Body

Liposuction (Lipoplasty)

Lipoplasty, or Liposuction as it is commonly referred to, is as close to a quick fix as possible. The procedure is a relatively simple procedure where a strong suction is attached to a tube that is inserted into the fatty layer between your skin and the underlying muscle and quite literally sucks the fat out from between the skin and muscle.

View Liposuction for men images to expose Abdominal Muscles

Lipo can be performed under local anesthetic or under conscious sedation, where your body is numb but you are lucid and able to converse with the surgeon during the procedure.

Why do Fat Cells accumulate in certain areas?

The distribution of fats cells over your body is determined by your genetics. You may have been blessed with a relatively even distribution of fat cells or more commonly, areas where there are larger numbers of fat cells. By way of example, a person may have much larger numbers of fat cells in their thigh and buttox area than on the upper body, resulting in a more triangular body shape.

Liposuction targets areas of the body

It is frustrating for people with these high concentrations of fat cells in certain areas in that the fat around these areas never seems to reduce even when dieting and exercising.

Liposuction could be the answer for those who wish to slim down in certain areas only. This surgery to remove fat cells can be performed on almost any part of the body and be very localized, allowing the surgeon to contour the body by removing fat cells from small or larger areas to achieve a desired overall look.

Because the fat cells are removed from those areas, the results of the surgery are of a permanent nature. If for example you put on a lot of weight after the surgery, your body will deposit the fat in other areas of your body where the fats cells are.

If you are considering Liposuction, you may wish to make use of the removed fat cells for body enhancement in other areas, like for example your breasts using a fat transfer procedure.

Does liposuction remove cellulite?

We are often asked whether the dimpling effect of cellulite will be removed after liposuction and it is important to understand that the dimpling effect is created by the degeneration of protein in the skin and not fat accumulation. The intensity of the dimpling may be reduced with liposuction but a tummy tuck or thigh lift may be required in order to dramatically improve the dimpling effect.

Recovery from Liposuction

Post liposuction varies from  the wearing of pressure garments straight after the procedure and then for up to 6 weeks.

Scarring from liposuction are minimal, with each scar being typicall 1-2cm wide and where possible are placed in areas that are natural body contours where they will be less obvious. Scarring from liposuction can be effectively managed and reduced from red swollen scars initially to light, flat scars that are not very visible.

As with any surgery, problems can occur but with liposuction, any permanent problems are very uncommon and the vast majority of patients have an extremely good result. The full effect of liposuction can take up to 3 months to experience the final result.

Brazilian Buttock Lift

The Brazilian Buttock lift procedure is done by using gentle liposuction, where excess fat is removed from one part of the patient’s body (fat grafting) and then injected into the layers of the buttocks.

This method of taking fat from one part of the body and injecting it another part of the body is also known as fat grafting. 

The Brazilian buttock lift is the preferred buttock augmentation method used by plastic surgeons because the technique utilizes the patient’s own fat and the chance of any complications occurring are dramatically reduced when compared to buttock implants or other procedures.

The idea behind the Brazilian buttock lift is to enhance the shape of poorly developed or flat buttocks utilizing the patient’s own fat. This effectively achieves 2 things:

1. It removes fat from an area where there is excess or unwanted fat and
2. It enhances the buttock. The procedure is very popular with both sexes. 

Just like woman have procedures done to increase their breast size for better proportion, many of the patients feel the same about the size and shape of their buttocks. Many of the patients, who have this procedure done, often complain that no matter how hard and how often they exercise, or how long they diet, they are just not able to get the shape of their buttocks the way they want it.

Once the procedure has been done, patients say that they feel sexier, and that their clothes seem to fit better, and in turn their self confidence levels increase tenfold.

What does the Brazilian buttock lift procedure involve?

The procedure is an innovative form of fat grafting which utilises excess fat from different areas on the body, which are also known as donor sites. 

The most common donor sites used are the abdomen, hips, back or thigh areas.  Fat cells are removed from these donor sites using a gentle liposuction procedure. Once the fat has been removed it is then processed and prepared to be transferred to the buttock area.  This procedure is done by injecting the fat into the various layers of the buttocks using small incisions. The technique used to inject the fat into the buttocks is very advanced and will ensure a smooth and natural appearance.

This technique is preferred to buttock implant surgery by patients because the patients favour the idea of using their own fat to enhance the size and shape of their buttocks.  An added benefit of using one’s own fat is that the fat will not be rejected by the patient’s body.  The cells are delicate, and do require careful and precise handling by an experienced buttock augmentation surgeon.  The fat must be deposited strategically through tunnels in the layers to ensure a smooth and natural looking result. Another bonus is that the patient also gets the added benefit of body contouring that the liposuction provides.

Things to consider when having buttock augmentation surgery

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and can take up to 2 hours in the operating theatre.  An important factor to take into consideration when doing a buttock augmentation is the availability of donor sites.  Some patients don’t always have sufficient extra fat for the Brazilian buttock lift.

Recovery after buttock augmentation

Recovery from the Brazilian buttock lift is similar to that of a liposuction patient where any pain or discomfort is dealt with using prescribed pain medication. 

A patient has to wear a compression garment for about 3-4 months after the surgery in order to reduce any swelling and to achieve optimal results.  Normal activities such as exercising can begin about two weeks after surgery. It is recommended that a patient take at least 3 days off work or refrain from strenuous physical activity for 3 – 5 days.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

In a tummy tuck procedure, a plastic surgeon removes loose skin, tightens the abdominal muscles, and eliminates stubborn fat. This proven surgical treatment is always tailored to meet your unique needs and goals. The goal of a tummy tuck is to improve the overall shape of the body and to improve the patients body image. The scar for a tummy tuck is on the bikini line and with today’s available scar treatments need not be ugly.

When should I consider an abdominoplasty?

If you’re self-conscious about loose, excess or droopy skin around your stomach or have weakened abdominal muscles due to pregnancy, a C-Section, bariatric surgery or weight loss. A tummy tuck may be the best way to achieve a firm, more youthful figure and refine your contours when diet and exercise can’t eliminate stubborn excess tissues and fat cells.

There are several variations of tummy tuck surgery, each designed to target certain areas of the body or specific issues.

Are you a candidate for Abdominoplasty?

This is a deeply personal choice. Do it for yourself and no one else (even if someone has offered to pay for it). You’ll be much happier with the end result if you have the procedure to please yourself. You must, however, have realistic expectations.

You may be a candidate if:

• You are physically healthy.
• Carry excess weight in the midsection.
• Have loose or droopy abdominal skin.
• Are committed to maintain results with a stable diet and regular exercise.

Candidates should not:

• Have any serious medical conditions which could be compromised by surgery.
• Plan to become pregnant
• Expect to lose a significant amount of weight

You might also consider body, arm, thigh and bottom lift procedures with your abdominoplasty to rejuvenate your body contouring following significant weight loss. Liposuction may also be required to remove stubborn fat. The fat removed during lipostion can be used to improve other areas of the body by fat grafting.

What are your goals?

Once your plastic surgeon understands what you’d like to do, he’ll take some pictures, and determine the right treatment. You should discuss together the degree of correction required, where the incisions will be made, your budget and physical health.

Types of Tummy Tuck

There are several types of abdominoplasty available. Options include:

Traditional tummy tuck

This involves a hip-to-hip incision and around the belly button. This usually involves moving the belly button to ensure a more natural looking result. Traditional tummy tucks are commonly combined with abdominal liposuction.

Mini tummy tucks

Is a perfect option if you are within 10 percent of your ideal body weight and modifies only the abdomen below the navel. A Mini tummy tuck requires a single small incision and usually do not reposition the navel.

Extended tummy tucks

Involves the removal of ‘love handles’ as well fat and excess skin from the stomach. The incision is usually low so it’s barely visible, even when wearing low-rise clothing. This allows for the treatment of a larger area than the traditional tummy tuck.

Circumferential tummy tucks

This surgery lifts the entire lower body. These surgeries are often sought after gastric bypass surgery. Massive weight loss is often accompanied by a significant loss in skin elasticity. Some medical aids cover part of the cost of a circumferential tummy tuck because the presence of sagging skin may be a health issue as fungus can form between the folds of the skin. Circumferential abdominoplasty involve the removal of excess skin from the thigh, buttocks, and hips, as well as the central abdominal area. The scars for this type of procedure extend to the back.

Anaesthesia

Abdominoplasty surgery is performed under general or local anaesthesia and takes 90 minutes to 5 hours. Most surgeons prefer complete sedation, because abdominal muscles are then completely relaxed, avoiding unexpected muscle or body movement. Localized anaesthesia is used in some mini tummy tuck surgery, which is a shorter and less invasive.

Muscle Tightening

During surgery your cosmetic surgeon will tighten sagging abdominal muscle and remove packets of excess fat and skin. The skin is separated from the abdominal walls through the incision and the muscles are pulled closer together to give a more toned appearance and narrow the waistline.

Skin Removal

After abdominoplasty surgery, particularly if you are lucky enough to have a subtle scar, it may look like the loose skin around your stomach has been tucked into your body. It hasn’t. Its actually been removed. Following the tightening of the abdominal muscles, the skin is stretched downward and excess skin is trimmed away. Sometimes liposuction is used to remove any unwanted fat pockets.

Stretch Marks

Any stretch marks located below the navel are often removed along with the excess skin while the remaining stretch marks often appear less prominent because stretching of skin flattens the stretch marks, decreasing indentations.

Closing the Incisions

The incisions are sutured together using surgical stitches to help the skin cells to coalesce. A surgical drain is inserted at the site of at the same time. The surgical drain is usually removed before the stitches, about a week after surgery and then stitches will normally be removed in stages over a period of two weeks.

Scarring

Scarring is inevitable, though your surgeon will endeavour to minimise the visibility so they are hidden beneath underwear, bikinis, and shorts. Follow your surgeon’s pre- and post-operative instructions closely to help reduce the size and darkness of scars and promote smooth and quick healing. There are incrdibly good scar treatments available, ask your surgeon about these treatments.

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini-tummy tuck is a form of Abdominoplasty that uses a short incision just at, or above, the pubic region, similar to the incision for a cesarean section, to tighten muscle and remove excess lower abdominal skin.

Mini-tummy tuck vs full tummy tuck

The mini tummy tuck is less invasive and uses a shorter incision than a full tummy tuck – there is just one at the bikini line. The goal of a full or modified tummy tuck is the same: to create a tighter, flatter stomach.

Through a single, short incision at, or above the pubic area, that stretches a few inches across the lower abdomen, your plastic surgeon will remove excess skin, tighten the underlying slack muscle and perhaps use a fat-removal procedure like liposuction to further contour the area.

The results from abdominoplasty or lipoabdominoplasty are impressive, making the skin and stomach completely flat, smooth and free of many of stretchmarks.

Are you a candidate for a Mini-tummy Tuck?

• You’re physically healthy.
• Have loose or droopy abdominal skin below the belly button.
• Are committed to maintain results with a stable diet and regular exercise.

If most issues are below your belly button and you have always been in pretty good shape, but diet and exercise no longer work, a mini-tummy tuck is an ideal procedure to tighten the abdominal area.

A mini tummy tuck entails removing skin and tissue from the lower abdomen and repairing the weak muscles on the inside without repositioning the belly button (which is generally required in a full abdominoplasty).

Candidates should not  be considering falling pregnant. You should wait to have any tummy tuck procedure until after childbirth.

What to Expect With a Mini-Tummy Tuck

This is a deeply personal choice. Do it for yourself and no one. You’ll be much happier with the end result if you have the procedure to please yourself. You must, however, have realistic expectations.

One of the most important things to know about a tummy tuck is that there will be a scar. Even though you can cover it up with clothes and it’s rarely seen in a bathing suit, it’s not a scar that’s in a crease but with proper healing should fade to a fine line

Whether you have a traditional tummy tuck or a modified version dictates what your scar will look like.

During this procedure—which may be coupled with liposuction—excess fat and skin below the belly button area are removed and, if necessary, the lower abdominal muscles are tightened. This modified version of the tummy tuck is less involved than a full tummy tuck (treating the excess skin in the upper abdomen usually requires additional incisions around the navel) and has a shorter recovery time.

Recovery from a tummy tuck

Recovery from a mini tummy tuck is shorter than for a traditional tummy tuck, but it is important to stress that this procedure is still considered major surgery. Post-treatment care is also easier as well.

Results

Under the proper conditions, the results of a mini-tummy tuck can last for many years. Exactly how long you maintain your results depends on how well you take care of your body following surgery. Living a healthy and active lifestyle will prolong your tummy tuck benefits for at least a decade after your initial surgery and probably longer.

A Mini tummy tuck scar would be similar in size to a c-section scar. The scar wopuld be well positioned below the bikini line so that it could easily be covered. Any incision will leave a scar and with today’s scar treatments, these scars are often very thin and not too dark. If you are prone to keloid scarring, please tell your surgeon and discuss the risks.