Body Procedures

A thigh lift is performed under general anesthesia and usually begins with liposuction.  The surgeon will then remove any excess skin before stitching with dissolvable sutures.  It usually takes between 2 and 4 hours to complete the procedure but the exact time varies based on the individual patient.

As with any surgery, infection, swelling, and bruising can result from thighplasty.  It can also result in noticeable scars along the thigh and buttock.  Most patients can resume normal activities that are non-strenuous after two weeks of the thigh lift.

This procedure is commonly known as the tummy tuck and is designed for people who want the extra skin and fat around their abdomen removed.  It also strengthens the abdominal wall.

The benefits of abdominoplasty include reducing a protruding abdomen or potbelly and tightening the entire area.  The downside is that it does leave a permanent scar to the area.

The ideal candidate is the person who is in relatively good shape but has a fat deposit or loose skin they can’t get rid of through diet or exercise alone.  Many women who have gone through pregnancy choose this procedure to tighten their skin.  Older people or people who have been through a major weight loss also elect to have abdominoplasty to improve their appearance.

There are three types of tummy tucks: the mini, partial, and complete.  The mini tummy tuck is done when the fat or loose skin is below the navel while the other two options are chosen when it is above the navel.

When deciding if a tummy tuck is a right choice for you, your plastic surgeon will discuss with you the extent of the procedure. In some cases, the plastic surgeon will suggest liposuction instead of the tummy tuck or along with it.

The abdominoplasty procedure is performed either under local anesthetic and a sedative or under general anesthesia. The surgeon will create an incision that goes across your stomach from hip to hip. A second incision is then made around the navel. These incisions are much smaller with a mini procedure.  The muscles are then stitched closer together and the skin is pulled down.  The skin is stitched into place with a new hole created for the navel.

Recovery time can take longer than other procedures because of the extent of the alterations that have been done.  The scars can take up to a year to fade to a normal color.

Speak to a plastic surgeon in your area to determine if a tummy tuck is a right option for you.  They will discuss what the best cosmetic procedure is for you and the results you expect.

Buttock enlargement will give you a curvier profile and is becoming a well-known cosmetic procedure.

Celebrities have helped bring back the idea that curvy bodies are the ideal of feminine beauty to compete with the look of thin runway models and provide a more realistic picture of what is attractive and healthy.

Fat grafting is the modern method of buttock enlargement and allows for faster surgery time and recovery time with fewer complications and less pain.  It also provides liposuction on another area such as the stomach as they enjoy the look of a new rear.  This method is much preferred over the old style of a silicone implant on each side of the butt.

Occasionally a repeat fat grafting may be necessary for about a third of the patients since the body can absorb some of the fat deposits.  The second graft is usually the last of the procedure with no additional treatments needed.

For very small patients, they may have to consider the alternative of an implant.  Average to larger women will have sufficient fat on their bodies for fat grafting, but very thin women may not.

Men can also receive butt augmentation.

When you are looking for a reduction in the size of your butt; that procedure is considered liposuction.  If you would like to read more information about that procedure, check out our liposuction section.

Many people have liposuction performed each year.  It is one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed in the US.

Some of the most common areas that have liposuctions include:

• Waist or abs
• Hips
• Inner and outer thighs
• Chin and neck
• Calves
• Buttocks
• Back
• Male breasts

The Procedure

The surgeon uses a small needle to remove the fat by suction.  Tunnels are created and then collapse with the heat from your system; your body shape has a new contoured look.  The procedure often takes a year for all of the effects to be seen.

Liposuction is not just a single procedure. Different techniques can be used.  You may hear a surgeon speak of wet, super wet, ultrasonic, tumescent, and power-assisted; they are discussing the options for techniques to use in the procedure.

Tumescent Liposuction

This technique uses an injection with a diluted mixture of lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline.  This is input into the fat tissue and each ingredient serves a purpose.  The lidocaine works as an anesthetic; the epinephrine constricts the fat capillaries to constrict; the saline solution swells up the fat tissue so that they become firm. 

The benefit of this technique is that the patient does not require general anesthesia and blood loss is less than with other types of liposuction.

Wet Liposuction

General anesthesia is required with this technique as well as local anesthesia in the form of an injection.  This form is not used often anymore because it required blood transfusions following the technique.