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Body contouring
As the name suggests,
body contouring involves re-shaping undesirable areas of your body. The two most
common body contouring techniques are liposuction and abdominoplasty.
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is
the most common plastic surgery procedure performed in the United States.
Liposuction removes localized areas of fat through very small incisions and is
followed by rapid patient recovery. Liposuction has replaced incisional
"body contouring" surgery in most instances. However, if the patient
has loose skin or excess skin, liposuction is generally not the ideal procedure,
and traditional body contouring operations -- such as abdominoplasty or thigh
lift -- would be a better surgical option.
Newer techniques of liposuction such as tumescent liposuction result in less
bruising, less swelling and a quicker recovery than older traditional methods of
liposuction. Tumescent liposuction is routinely performed at the Cleveland
Clinic. Tumescent liposuction uses a large volume of dilute epinephrine to cause
intense constriction of the small blood vessels, which leads to less bleeding,
less bruising and less swelling.
The newest liposuction technique, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, uses ultrasound
rather than mechanical action to elicit fat removal. This technique is the
procedure of choice in certain areas of the body, such as the posterior hip, the
back, and the male and female breasts. It also is frequently used in the
traditional areas, such as the thighs and abdomen.
Why is liposuction performed?
Liposuction
can slim your hips and thighs, flatten your abdomen, shape your calves and
ankles or eliminate a double chin. Liposuction is especially useful for women
and men who are of relatively normal weight but have isolated pockets of fat
that cause certain areas of their body to appear disproportionate. These
localized fat deposits may be an inherited trait and not responsive to dieting
or exercise. Liposuction may be the only way to eliminate these fat deposits.
Liposuction also may be used to treat a condition called gynecomastia, or male
breast enlargement, which occurs among both teenage and adult males.
Who can have liposuction?
While it is
possible to undergo liposuction at almost any age, you will obtain the best
results if your skin still has enough elasticity to achieve a smooth contour
following fat removal. When skin is inelastic, as in some older patients, it may
not reshape well, and a skin tightening procedure may be necessary.
Liposuction should not be considered a substitute for overall weight loss,
nor is it an effective treatment for cellulite, a condition that gives the skin
an uneven, dimpled appearance. Liposuction can be performed on several areas of
the body at the same time, and it can also be done in conjunction with other
plastic surgery procedures.
What is abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty--better
known as a "tummy tuck"--is an operation performed to improve
abdominal contour. This procedure is performed when the patient has stretch
marks, skin excess or weakening of the abdominal muscles. Most women who have
had children will have some laxity of the abdominal wall. Abdominoplasty allows
the abdominal wall muscles to be tightened, in addition to allowing removal of
both skin and fat. The result is a flatter abdominal profile. Liposuction alone
cannot treat abdominal wall laxity if it is due to loss of muscle tone.
Why is abdominoplasty performed?
Women
and men who have loose abdominal skin and fat that is concentrated in the
abdomen can benefit from abdominoplasty. Sometimes these conditions are
inherited. In other instances, substantial weight loss may cause abdominal skin
to become loose. Abdominoplasty also can tighten muscles that have been
separated and weakened by pregnancy. The procedure may somewhat improve the
appearance of stretch marks, especially those located below the navel.
What is endermologie?
Endermologie is
a unique approach to improving your figure that combines diet, exercise and
massage to stimulate your body and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Endermologie treatment uses gentle suction to fold and massage areas under the
skin where cellulite accumulates. This increases circulation and stimulates the
subcutaneous and deep layers of fat and muscle. The increased blood flow helps
to shrink the fat cells. This is believed to be one of the reasons for the
improvement in the appearance of cellulite.
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