Body Contouring

Important Information regarding Abdominoplasty, Body Lift, Brachioplasty, Medial Thigh Reduction

You are required to meet the clinical criteria by Medicare for to the procedure to be assessed as medically necessary.  Please call our office for further information and direction.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Abdominoplasty (TummyTuck) is an aesthetic surgical procedure that is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen and to tighten the abdominal muscle separation caused by child birth.

You may wish to have an Abdominoplasty if your abdomen is affected by obesity skin laxity or weight loss. The overall body appearance is improved by reducing and recontouring abdominal skin and fat. It is not a substitute for weight reduction nor a cure for obesity.

The tummy tuck procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic. Excess skin and fat are removed from the lower abdomen and the abdominal muscles tightened. In some patients the navel is repositioned.

The best results are obtained in patients of near normal weight with some laxity of the abdominal skin or a slight excess of fat or bulging of the abdominal muscles. The result is usually permanent although of course excessive weight changes or future pregnancies may undo some of the benefits of the surgery. Your surgeon is the best person to determine whether your expectations are surgically possible.

Body Lift

Body Lift surgery includes various procedures to remove and tighten excess skin. It is also used to tighten saggy skin due to childbirth or ageing. Body contouring surgery can improve a number of areas such as waist, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper torso and upper arms.

Whilst body contouring surgery can reshape the body, it is not an alternative to weight loss. Liposuction alone is not a suitable option because the problem is extreme skin looseness, not excessive fat and liposuction does not tighten skin. Body contouring surgery cannot produce a young, unblemished figure. Skin tension will remain soft. Surgical scars are permanent. Your surgeon cannot guarantee that the scars will remain hidden in bathers or normal clothing.

This procedure removes large skin folds and fat from the hips, outer upper thighs, lower abdomen and upper buttocks. The type of body lift surgery that you have and the amount of skin removed will depend on your needs and the needs of the surgeon’s advice to stay within safe limits. Body contouring surgery may take several hours depending on the case. Extensive surgery time is not suitable for everyone.

Upper Arm Lift

Our skin tends to loosen as we age, in particular around the upper arm area. This area is also affected by significant weight loss. Brachioplasty is the removal of excess skin performed using the surgical procedure known as lipectomy. An incision is made just above the elbow to the armpit, where a section of skin and fat is removed. The remaining skin is joined together and closed via suturing.

Medial Thigh Lift

Excess loose skin in the inner thighs can be painful due to rubbing/chaffing. Medial thigh surgery removes loose skin and fat from the upper inner thighs. An incision is made at the fold where the thigh and the groin join.

An extended medial thigh lift also removes tissue down the inner aspect of the thigh towards the knee. The extra skin is removed under controlled tension. The medial thigh lift tightens the skin and improves the contour of the inner thigh. Some patients may require liposuction to assist in contouring. The surgery may distort the contour and affect the appearance of the genitalia, especially in women.

Liposuction

Liposuction is the removal of fat deposits from specific areas of the body with use of a metal cannula that is inserted into deep subcutaneous fat using a technique where the cannula, is moved in specific patterns, which is dependent on the area that is being treated. This procedure is also referred to as liposculpture or suction-assisted lipectomy.

Liposuction can assist with the shaping of areas such as thighs, knees, buttock, hips, waist, abdomen, neck and chin.   Liposuction does not remove or improve cellulite or stretch marks as these are not related to fat accumulation.

Liposuction is an elective procedure and is not required for the maintenance of good health. Dr Preketes will discuss the pros and cons of this procedure at the time of your consultation together with the expected outcome. Other factors that will affect the outcome are changes in body weight due to loss, gain or fluid retention.

Fatty tissue to other sites may increase in size if you do not control your food intake, creating unwanted bulges. Muscle tone or a flat tummy will not be evident following liposuction if the underlying muscles are weak.