed in one to two weeks following the surgery.
Drains are sometimes left beneath the skin for several days following surgery. It may be months before all the swelling has completely subsided. Patients often experience reduced sensation in the abdominal area and the upper thighs. It subsides in months following the procedure. The scars around the belly button and the lower part of the abdomen gradually fade and become less visible.
Potential complications of abdominoplasty include bleeding, infection and healing problems, which can lead to heavy scars. Some lack of symmetry also may occur. Because the skin is undermined, there is a slight risk of inadequate circulation and loss of some skin. This risk is greater in smokers and in patients with specific kinds of old scars. Patients should quit smoking for 14 days prior to and following surgery, and stop taking aspirin 14 days before surgery. Back
Excessive sweating treatment (Dysport for hyperhydrosis)
Hyperhydrosis is an excessive sweating. Hyperhydrosis is caused by over activity of one type of sweat gland, the eccrine gland. Many things can trigger normal sweating and this is also true for hyperhydrosis - it's just the amount of sweating that's different. Examples include:
• Exercise
• Stress, anxiety or strong emotions
• Heat or cold
• Certain times of the day
• Alcohol, coffee or tea, smoking or spicy food
People with hyperhydrosis can produce large amounts of sweat. This means that the armpits may be constantly damp. Dysport is recommended for the treatment of hyperhydrosis. When small doses are injected into the skin, Dysport blocks the actions of the nerves that supply the eccrine glands: this prevents the glands from producing sweat.
with a help of a very fine needle, small amount of Dysport solution is injected into 10 to 15 places about 1 cm apart and spread evenly in each armpit.
Change in sweating is noticeable within the first week after the treatment. Your next treatment can be given when the effects of the first course wear off: this usually happens after an average of 7 months.
Different people have different responses to treatment. In a clinical trial, the average reduction in sweat production on week after treatment was 87% and sweating was reduced by at least half in 95% of patients. Back
