Body Contouring

Daily exercise, a healthy diet and a stable, reasonable weight, are mandatory for a healthy body. But no matter how militant you are about following the rules, the body you want may not be the body you have grown into. Heredity, weight fluctuation, pregnancy and aging can influence the shape and tone of every body zone, from the arms, breasts and tummy to the buttocks, hips and thighs.

Consider the following body contouring options for the improvement on the curves and bulges that are beyond your control.  Let Blair Plastic Surgery help you Get your beautiful body back.

Liposuction

No matter how mindful you are with your diet and exercise, excess fat in certain places sometimes just won’t budge. Those annoying bulges can become a big source of frustration, hindering clothing options and fashion choices. Liposuction, also called liposculpture, removes localized collections of fatty tissue to give you a smoother and slimmer body contour. For the best results, you should be of relatively normal weight with extra fat localized in specific areas such as the hips, buttocks and abdomen. Liposculpture is also effective in removing fat deposits from the back, leg, arms, face and neck. Liposculpture is the second most popular procedure performed at Blair Plastic Surgery. Dr. Louton has over 20 years experience performing liposculpture and during this time, he has refined and perfected his technique using two state of the art methods: Tumescence and Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL). These new innovations and techniques have made liposculpture safer and more effective than ever.

How it’s done

Liposuction involves the use of a cannula (a thin, hollow tube that is inserted below the skin) to manually loosen fat and sculpt a better contour in the treatment region. Suction applied through the cannula then removes the fat from the body with a specialized vacuum-powered equipment.

Tumescence is a solution administered into the area just prior to suctioning the fat and is sometimes called the “wet “ technique. The sterile saline and anesthetic solution helps plump and separate the fat cells making the fat layer easier to remove. The anesthetic agent in the solution keeps you comfortable during and immediately after the liposuction procedure. Mild sedation may also be used for additional patient comfort.

For areas that are more fibrous and dense such as the back, upper abdomen or the male breast region, UAL (ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty) can be very effective. The high frequency energy from an ultrasound wand at the tip of the liposuction cannula is used to rupture fat cells and dislodge them prior to suctioning. Dr. Louton uses UltraSculpt™, the exclusive LySonic technology from Mentor. For more information visit www.mentor4me.com/nb.

Regardless of the technique used, liposculpture is an outpatient procedure performed routinely in our private fully licensed surgical suite. The surgery can take from 1 to 4 hours depending on the number of areas being treated and requires minimal anesthesia. Liposculpture is not a substitute for proper diet and exercise or a method for overall weight loss. It cannot correct loose, hanging skin. If your skin has lost much of its elasticity, you may need a skin tightening procedure such as a tummy tuck, thigh lift, buttock lift or arm lift.

Recovery

Back to work: 1 week. Strenuous activities: 3 to 4 weeks. Swelling: 1 to 2 months. Bruising: 1 to 2 weeks. Durations of results: permanent reduction of fat in area treated, but if patient gains a significant amount of weight overall, the treated area will get larger proportionately. Living in Lycra: You will have to wear a special elastic compression garment (looks much like workout wear) for one month following liposuction. This is beneficial to reduce swelling, avoid contour irregularities, and to help skin shrink back to new contours.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

Sometimes all the exercise and dieting in the world can’t get rid of the tummy pouch that results from a lifetime of weight fluctuations or from multiple pregnancies. But a tummy tuck is not only for postpartum women, or just women for that matter. The procedure can improve the appearance of excess abdominal fat, skin and tissue in any healthy adult.

How it’s done

A complete tummy tuck involves making an incision near the pubic hairline, from hipbone to hipbone, yet low enough so that a bikini hides it. Sagging or separated vertical muscles in the abdomen are tightened and abdominal fat is reduced using liposuction. Skin is then pulled down so that excess skin can be removed. Dramatic results are often seen with a tummy tuck since it narrows the waist, tightens the tummy and removes excess skin and fat.

A full abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia and takes 2 to 4 hours. In many patients a modified tummy tuck with a smaller incision may be possible. Modified abdominoplasties, or mini-tummy tucks, may be done with local anesthesia. Most tummy tucks are done in our fully licensed surgical facility, but can be performed in the hospital if the patient desires.

A dermatolipectomy or panniculectomy is often confused with a tummy tuck. A dermatolipectomy reduces excess skin and fat that hangs below the abdomen like an apron and is often seen in individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight. This procedure does not tighten abdominal muscles it simply removes excess skin. Dermatolipectomy may occasionally be covered by insurance if the overhanging skin is causing the patient medical problems such as an increase in skin infections.

Recovery

Back to work: 2 to 4 weeks. More strenuous activity: 4 to 6 weeks or more. Fading and flattening of scars: 3 months to 2 years.

After Massive Weight Loss – Bodylifts

Increasing numbers of people are losing massive amounts of weight – 100 pounds or more – with surgical assistance. Excess weight stresses and stretches the skin dramatically especially since rapid weight loss does not allow skin time to conform to the new body size and shape. The result is excess hanging skin that can only be corrected through surgical bodylifts.

You may have heard the terms “arm lift”, “thong lift”, “lateral tension lift”, circumferential lift”, “belt lipectomy” and others to describe surgery that reshapes target zones or the entire body. These procedures require strategically placed incisions through which Dr. Louton can reshape the body by reducing fat, lifting, tightening, and shaping the underlying skin. Depending on skin quality and the regions lifted, incisions could be limited or extensive. Most patients will need to accept visible scars to achieve improvement.

How it’s done

The approach used is individualized to the patient. Options and the risks and benefits of these options will be addressed during your consultation appointment. During your visit, you and Dr. Robert Louton can design a plan to achieve your specific goals.