BODY CONTOURING

Body contouring encompasses a group of surgical approaches to improve soft tissue contour of the abdomen, flanks, inner and outer thighs, and the neck. Liposuction, or suction-assisted lipectomy, improves soft tissue contour through removal of fat using conventional suction or with ultrasonic assistance. Both conventional and ultrasonic methods use a modified "tumescent" or superwet technique, where large amounts of a very dilute local anesthetic solution are used to pretreat the fatty deposits prior to surgical removal. Most liposuction procedures are performed under general anesthesia to allow for position changes intraoperatively that allow for optimal results. Liposuction is often combined with breast enhancement or other body contouring procedures.

Choose one to learn more and view case studies:
Liposuction        Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, refers to a group of procedures that addresses specific areas of abdominal wall laxity. These procedures usually include at least some liposuction, in addition to a direct surgical tightening of the deep abdominal wall. Incision length is chosen on an individual basis, depending upon the amount and location of redundant or hanging skin. Patients that have tight skin but a lax abdominal wall can often benefit from minimally invasive techniques that have short incisions with minimal scarring. Patients with large areas of lax skin with multiple stretch marks from multiple pregnancies often benefit from the more traditional approaches with longer skin incisions to accomplish the desired changes in abdominal wall contour. Incisions are oriented according to individual preferences for swimsuit and undergarment styles.

Most body contouring procedures, other than small areas for liposuction, are best performed using general anesthesia. Liposuction and limited or "miniabdominoplasty" patients usually return home the day of surgery. Full abdominoplasty and body lift patients usually stay overnight for observation following the procedure and return home the following morning. Postoperative recovery entails a short period of activity restriction following liposuction and a pressure garment to be worn for about four weeks. Tummy tuck patients are restricted from vigorous exercise for several weeks to allow for the deep abdominal wall repair to completely heal and stabilize.

What follows are examples of patients who have allowed us to share their preoperative and postoperative photographs with you. These are examples of typical outcomes, but may not represent your preoperative situation or postoperative result.