Ascension Saint Agnes Plastic Surgery

Arm lift (brachioplasty)

Loose skin can develop on your upper arms as you get older or after a significant loss of weight. Unfortunately, no amount of exercise, dieting, or weight lifting can tighten skin that has lost its elasticity. Brachioplasty or arm lift surgery at Ascension Saint Agnes Plastic Surgery can contour your upper arms so that they look trim and tight. This is a common procedure after bariatric surgery.

We customize every arm lift based on your body and how you wish to look. Liposuction is used, if necessary, to remove any excess fatty deposits. An arm lift is best performed on patients who are close to their ideal weight. If you plan to lose weight, you should postpone your surgery, as weight loss can create more excess skin.

During your consultation, we will discuss your concerns about your appearance and your goals for your brachioplasty, as well as your medical history, medications you take, and previous procedures you have had. We will also answer all of your questions, explain what to expect from surgery, and tell you how to prepare for your surgery.

What to expect during a brachioplasty procedure

An arm lift usually takes two to three hours. It can sometimes be combined with other procedures, such as a tummy tuck, as long as the total time of your surgery does not exceed 7-8 hours.

The incision is made on the underside of the arm, where it will be as long as the area of lax skin to be removed. For most post-bariatric patients, the incision runs from the elbow to the underarm. Since the scar is on the underside, it is not easily noticeable, and it will fade in time.

If necessary, liposuction is performed to remove excess fat. A cannula (tube) is inserted through the incision and attached to a suction device that extracts the fatty tissue. The excess skin is removed, and the skin is pulled tighter for a smoother, slimmer contour.

Liposuction

Liposuction works by removing subcutaneous fat from areas where fat hasn’t responded to diet or exercise. At Ascension Saint Agnes Plastic Surgery, our experienced surgeons perform liposuction as a standalone procedure or with other procedures, such as a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), arm lift (brachioplasty), thigh lift and fat transfer procedures. 

If liposuction is performed alone, then it’s best performed for patients who have good skin elasticity; if you also have lax skin or low skin elasticity, you may choose a surgery that will remove both the fat and excess skin so that you have a smooth, tightened contour.

We customize every liposuction procedure based on your anatomy and your goals. Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure. It is best performed on patients who are near their ideal weight. Liposuction should be seen as a procedure that refines and sculpts your body, and it’s a way for patients to eliminate the enduring pockets of fat.

During your consultation, we will discuss your concerns about your appearance and your goals for liposuction, as well as your medical history, medications you take, and previous procedures you have had. We will also answer all of your questions, explain what to expect from surgery, and tell you how to prepare for your surgery.

The cost of liposuction will depend on a variety of factors, including the method of liposuction you choose, the scope of the procedure, type of anesthesia, etc. We will provide you with an estimate after you and our team have developed a surgical plan.

What to expect during a liposuction procedure

Liposuction is an invasive surgical procedure, so it will be performed using general anesthesia. The length of time required for your liposuction procedure will depend on the amount of fat to be removed. On average, liposuction takes about two to three hours to perform. We will advise you during your consultation on how long you can expect your surgery to take.

In general, liposuction is performed by suctioning subcutaneous fat from the body using a small metal tube called a cannula. The cannula is inserted into the body through small incisions made by the surgeon. Once the cannula is inside the body, it’s moved gently in a back and forth motion to shape the area being treated. Your surgeon will leave fat in specific areas to help shape the body.

You might not notice an immediate improvement after your liposuction, but it’s only because it takes some time for the swelling and bruising to go away. The swelling will be the most severe during the first few days of your recovery. The majority of the swelling will be gone after the first month. By 6 months, you should be able to see your final results.

Only small incisions are required with liposuction. Once these incisions have healed, they’ll look like small moles on the body.

Fat grafting and fat transfer

A fat transfer procedure (also known as fat grafting) transfers fat from areas where you have excess fat, such as the outer thighs, stomach or hips, and injects it into areas that may be lacking volume, such as your face, hands, breasts or buttocks.

The purpose of fat grafting is to augment or fill in areas of your body that lack volume. If you have areas you would like to add volume to, and you have sufficient donor sites from which fat can be taken, fat transfer may be an option for you.

Below are some of the benefits of fat transfer procedures:

• Redistribute unwanted fat
• Correct depressions in the skin (following liposuction and scarring)
• Add volume to your buttock (BBL)
• Fill in contour irregularities or hide obvious signs of breast implants (for breast reconstruction)

How is a fat transfer procedure performed?

Our qualified plastic surgeons will “harvest” fat from one part of your body, wash and purify it, and then use specially designed needles to reinject it into the areas that need augmentation. Your surgeon may need to repeat the fat grafting procedure several times to achieve your desired result.

Fat grafting can be explained as a three-stage process: (1) harvesting, (2) purification and transfer, and (3) placement.

1. Harvesting

• You and your surgeon will select the site(s) for fat removal.
• Your surgeon will inject the region with a local anesthetic then make a small incision in the fat removal area.
• Using a sterile technique, your surgeon inserts a cannula connected to a syringe to carefully extract fat.

2. Purification and Transfer

• After obtaining enough fat from the donor area, your surgeon will process the fat and prepare the fat cells for the transfer.
• To purify the fat cells, your surgeon may need to use a centrifuge to spin the fat or a filtration process to remove impurities.
• Your surgeon then puts the processed fat cells into small syringes that they will use for the fat injection.

3. Placement

• Your surgeon prepares the receiving area.
• Your surgeon will insert a needle or cannula into the incision point of the site to be augmented.
• Your surgeon usually will pass the injection needle in and out of the augment areas multiple times. Each time the needle or cannula is withdrawn, a line of fatty tissue parcels is carefully deposited in natural tissue planes.
• Your surgeon will repeat this process until reaching your desired results, creating a grid of grafted fat.

You will only have scars from liposuction, which removes fat from the donor site. In most cases, your liposuction incisions will be very small and placed in hidden areas. 

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat and skin to create a smoother, flatter, and firmer abdomen. At Ascension Saint Agnes Plastic Surgery, your surgeon will customize your tummy tuck based on your body type and desired aesthetic outcomes. We can add liposuction to your procedure, if necessary, to remove any excess fatty deposits. 

Tummy tuck candidates who plan to lose weight or become pregnant should postpone surgery, as both weight loss and pregnancy can lead to the development of more lax skin in this area.

Many women choose to get an abdominoplasty after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Many people who have had bariatric surgery are also good candidates for a tummy tuck.

If you only have stubborn fat deposits in your abdominal region, but do not have skin laxity or stretched muscles, liposuction alone may be enough for you. Your skin must have enough elasticity, however. We can determine what treatment is best for you during your consultation.

What to expect during a tummy tuck

A tummy tuck is an outpatient procedure that usually takes two to four hours. You may also choose to combine your abdominoplasty with other cosmetic procedures, such as a thigh lift, breast augmentation, or breast lift, as long as the total time of your surgery does not exceed seven to eight hours.

After administering anesthesia, your surgeon will begin by making an incision from one hip to the other under the bikini line. If you opted to get liposuction to remove excess fat, the doctor will insert a thin tube called a cannula through the incision to remove fatty tissue with a device that creates suction. Then, the surgeon will tighten the abdominal muscles, trim excess skin, and suture the remaining skin together for a smoother, slimmer contour. Your surgeon may also reposition your belly button, so it is in a more natural-looking position on your flatter stomach.

For patients who have excess skin and muscle laxity only below their belly button, a slightly less complex surgery called a mini tummy tuck is a good option. This procedure follows a similar process as the one described above, except it requires a smaller incision, and does not involve repositioning your belly button. If you have excess skin or loss of muscle tone both above and below your navel, however, we suggest that you undergo a full tummy tuck.

Tummy tucks are a surgical operation. Since they require incisions, there will be scarring. Exactly what this scar looks like will be slightly different for every patient. We’ll determine the necessary length of the incision depending on how much skin needs to be removed. However, even longer scars shouldn’t be an issue, as tummy tuck incisions are subtly placed as low as possible on your abdomen. In most cases, underwear and even bikini bottoms will likely cover the scar.

Recovery after a tummy tuck

Most of our patients schedule between one to two weeks away from work for tummy tuck recovery. You will also need to sleep in an elevated position for some time to ensure proper healing. After a few weeks, you’ll be ready and able to resume most everyday activities. You should still avoid strenuous activity at this point.

While it’s essential to get up and move throughout the initial phases of recovery, you should plan to avoid all strenuous activity for at least 6 weeks. This will ensure your body has the necessary time to fully and safely heal.

During your follow-up appointments, we’ll be able to determine which activities are safe to begin again based on your unique healing process.

Lower body lift

If you have lost a significant amount of weight – either through diet and exercise or through bariatric surgery – you may have been left with excess skin on the lower portion of your body. A lower body lift at Ascension Saint Agnes Plastic Surgery can recontour your body so that you no longer have skin folds and sagging areas.

Our surgeons have worked with many weight loss patients and have extensive experience with providing successful lower body lifts. Often combined with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), a lower body lift removes lax skin on the lower back and buttocks. Patients report feeling less self-conscious and better able to fit in clothes.

We customize every lower body lift based on your body and how you wish to look. Liposuction is used, if necessary, to remove any remaining excess fatty deposits. A lower body lift is recommended only for patients who have completed their weight loss regimen. If you plan to lose additional weight, you should postpone your surgery, as additional weight loss can create more lax skin in these areas.

During your consultation, we will discuss your concerns about your appearance and your goals for your lower body lift, as well as your medical history, medications you take, and previous procedures you have had. We will also answer all of your questions, explain what to expect from surgery, and tell you how to prepare for your surgery.

What to expect during a lower body lift

A lower body lift usually takes four to six hours. It can sometimes be combined with a tummy tuck, as long as the total time of your surgery does not exceed seven to eight hours.

You will lie on your stomach during the procedure. The incisions vary depending on the locations of the lax skin on your body. There will be scars, but since they are on the lower body, they can be hidden under clothing. The scars will also fade in time.

If necessary, liposuction is performed to remove excess fat. A cannula (tube) is inserted through the incision and attached to a suction device that extracts the fatty tissue. The excess skin is then excised, and the skin is pulled tighter and sutured for a smoother, slimmer contour.

Thigh lift

If you have loose, excess skin on your thighs, a thigh lift may be right for you. This surgery contours the thighs, removing excess fat and tightening the skin for a smoother, trimmer appearance. Lax skin often develops after a significant loss of weight or simply dye to the aging process. Once the elasticity of the skin is lost, it cannot be corrected by diet and exercise alone.

At Ascension Saint Agnes Plastic Surgery, we customize every thigh lift based on your body and how you wish to look. If you have good skin elasticity without excess skin, you may be able to improve the look of your thighs through liposuction alone.

A thigh lift is a common procedure after bariatric surgery, and it is best performed on patients who are close to their ideal weight. If you plan to lose weight, you should postpone your surgery, as weight loss can cause the development of more lax skin.

During your consultation, we will discuss your concerns about your appearance and your goals for your thigh lift, as well as your medical history, medications you take, and previous procedures you have had. We will also answer all of your questions, explain what to expect from surgery, and tell you how to prepare for your surgery.

What to expect during a thigh lift

A thigh lift usually takes three to four hours. It can sometimes be combined with other procedures, such as a tummy tuck and liposuction, as long as the total time of your surgery does not exceed seven to eight hours. When liposuction is performed to remove excess fat. A cannula (thin tube) is inserted through the incision and attached to a suction device that extracts the fatty tissue. Excess skin is then excised, and the skin is pulled tighter for a smoother, slimmer contour.

For an inner (medial) thigh lift, the incision is placed on the inside of the thigh above the knee, extending to the groin area and across the crease of the thigh, making the scars less noticeable. Another technique that may be chosen removes excess skin from the groin down to the knee using an incision along the inner thigh.

The smooth and firm contour of the upper leg is almost immediately apparent following the procedure. While the final results will be initially obscured by swelling and bruising, the results will improve as the thighs begin to heal. In most cases, a compression garment will be worn for several weeks following the procedure to minimize swelling and support the newly repaired tissues as they heal.