Basic Information About Body Contouring Procedures

Please choose from the procedures below to learn more:

Body Lift

You may be a candidate for a body lift if you have excess body skin (frequently due to significant weight loss or post gastric bypass surgery). The intended result of a body lift is a smoother, flatter abdomen and buttock tightening, diminishing of thigh cellulite and removal of back rolls or excess back skin.

This procedure is performed under general anesthesia either within the hospital or in an outpatient setting. Although the surgical sequence varies depending on the needs of each patient, we will usually treat the belly first, by removing the excess skin from the belly button down to the pubic area. The abdominal wall muscle, which is deep to the skin and fat of the belly, is then tightened. The fat and skin above the belly button is then stretched down to the pubic area and sutured in place. A new opening is made to allow the belly button to be brought through, in its original position. Next, the patient is turned to the side and the excess skin and fat from the side to the mid back is removed. This part of the operation reduces and lifts the outer thighs. As the skin and fat are removed from the back the back rolls are reduced and the buttocks are lifted.

The body lift can be one of the more uncomfortable procedures, and probably requires a substantial amount of recovery time. One to three days care in the hospital or skilled nursing care facility is usually indicated. Please call La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre toll-free at (800) 336-3996 for more information on our cosmetic surgery procedures, including body lift plastic surgery.

Liposuction

You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have excess subcutaneous fat, which is resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction may also be desirable if you wish to change the contours of your body. Commonly involved areas are the anterior part of the neck (under the chin), upper arms and armpits, male chest/breasts, trunk, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, inner knees, calves, and ankles.

Most liposuction patients are near normal weight and desire permanent contour changes. Improved liposuction techniques now allow larger amounts of fat removal. Liposculpture can be useful to heavier persons as well. Liposuction is intended to produce a permanent improvement in the contour and proportion of the treated areas. A more flattering figure or physique, in or out of clothing, is another goal of liposculpture.

For some patients, ultrasonic liposuction may be indicated. The use of ultrasonic liposuction allows safer removal of larger amounts of fat than with standard liposuction. This is due to the reduced amount of blood removed with ultrasonic liposuction. This means that ultrasonic liposuction can be very useful to moderately overweight individuals even though UAL is not a weight loss method per se.

Liposuction is done on an outpatient basis. General anesthesia is usually used for safety and comfort. Small suction tubes (cannulas) are inserted through very short incisions placed in inconspicuous locations near the fat deposits, and excess fat is removed. If large volumes of fat are to be removed, we will probably ask you to donate one or two units of blood and take supplemental iron before surgery. Your own blood will be used as a transfusion at the end of surgery.

Tummy Tuck

You may be a candidate for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) if you have loose or sagging abdominal wall skin that is frequently associated with abnormal relaxation of the anterior abdominal wall muscles (often secondary to multiple pregnancies or prior surgery). You may also desire a tummy tuck if you are unable to tighten your abdominal wall skin with exercise. An abdominoplasty is intended to give the patient a smoother flatter abdomen.

Abdominoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia either within the hospital or in an outpatient setting. (Mini-abdominoplasties can be performed under sedation and local anesthesia.)

Mini-abdominoplasty tightens the lower abdominal wall skin only (shortest scar).
Standard abdominoplasty tightens all of the abdominal wall skin (standard scar).
Extended abdominoplasty tightens the abdomen and the flanks or sides (longest scar extending around the flanks onto lower back.)

Abdominoplasty is one of the more uncomfortable plastic surgery procedures. One to three days of hospitalization or skilled nursing care is usually indicated.

Upper Arm Lift

You may be a candidate for an upper arm lift if you have sagging skin on the upper arms due to aging, genetics or weight loss. A reduction or elimination of excess skin from the upper arms is the intended result of an upper arm lift.

This procedure is usually done under general anesthesia. In order to remove the unwanted skin, an incision is required that runs from near the elbow into the armpit. The doctor will place the incision in the most inconspicuous location (inner arm toward the back), but some scarring will always be visible.

An additional procedure that may enhance the result of an upper arm lift is liposuction of the upper arms. Please call La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre toll-free at (800) 336-3996 for more information on our cosmetic surgery procedures, including upper arm lift plastic surgery.

Click to continue and learn about patient selection for body contouring plastic surgery.

To contact us for an in-depth personal evaluation by Dr. H. Michael Roark, please call (858) 452-1981 or (800) 336-3996.


	Ruth perfected her figure with the help of body contouring plastic surgery.	Basic Information About Body Contouring Procedures Please choose from the procedures below to learn more: Body Lift Liposuction Tummy Tuck Upper Arm Lift Body Contouring Following Significant Weight Loss Body Lift You may be a candidate for a body lift if you have excess body skin (frequently due to significant weight loss or post gastric bypass surgery). The intended result of a body lift is a smoother, flatter abdomen and buttock tightening, diminishing of thigh cellulite and removal of back rolls or excess back skin. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia either within the hospital or in an outpatient setting. Although the surgical sequence varies depending on the needs of each patient, we will usually treat the belly first, by removing the excess skin from the belly button down to the pubic area. The abdominal wall muscle, which is deep to the skin and fat of the belly, is then tightened. The fat and skin above the belly button is then stretched down to the pubic area and sutured in place. A new opening is made to allow the belly button to be brought through, in its original position. Next, the patient is turned to the side and the excess skin and fat from the side to the mid back is removed. This part of the operation reduces and lifts the outer thighs. As the skin and fat are removed from the back the back rolls are reduced and the buttocks are lifted. The body lift can be one of the more uncomfortable procedures, and probably requires a substantial amount of recovery time. One to three days care in the hospital or skilled nursing care facility is usually indicated. Please call La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre toll-free at (800) 336-3996 for more information on our cosmetic surgery procedures, including body lift plastic surgery. Liposuction You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have excess subcutaneous fat, which is resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction may also be desirable if you wish to change the contours of your body. Commonly involved areas are the anterior part of the neck (under the chin), upper arms and armpits, male chest/breasts, trunk, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, inner knees, calves, and ankles. Most liposuction patients are near normal weight and desire permanent contour changes. Improved liposuction techniques now allow larger amounts of fat removal. Liposculpture can be useful to heavier persons as well. Liposuction is intended to produce a permanent improvement in the contour and proportion of the treated areas. A more flattering figure or physique, in or out of clothing, is another goal of liposculpture. For some patients, ultrasonic liposuction may be indicated. The use of ultrasonic liposuction allows safer removal of larger amounts of fat than with standard liposuction. This is due to the reduced amount of blood removed with ultrasonic liposuction. This means that ultrasonic liposuction can be very useful to moderately overweight individuals even though UAL is not a weight loss method per se. Liposuction is done on an outpatient basis. General anesthesia is usually used for safety and comfort. Small suction tubes (cannulas) are inserted through very short incisions placed in inconspicuous locations near the fat deposits, and excess fat is removed. If large volumes of fat are to be removed, we will probably ask you to donate one or two units of blood and take supplemental iron before surgery. Your own blood will be used as a transfusion at the end of surgery. Tummy Tuck You may be a candidate for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) if you have loose or sagging abdominal wall skin that is frequently associated with abnormal relaxation of the anterior abdominal wall muscles (often secondary to multiple pregnancies or prior surgery). You may also desire a tummy tuck if you are unable to tighten your abdominal wall skin with exercise. An abdominoplasty is intended to give the patient a smoother flatter abdomen. Abdominoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia either within the hospital or in an outpatient setting. (Mini-abdominoplasties can be performed under sedation and local anesthesia.) Mini-abdominoplasty tightens the lower abdominal wall skin only (shortest scar). Standard abdominoplasty tightens all of the abdominal wall skin (standard scar). Extended abdominoplasty tightens the abdomen and the flanks or sides (longest scar extending around the flanks onto lower back.) Abdominoplasty is one of the more uncomfortable plastic surgery procedures. One to three days of hospitalization or skilled nursing care is usually indicated. Upper Arm Lift You may be a candidate for an upper arm lift if you have sagging skin on the upper arms due to aging, genetics or weight loss. A reduction or elimination of excess skin from the upper arms is the intended result of an upper arm lift. This procedure is usually done under general anesthesia. In order to remove the unwanted skin, an incision is required that runs from near the elbow into the armpit. The doctor will place the incision in the most inconspicuous location (inner arm toward the back), but some scarring will always be visible. An additional procedure that may enhance the result of an upper arm lift is liposuction of the upper arms. Please call La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre toll-free at (800) 336-3996 for more information on our cosmetic surgery procedures, including upper arm lift plastic surgery. Click to continue and learn about patient selection for body contouring plastic surgery. To contact us for an in-depth personal evaluation by Dr. H. Michael Roark, please call (858) 452-1981 or (800) 336-3996.