• Surgical body contouring following major weight lossremoves excess sagging fat and skin while improving the shape of the underlying support tissue. The result is a more normal appearance with smoother contours.
• Dramatic weight loss has many benefits. But after weight reduction surgery, or any substantial amount of weight loss, the skin and tissues often lack the elasticity to conform to the reduced body size.
• Body contouring procedures may include:
• Facelift: sagging of the mid-face, jowls, and neck
• Breast lift: sagging, flattened breasts
• Tummy tuck: apron of excess skin hanging over the abdomen
• Lower body lifts: sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin and outer thighs
• Medial thigh lift: sagging of the inner, outer and mid thigh
• Brachioplasty (arm lift): sagging of the upper arms
• In general, good body contouring candidatesare:
• Adults whose weight loss has stabilized
• Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals
• Individuals that are committed to leading a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and fitness
• During your recovery from body contouring surgery, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions following the procedure.
• Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
• You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site(s), medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
• You may be instructed to avoid bending, straining or lifting for several days to weeks.
• Where tightening of the abdomen or thighs is involved, your plastic surgeon may also instruct you to avoid standing fully upright and stressing any internal sutures as they heal, and to sleep with pillows elevating your knees.
• To minimize the risk of DVT (blood clots in the legs) you will need to be up and walking as soon as possible, and drinking plenty of fluid.
• Follow all instructions carefully – this is essential to the success of your outcome.
• You’ll need help. If a component of your body contouring surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
• Be sure to ask your body contouring surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:
• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?
• The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of body contouring surgeryare acceptable.
• You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.
• Body contouring risks include:
• Bleeding Infection
• Fluid accumulation
• Poor wound healing
• Skin loss
• Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism
• Excessive or widened scars
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Anesthesia risks
• Unfavorable scarring
• Residual skin laxity or contour irregularity
• These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.

Buttock Augmentation (BBL)

Buttock augmentation surgery, sometimes referred to as a Brazilian butt liftwhen fat transfer is involved, uses implants, fat grafting or sometimes a combination of both to increase the size of your buttocks. This procedure can:

• Increase fullness, roundness and projection of your buttock
• Improve the balance of your figure
• Enhance your self-image and self-confidence
• Buttock augmentation surgery is right for someone who does not like the shape of their buttock or is looking to balance their body. It is commonly performed in one of two ways, with implants or fat transfer. The fat transfer procedure is commonly known as a “Brazilian butt lift.”
• Buttock augmentation is a very personal procedure and you should do it for yourself, not for someone else.
• You may be a good candidate for buttock augmentationif:
• You are physically healthy
• You have realistic expectations
• You are bothered by the feeling that your buttock is too small
• You are unhappy with the roundness or general shape of your buttock
• Your buttock is asymmetrical
• After buttock augmentation surgery you will be taken into a recovery area to be closely monitored.
• You may be permitted to go home after a few hours. Before leaving, you will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your buttocks and any areas that may have been liposuctioned following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.
• You will be instructed to wear a support garment “around the clock” following your surgery. Your surgeon will tell you how long you need to wear the garment and if there are any other garments that you may have to wear during your recovery.
• Each buttock augmentation procedure has specific steps that you need to take to ensure a healthy recovery and good results:
• Buttock Augmentation With Implants
• You will need to wear a support garment for approximately two to three weeks after your procedure. This will help the skin redrape properly and provide support to the augmented buttocks. Final results are noticeable three months after surgery. At this point, most of the swelling will be gone and the implants will be settled in their normal position.
• Buttock Augmentation With Fat Grafting Recovery
• You will be asked to avoid prolonged sitting for about two weeks (some surgeons prefer longer). This is very important because prolonged sitting will damage the fat.
• You will also be encouraged to sleep face down or on your side. When you do have to sit, you will have to use a pillow or cushion placed behind the legs (hamstring muscles) to help raise the buttock avoiding pressure onto the fat grafts.
• You will also be provided with a support garment that will apply even compression to the areas that were treated with liposuction. In addition, small temporary drains may be placed in existing incisions beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluid.
• You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
• Your surgeon may encourage you to seek a lymphatic massage from a licensed massage therapist. You can generally resume exercise after six to eight weeks.
• With either procedure, it is important to be informed about the steps you can take to aid your recovery.
• Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:
• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery?
• How long will I wear the compression garment?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?
• It may take several months for the swelling to fully dissipate. As it does, your new contours and enhanced self-image should continue to develop.
• Following your physician’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It’s important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
• Your buttock augmentation results are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover from surgery.
• Buttock augmentation incision lines are permanent, but will continue to fade over time. The final results of your buttock augmentation with implants will appear over the next few months as your implant, buttock shape and position continue to settle.
• If your procedure was performed with fat transfer, it can take up to a year to see your final results. Some of the fat that leads to the initial shape after surgery will be reabsorbed by your body.
• The results of your buttock augmentation surgery will be long lasting. Over time, your buttock size and shape can continue to change due to aging and gravity. You’ll be able to retain your new look longer if you:
• Maintain your weight
• Keep a healthy lifestyle
• If your surgery was performed with fat transfer, it is important to keep in mind that this fat can behave like any other fat in your body. If you gain weight, the fat in your buttocks may grow. If you lose weight, you may lose some of the volume in the buttocks as the fat shrinks.
• The decision to have buttock augmentation surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.
• You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any buttock augmentation risks and potential complications.
• Buttock augmentation with implants risks include:
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Opening of the incisions with implant exposed requiring removal
• Scarring
• Nerve damage
• Firmness
• Implant rupture
• Implant migration
• Fluid accumulation (seroma)
• Pressure on your sciatic nerve
• Anesthesia risks
• Buttock augmentation by fat transfer risks include:
• Excessive loss of blood
• Blood clots
• Bruising
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Possibility of revisional surgery
• Numbness and pain
• Fat embolism, injection of fat into the bloodstream that causes inflammation in the lungs
• Infection
• Fluid shifts and lidocaine toxicity
• Complications of liposuction
• Complications of anesthesia
• Swelling and bruising
• Asymmetry
• Possible need for a revision surgery at a later date
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Anesthesia risks
• Oil cyst
• Hematoma
• Stretch marks
• Cellulite
• These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surge.

Tight Lift

• Reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.
• If fitness and weight loss efforts have not achieved your goals for a body that is firmer, more youthful-looking and more proportionate to your overall body image, a surgical lift may be right for you.
• What a thigh lift won’t do
• Thigh lifts are not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuctionalone can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours.
• In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended.
• In general,candidates for a thigh lift are:
• People whose weight is relatively stable
• Individuals with excess soft tissue along the inner or medial thigh region and/or the outer thigh
• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what thigh lift surgery can accomplish
• Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and fitness
• During your recovery from thigh lift surgery, dressing or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and you may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling and to support your new contours as you heal.
• Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid or blood that may collect.
• You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
• Be sure to ask your thigh lift surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:
• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?
• Thigh lift recovery at home
• If you experience any shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.
• Following your physician’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery.
• It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

Arm Lift

• An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that:
• Reduces excess sagging skin that droops downward
• Tightens and smoothes the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm
• Reduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region
• Fluctuations in weight, growing older, and heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. This is a condition that cannot be corrected through exercise.
• Arm lift surgery may be right for you if the underside of your upper arms are sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat.
• In general, arm lift candidatesinclude:
• Adults with significant upper arm skin laxity
• Adults of any age whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight
• Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations
• During your recovery from arm lift surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling following surgery.
• A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid.
• You will be given specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
• Be sure to ask your arm lift surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:
• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?

Tummy Tuck

• Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, removes excess fat and skin and, in most cases, restores weakened or separated muscles creating an abdominal profile that is smoother and firmer.
• A flat and well-toned abdomen is something many of us strive for through exercise and weight control. Sometimes these methods cannot achieve our goals.
• Even individuals of otherwise normal body weight and proportion can develop an abdomen that protrudes or is loose and sagging. The most common causes of this include:
• Aging
• Heredity
• Pregnancy
• Prior surgery
• Significant fluctuations in weight
• What a tummy tuck won’t do
• A tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss or an appropriate exercise program.
• Although the results of a tummy tuck are technically permanent, the positive outcome can be greatly diminished by significant fluctuations in your weight. For this reason, individuals who are planning substantial weight loss or women who may be considering future pregnancies would be advised to postpone a tummy tuck.
• A tummy tuck cannot correct stretch marks, although these may be removed or somewhat improved if they are located on the areas of excess skin that will be excised.
• In general, you may be a good tummy tuck candidateif:
• You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
• You have realistic expectations
• You are a non-smoker
• You are bothered by the appearance of your abdomen
• Tummy tuck surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
• During your tummy tuck recovery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and you may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling and support your abdomen as it heals following surgery.
• Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
• You will be given specific instructions that may include:
• How to care for the surgical site and drains
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
• When to follow up with your plastic surgeon
• Be sure to ask your tummy tuck surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:
• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• When will the stitches be removed?
• How will I bathe?
• How long will I wear the pressure garment?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?
• The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of tummy tuck surgery are acceptable.
• You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks.
• Tummy tuck risks include:
• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation (seroma)
• Poor wound healing
• Skin loss
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
• Unfavorable scarring
• Recurrent looseness of skin
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Asymmetry
• Suboptimal aesthetic result
• Possibility of revisional surgery
• Persistent pain
• These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It’s important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.

Liposuction

• Liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits and improving your body contours and proportion.
• Liposuction techniques may be used to reduce localized fat deposits of the:
• Thighs
• Hips and buttocks
• Abdomen and waist
• Upper arms
• Back
• Inner knee
• Chest area
• Cheeks, chin and neck
• Calves and ankles
• Liposuction can be performed alone or along with other plastic surgery procedures, such as a facelift, breast reductionor a tummy tuck.
• What liposuction won’t do
• Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise.
• It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite – the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips, and buttocks – or loose saggy skin.
• Assisted Liposuction
• Laser and ultrasound assisted liposuction, like traditional liposuction aren’t a weight control method or a fix for obesity. They are used to help contour your body in those areas that are not responsive to diet and exercise such as saddlebags or a paunchy stomach. Also like traditional liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction is most often used to reduce fullness in your:
• Abdomen
• Ankles
• Arms
• Buttocks
• Cheeks
• Chin
• Hips
• Knees
• Neck
• Thighs
• Upper arms
• Waist
• Ideal liposuction candidatesare:
• Adults within 30% of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone
• Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring
• If you are bothered by excess fat deposits – located anywhere on your body – that don’t respond to diet or exercise, liposuction may be right for you.
• During your liposuction recovery, a compression garment or elastic bandages may cover treatment areas once your procedure is completed. These help to control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours.
• In addition, small temporary drains may be placed in existing incisions beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluid.
• You will be given specific instructions that may include:
• How to care for the surgical site and drains
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
• When to follow up with your plastic surgeon
• Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period:
• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery?
• How long will I wear the compression garment?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?
• It may take several months for the swelling to fully dissipate. As it does, your new contours and enhanced self-image should continue to develop.
• The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of liposuctionare acceptable.
• You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.
• Liposuction risks include:
• Anesthesia risks
• Bruising
• Change in skin sensation that may persist
• Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs, and abdominal organs
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Fluid accumulation
• Infection
• Irregular contours or asymmetries
• Irregular pigmentation
• Need for revision surgery
• Persistent swelling
• Poor wound healing
• Rippling or loose skin, worsening of cellulite
• Swelling
• Thermal burn or heat injury from ultrasound with the ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty technique
• These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
• Secondary procedures may sometimes be recommended to reduce excess skin. Special considerations are needed when large amounts – usually more than five liters of fat – are suctioned.