Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck", is a procedure for women and men who have loose skin and fat concentrated in the abdomen. Multiple pregnancies and loss of skin elasticity caused by aging can result in a protruding abdomen that will benefit from this procedure, which can tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall as well as remove excess fat and skin.

The best candidates for Abdominoplasty have one or more of the following problems:

• Excess or sagging abdominal skin
• An abdomen that protrudes and is out of proportion to the rest of the body
• Abdominal muscles that have been weakened, and separated (Diastasis), by prior surgery or childbirth
• Excess fatty tissue that is concentrated in the abdomen.

In an Abdominoplasty, the scar can be well hidden low in the abdomen. Depending on the elasticity of the skin, liposuction can be added to, or substituted for, an Abdominoplasty. A recent and exciting advance utilizes Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction and a partial, or Mini-Abdominoplasty to contour the abdomen. This further minimizes the scar and allows for a quicker recovery period.

Aesthetically, it is usually wiser to decide to wait before proceeding with surgery for women who are considering becoming pregnant, or for anyone planning to lose a large amount of weight. To improve the results and avoid complications, smoking should be stopped at least two weeks prior to the procedure.

The surgery is performed at the Institute of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility approved by the Joint commission for the Accreditation of Hospital Organizations. A superb staff of board-certified anesthesiologists provides anesthesia. Services range from the latest twilight sedation techniques to make you comfortable while local anesthesia is used, to general anesthesia if that is your preference. Either way, one is assured a safe, comfortable surgical experience. Patients stay overnight. Discomfort for the first few post-operative days requires oral analgesics, and patients typically return to work in two to four weeks.

Abdominoplasty, whether partial or complete, produces excellent results for patients with weakened muscles or excess skin. In most cases, the results are long lasting, if you follow a balanced diet and active lifestyle.

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Liposuction

Suction-assisted lipectomy – also known as liposuction, is a technique to remove unwanted fat deposits from specific areas of the body, including the chin, neck, and cheeks; the upper arms and above the breasts; the abdomen, buttocks, hips, and thighs; and the knees, calves, and ankles. Liposuction is a method of removing localized fat that doesn't respond to dieting and exercise.Suction-assisted lipectomy usually takes an hour or two, but the time required may vary considerably – from thirty minutes to several hours, depending on the area and amount suctioned. Our board-certified anesthesiologists use the technique of conscious sedation, allowing a safe and comfortable environment to proceed with your surgery.

To begin the procedure, our surgeon makes very small incisions; just large enough to allow the insertion of a hollow tube called a cannula. The opposite end of the cannula is attached to a machine that creates a strong vacuum. The surgeon manipulates the cannula deep within the fat layers under the skin, breaking up the fat and suctioning it out. Usually, only a few sutures are needed to close the incision.After the surgery, a snug elastic dressing or body stocking must be worn over the treated area to control swelling and to help your skin shrink to fit your new contour. You will need to wear this garment continuously for two to three weeks, then just in the daytime for a few weeks more, depending on your surgeon's instructions.

Ultrasonic-assisted lipoplasty, commonly known as "UAL", is a relatively new liposuction technique that uses sound waves to "liquefy" unwanted fat. UAL can be an effective tool for removing fat from fibrous body areas, such as the male breasts or the back, or for removing larger volumes of fat in a single procedure. Often, traditional liposuction is performed with UAL to help shape UAL-treated areas or to treat areas of the body not suited for UAL, such as the neck and inner thighs.  To begin the procedure, salt water containing local anesthesia and adrenaline is introduced into the area to be treated. Then, a metal cannula connected to an ultrasound generator is inserted beneath the skin through a small incision. The ultrasonic energy causes the walls of the fat cells to break down, allowing the fat to flow out of each cell. The "liquefied" fat combines with the injected fluid to create an emulsion, which is removed from the body by vacuum pressure.

After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. Again, to help control swelling, you may be fitted with a snug elastic bandage or compression garment to wear over the treated area. The bandage or garment is typically worn for up to four weeks, to help your skin shrink to fit its new contour.  Traditional liposuction or ultrasonic-assisted liposuction is a highly effective technique for giving you a new body contour with very little scarring. The results can be permanent, providing you eat sensibly and exercise regularly. Even if you do gain weight, you probably gain it more uniformly throughout your body, not just in the former "bulges".

You will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body quite soon after surgery. However, improvement will become even more apparent after about six weeks, when most of the swelling has subsided.  Most patients are very satisfied with the results of their liposuction. They feel more comfortable in a wide variety of clothes, and more at ease with their bodies. As long as your expectations are realistic, you should be happy with your new shape.

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Body Contouring follow Massive Weight Loss

The body lift is performed to remove excess skin and sometimes also fat from the torso and upper legs. It is a complicated procedure that can take three to seven hours under general anesthesia and involves a difficult recovery period of four to six weeks, but it offers an improvement in appearance for patients who have lost significant amounts of weight due to childbearing, diet, exercise or bariatric surgery, or who have loose, inelastic skin for other reasons. The procedure is often combined with others such as breastlifts, facelifts and armlifts to retain a proper body proportion.

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