A lipoabdominoplasty (tummy tuck) tightens the abdominal walls and removes excess skin to create a flatter contour of the abdomen. This procedure is popular with mothers who have passed their childbearing years and is not recommended for women who may get pregnant in the future. Also, people who have undergone bariatric (weight loss) surgery are common subjects of tummy tuck surgery. Anyone who has difficulty reducing abdominal fat and increasing tone despite frequent exercise is a good candidate for this surgery.
The lipoabdominoplasty procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia and begins with an incision along the bikini-line and the removal of the navel. Once the abdominal walls have been strengthened and repositioned, the skin flap is pulled down, stretched and cut for the new navel fixture. Supplemental liposuction is frequently used in combination with a tummy tuck to smooth the transition between the new locations of the skin. The belly button is then reattached and all incisions sewn shut.
The procedure is moderately invasive and requires several weeks of recovery before returning to work and even more time before exercise can be attempted. For the first week, patients should not lift any weight heavier than ten pounds. Patients are also advised to wear the compression garment fitted at the end of surgery as much as possible to reduce the swelling.
Brachioplasty, commonly known as an arm lift, attempts to procure a more natural and youthful look by removing the fat and excess skin hanging down from the underarms. This is most commonly requested by women, but some men opt to have this procedure as well. An arm lift is often performed on post-bariatric surgery patients who have lost large amounts of weight in a short amount of time. The procedure helps to relieve patients' self consciousness in wearing short sleeves or otherwise showing their arms.
During the arm lift procedure, the incision is made beneath the arm and can extend from the elbow to the armpit, varying upon how much skin must be removed. The skin is then cut away from the rest of the arm and pulled taut around the extremity.
This procedure is very likely to leave a scar that could be noticeable. The scar can be adjusted so that it runs on the inside surface of the underneath of the arm. The scars will typically become inconspicuous after six months to a year. However, most patients need to be firmly aware that they are essentially trading "skin for scars" with this procedure.
The initial recovery time for this procedure is short, as the patient may return to light work within a week or less. However, exercise must remain off limits for two weeks. The results will be immediately obvious, but will show apparent improvement over the next two weeks as swelling subsides. The scars will heal and mature over the next six months, possibly fading from sight entirely.
A thigh lift is performed to tighten the skin around the inner thigh to form a more aesthetically pleasing frame. The outer thigh is generally not targeted in a thigh lift as liposuction tends to produce better results in that area of the leg.
This procedure requires a surgical incision of varying size based on how much skin must be removed. The location of the incision is usually on the medial side of the thigh and can be adjusted based on clothing preference or overall reduction of visibility.
Discomfort is generally minimal in smaller lifts, but when large amounts of skin are removed, an overnight stay in the hospital may be required. In either case, pain medication and anti-inflammatory methods will be utilized.
Light labor is normally possible after less than two weeks, while most physical activity is permissible at four to six weeks. All symptoms should be gone and scars maximally faded within six to twelve months.
© 2011 Patrick Kelley, M.D., FACS and MedNet Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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