Procedures: Body Contouring

The appearance of the body can be refined and contoured using surgical procedures that are very well tolerated.

Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck | Abdominoplasty | New Jersey | NJA protruding abdomen as a result of weak abdominal muscles, weight gain or previous pregnancy is a condition that affects and causes distress to thousands of people.  This condition does not respond well to diet or exercise because the skin and underlying muscles have been stretched and weakened.  Today, a remarkable procedure, abdominoplasty, is available to flatten a protruding abdomen through junction (tightening) of the abdominal wall combined with the removal of fatty tissue and excess skin.

Abdominoplasty may be performed as an outpatient or in a hospital setting, depending upon the health and age status of the patient, as well as the complexity of the procedure planned.  Although there are several procedures of choice, the one most frequently used involved a "U" shaped incision, made below one hip bone, across the public area, to under the opposite hip bone.  A second incision is made around the navel.  The skin is then separated from the abdominal wall and lifted above the breast bone exposing the loose tissue that covers the large abdominal muscle.  This tissue is pulled toward the center of the abdomen and sutured in order to tighten and firm the abdominal muscles. The skin is then lowered over the abdomen and excess skin is removed.  Small drains are usually placed prior to closure of the wound, in order to allow any fluid that develops beneath the abdominal wall flap to drain from the body.

What can be expected following surgery?

Pain or discomfort from the surgery is controlled by medications.  A few days following surgery, the bandages are replaced with an abdominal support garment which is worn for several weeks.  During this time, patients must refrain from heavy lifting, straining or over activity.  The decision as to when normal activities can be resumed postoperatively is based upon the extent of surgery and the patient's progress following the procedure.  There will be scars following an abdominoplasty, but they will become less noticeable after a few months.

How much improvement can be expected? 

Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss.  The objective of the surgery is to improve the contour of the body by flattening and narrowing the abdomen. The degree of improvement differs in each individual and depends upon the extent of surgery, the patient's skin tone, body build and healing process.  Prior to surgery, the physician will discuss in detail the anticipated outcome as well as the procedure.

Who are the best candidates for abdominoplasty?

The best candidate for the surgery is the individual who is of normal weight but who has weak abdominal muscles and excess skin and fat.  Each person, however, must be assessed by the physician to determine if he or she is a good candidate for abdominoplasty.  Patients who smoke cigarettes run a higher risk of complications from abdominoplasty, and are therefore required to stop smoking at least 4-6 weeks prior to the date of surgery to help insure their safety and to minimize the risks of surgery.

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Thigh Lift

This operation is done to tighten the loose skin of the thigh and buttock. It does not change the texture of the skin but by stretching it the crêpe ness is made less noticeable. Some patients are not candidates for a thigh lift.  Dr. Rosenberg will evaluate each case and decide if the procedure is right for you.

The method of surgery is to undermine the skin and remove the excess. The incision is placed around the upper thigh and buttock, usually in a transverse direction. Many doctors recommend that some fat is suctioned at the same time. The operation is done under a general anesthetic (you are asleep). Most of the time this is an outpatient operation and a stay in the hospital is not needed.

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Liposuction

(Lipoplasy/Suction Lipectomy)

Although many people diet and exercise, they find that there are still areas of fat Liposuction | New Jersey | NJdeposits that do not improve through such hard work.  Such areas may include abdomen, flanks, hips, back, thighs, knees, buttocks, arms, or neck. Liposuction can be used to correct areas that are unresponsive to traditional weight loss methods.

What is liposuction and how is it performed? 

It is important to understand that liposuction surgery is a tool meant for body contouring , not a cure for obesity. During the procedure small incisions are made at various aesthetic locations on the skin, through which a high pressure vacuum is applied and unwanted fat cells are removed.  There are various methods used to perform this procedure.  One of the most commonly used by plastic surgeons being the tumescent technique.  Through this technique large amounts of saline solution, local anesthetic, and adrenaline are infused into the fatty deposits being treated.  This allows for local anesthetizing and vessel constriction, which helps to reduce post-operative pain, bruising, and blood loss.

What can be expected following surgery?

Liposuction through this technique is considered a very safe and effective procedure, with relatively few risks involved.  Pain medication and antibiotics are given to the patient following surgery.  A compression garment is placed on the treated area and should remain on for the next few weeks, excluding showers.  Return to work may depend upon the individual's age, health, and the amount of liposuction performed.  The pain will decrease significantly within 3-4 days, thereafter allowing for more activity.  It is important to avoid sun exposure to the multiple incision sites, to gain the best possible result.

How much improvement can be expected?

After surgery your new body contour will look as natural as if you were able to remove the fat through diet and exercise. Overall improvement is affected by other factors as well; including age, health, body weight, and skin elasticity.  It does not correct dimples, ripples, or stretch marks.  It's an excellent choice for localized fatty deposits.

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Brachioplasty

Loss of skin tone on the underside of the arm can result in unsightly dangling or hanging skin in this area.  This deformity occurs most commonly in women who have undergone weight loss or may occur as a result of the passage of time.  This excessive skin can be associated with fat deposits in such areas as well.  This may also affect the armpit and upper chest when arms are down at their sides.  Brachioplasty is performed to surgically recontour the arms.

What is brachioplasty?

Brachioplasty is also known as an arm lift or arm reduction.  It is performed to reshape the arm by removing excessive skin and usually fat to restore a more youthful appearance to the arms.  The end result gives the arms a more youthful appearance and thinner contour.

How is it performed?

There are two procedures that may be performed, depending on the extent of the correction and the area of the arm that needs to be contoured.  Liposuction is a less invasive procedure which may be used depending on the individual's needs.  This procedure is reserved for individuals with good skin elasticity and disproportionate amounts of fat in the arms.  The skin will retract adequately in such individuals obtaining the desired result.  The second procedure includes either making an incision that runs from near elbow to the armpit.  The incision is generally concealed in the armpit or in an inconspicuous location along the inside of the arm.  The incisions are needed to lift the skin, remove the fat and tighten the arm.  At the end of the procedure dressings are applied and the arms are wrapped in a light compression garment.  The garment remains in place for up to two weeks to help reduce any swelling.

What can I expect following surgery?

Brachioplasty is an ambulatory procedure, and patients can expect to return home within a few hours following surgery.  The arms will be swollen for several days following the procedure.  Patients return 1-2 days following the procedure for a post-op check.  Following this visit, patients are allowed to wash, being careful to avoid raising arms above shoulder height.  There is only minimal pain or discomfort for the first few days.  Stitches are removed around seven to ten days post-operatively.  In most cases patients may return to normal activities within two to three weeks.  Following brachioplasty, patients can expect to be out of work for about one week.  The scars following surgery begin to fade within 3 months and in some patients are barely visible one year later.

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Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the term for abnormal breast development in males.  This condition can occur on one or both sides of the chest.  It can be caused by normal / physiological development or due to pathological causes.  In the majority of cases, no specific cause can be identified.

What is gynecomastia and how is it treated?

As previously mentioned, gynecomastia is the result of excessive breast tissue, fat, or both.  Physiological gynecomastia usually resolves itself around age twenty.  Gynecomastia | New Jersey | NJPathological causes are usually due to decreased testosterone production, increased estrogen production, or certain drugs.

Treatment available to correct this condition can be done several ways.  The first way is through liposuction, which removes the fatty tissue in the breast . The second method requires open removal of the breast gland tissue.  An incision is made around the areola, for larger cases the incision may need to be increased to accommodate the surgery.  Liposuction is generally the preferred route if possible, it is less invasive and there is minimal scarring through the cannula sites. Both procedures are generally done under general anesthesia, the open method may require a drain from each incision to assist in skin to muscle healing.

What can I expect following surgery?

Immediately following the procedure the patient is wrapped with gauze padding and tape.  A compression garment is then worn for approximately 1-3 weeks. Pain medication and antibiotics will be prescribed following surgery.

At the first follow-up visit the garment and bandages are removed, to check on healing, etc.  The garment is then replaced and worn day and night except when showering for an additional week or longer.  The area treated may have numbness but sensation generally returns within two months.  Patients who undergo treatment of gynecomastia are encouraged to avoid heavy lifting and vigorous activities for 3-4 weeks following the procedure.

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Dr. Paul Rosenberg specializing in plastic surgery, breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck, liposuction, facelift, eyelid surgery, botox in the New Jersey (NJ) area.

Palisade Plastic Surgery Associates, PC: 1567 Palisade Avenue | Fort Lee, NJ 07024 | Tel: 201-585-2388

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