Home About the Drs Procedures Contact Us Office Location Know Your Physician MediSpa

Liposuction Tummy Tuck Buttock Lift

 

Thigh Lift Lower Body Lift Upper Arm Lift

 

Liposuction

View Patient Before & After Photos

If you're considering liposuction...
Liposuction is a procedure that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck. During the past decade, liposuction, which is also known as "lipoplasty" or "suction lipectomy," has benefited from several new refinements. Today, a number of new techniques, including ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), the tumescent technique, and the super-wet technique, are helping many plastic surgeons to provide selected patients with more precise results and quicker recovery times. Although no type of liposuction is a substitute for dieting and exercise, liposuction can remove stubborn areas of fat that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods.

In the tumescent technique, areas of excess fat are injected with a large amount of anesthetic liquid before liposuction is per-formed. The liquid causes the compartments of fat to become swollen and firm or "tumesced." The expanded fat compartments allow the liposuction cannula to travel smoothly beneath the skin as the fat is removed.

If you're considering liposuction, this brochure will give you a basic understanding of the procedure -- when it can help, how it is performed and how you might look and feel after surgery. It won't answer all of your questions, since much depends on your individual circumstances. Please ask your doctor if there is anything about the procedure you don't understand.

The Best Candidates for Liposcuction

To be a good candidate for liposuction, you must have realistic expectations about what the procedure can do for you. It's important to understand that liposuction can enhance your appearance and self confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

Individuals who have large areas of excess fat may also be good candidates for tumescent liposuction. When considering liposuction individuals often feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of options and techniques being promoted today. However, Dr. Shadid can help in deciding which is the right treatment approach for you, and will consider effectiveness, safety, cost and appropriateness for your needs.

Liposuction carries greater risk for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, poor blood circulation, or those who have recently had surgery near the area to be contoured.

Continue reading about liposuction.

The surgeon inserts a cannula through small incisions in the skin. At the other end of the tube is a vacuum-pressure unit that suctions off the fat.

Improvement will become apparent after about six weeks, when most of the swelling has subsided.

Women may have liposuction performed under the chin, on their hips, thighs, and stomach, and in the under arm and breast area.

Healthy, normal-weight people with elastic skin and pockets of excess fat are good candidates for surgery.

As healing progresses, a more proportional look will emerge.


Tummy Tuck

View Patient Before & After Photos

If you're considering abdominoplasty...
Abdominoplasty, known more commonly as a "tummy tuck," is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. The procedure can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. But bear in mind, it does produce a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it, can extend from hip to hip.

If you're considering abdominoplasty, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't understand.

The Best Candidates for Abdominoplasty

The best candidates for abdominoplasty are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved.

Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery. Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait, as vertical muscles in the abdomen that are tightened during surgery can separate again during pregnancy. If you have scarring from previous abdominal surgery, your doctor may recommend against abdominoplasty or may caution you that scars could be unusually prominent.

Abdominoplasty can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk

Thousands of abdominoplasties are performed successfully each year. When done by a qualified plastic surgeon who is trained in body contouring, the results are generally quite positive. Nevertheless, there are always risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.

Post-operative complications such as infection and blood clots are rare, but can occur. Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but will prolong your hospital stay. You can minimize the risk of blood clots by moving around as soon after the surgery as possible.

Poor healing, which results in conspicuous scars, may necessitate a second operation. Smokers should be advised to stop, as smoking may increase the risk of complications and delay healing.

You can reduce your risk of complications by closely following your surgeon's instructions before and after the surgery, especially with regard to when and how you should resume physical activity.

Continue reading about tummy tuck surgery.


Skin is separated from the abdominal wall all the way up to the ribs.

The surgeon draws underlying muscle and tissue together and stitches them, thereby narrowing the waistline and strengthening the abdominal wall.

Abdominal skin is drawn down and excess is removed. With complete abdominoplasty, a new opening is cut for the navel. Both incisions are stitched closed.

After surgery, the patient has a flatter, trimmer abdomen. Scars are permanent, but will fade with time.



Buttock Lift

If you're considering a buttock lift...
A buttock lift is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the buttock. This improves the appearance by restoring a more youthful shape. But bear in mind, it does produce a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it, can extend from hip to hip. This is commonly done with an outer thigh lift and abdominoplasty. This combination is called a ‘Lower Body Lift’.

If you're considering a buttock lift, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't understand.

The Best Candidates for Buttock Lift

The best candidates for a buttock lift are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose buttock skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. The surgery is particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched skin beyond the point where they can return to normal. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery. Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait.

Buttock lifts can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

After the Surgery.
For the first few days, your will probably be swollen and you're likely to feel some pain and discomfort which can be controlled by medication. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be released within a few hours or you may have to remain hospitalized for two to three days.

Surface stitches will be removed in five to seven days, and deeper sutures, with ends that protrude through the skin, will come out in two to three weeks. The dressing on your incision may be replaced by a support garment.

Getting back to normal.
It may take you weeks or months to feel like your old self again. If you start out in top physical condition recovery will be much faster. Some people return to work after two weeks, while others take three or four weeks to rest and recuperate.

Your scars may actually appear to worsen during the first three to six months as they heal, but this is normal. Expect it to take nine months to a year before your scars flatten out and lighten in color. While they'll never disappear completely, scars will not show under most clothing, even under bathing suits.


Thigh Lift

If you're considering a thigh lift...
There are two types of thigh lifts, inner and outer. They are major surgical procedures to remove excess skin and fat from the thighs. The outer thigh lift is commonly combined with a buttock lift or a buttock and abdominoplasty in a ‘Lower Body Lift’. The inner and outer thigh lifts are usually not done at the same time. The procedure can dramatically improve the appearance of the thighs. But bear in mind, it does produce a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it.

The Best Candidates for Thigh Lifts

The best candidates are men or women who are in relatively good shape but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose skin that won't respond to diet or exercise. Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with obesity, can also be improved.

Patients who intend to lose a lot of weight should postpone the surgery. Also, women who plan future pregnancies should wait.

Thigh lifts can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.


Lower Body Lift

This is a combination of a buttock lift, outer thigh lift and tummy tuck.


Upper Arm Lift

An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove loose skin and excess fat deposits in the upper arm. With age, upper arm skin can become loose and flabby. Plastic surgeons will discuss brachioplasty with patients who want to tighten this skin and look as good as they feel. In some cases your plastic surgeon may suggest that liposuction be used alone or in conjunction with an arm lift to remove excess fat in the upper arms.

Procedure information courtesy of plasticsurgery.org