Body Procedures
Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty, also called a tummy-tuck, is a procedure which removes extra fat and skin from the abdomen, removes stretch marks from the lower abdomen, and tightens abdominal muscles to produce a flatter, more youthful torso. Dramatic improvements to the appearance of the abdomen can be accomplished. A tummy tuck will flatten your tummy and slim your waist. There were over 181,500 tummy-tucks performed in the United States in 2016.
If you are losing weight or plan to lose a significant amount of weight, abdominoplasty should be delayed until your weight has become stable. It is also a good idea to delay having a tummy tuck if you are planning any future pregnancy, as the tissues that are tightened during the surgery will again stretch out from another pregnancy.
Is Tummy Tuck right for You?
Good candidates for abdominoplasty are people in good health, and are troubled by extra fat and loose skin that does not go away with diet or exercise. This occurs commonly after pregnancy, where the skin and abdominal muscles have stretched to the point that they cannot go back to normal. Men can find themselves in a similar situation as their tissues lose elasticity as a normal part of aging.
Consultation with Dr. Brooksher
During your initial consultation, Dr. Brooksher will evaluate your health, examine you, and carefully evaluate your skin and muscle tone, as well as the extent of your excess skin and fat in the area of your abdomen. Please let make you you inform Dr. Brooksher if you smoke, and if you are taking any medications.
Of course be open and honest in discussing your expectations with Dr. Brooksher. Dr. Brooksher will be equally open and honest with you and discuss your alternatives and the risks and limitations of each.
Dr. Brooksher will also discuss any possible alternatives. One possible alternative may be a "mini" tummy tuck, or "mini" abdominoplasty. This may be an ideal procedure if your excess tissue is limited to the lowest part of your abdomen only. This is a less complex and shorter procedure, and can give you just the result you are looking for. Sometimes liposuction is performed with a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck.
Dr. Brooksher will work with you closely to recommend the most appropriate procedure that will produce the best possible body contour for you.
Prior to Your Tummy Tuck
Dr. Brooksher will give you instructions to prepare for your tummy tuck, including what medications to take or avoid. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery be as successful as possible. Arrangement should be made for a family member or friend to drive you home after your surgery. It is also a good idea to have someone available to help you out for a couple of days.
Where Your Tummy Tuck Will be Performed
Your safety is always Dr. Brooksher's number one priority. Your procedure will be done at YRMC in outpatient surgery.
Technique of Abdominoplasty
A full abdominoplasty usually takes around 3 hours; possibly longer if liposuction is also done as part of the procedure. An incision is made in the lower abdomen, within the area that is usually able to be covered by a bikini. An incision is also made in and around the belly button. Next, the skin and underlying fat is separated from the abdominal wall. This exposes the muscles of your abdomen. The lax muscles are repaired by stitching them closer together. This narrows the waistline and produces a more contoured abdominal wall.
The flap of skin is then pulled down and the extra tissue is removed. A new opening is created for your belly button, which is then secured there with stitches. The lower incision is closed with absorbable stitches, and steri strips (small white tapes) then dressings are applied. Temporary drainage tubes are placed to prevent fluid from accumulating at the site.
Partial abdominoplasty, or mini tummy tuck, takes less time; about one to two hours. . A mini abdominoplasty involves a smaller incision; there is no belly button incision with a mini tummy tuck. The excess skin and underlying fat are removed and the incision is closed with absorbable stitches and steri strips then dressings. Temporary drainage tubes may still be used.
After Your Tummy Tuck
Early after the surgery, your tummy will likely be mildly swollen.
Dr. Brooksher will give you instructions for taking care of your dressings and bathing. You should start walking as soon as possible after surgery.
There are normally no sutures to remove, with the exception of the two sutures securing the drains. The drains are usually out by about day 3-5 after your tummy tuck surgery.
Getting Back to Normal after Abdominoplasty
Recovery from abdominoplasty will be much faster if you are in good physical condition before your surgery. Most people return to work after one to two weeks.
During the months following your surgery, the scars gradually improve in appearance. Because of their carefully designed location, abdominal scars are covered by most clothing and bathing suits and do not show.
Your New Look after your Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty, whether mini or full, produces excellent results with high satisfaction. In the great majority of cases, with regular exercise and a good diet, the results are long lasting, and life changing.
To schedule a personal tummy-tuck consultation with Dr. Brooksher call (928) 344-6263
Brachioplasty
Fluctuations in weight, growing older, and heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. This is a condition that cannot be corrected through exercise. Arm lift surgery may be right for you if the underside of your upper arms are sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat.
An arm lift, or Brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that:
Reduces excess sagging skin that droops downward
Tightens and smoothes the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm
Reduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region
Liposuction
Liposuction is a body sculpting procedure. Unwanted fat can be removed from nearly any area of the body using liposuction. Liposuction should not be used as a method of losing weight; however it is excellent for removing stubborn areas of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise.
Is Liposuction Right for You?
The ideal candidate for liposuction is a person of normal weight, who has pockets of fat which have been difficult to eliminate with exercise and diet, and who has good skin tone. Good physical and psychological health is very important. Adult patients of any age can have liposuction, although older patients may have skin with less tone and elasticity then when they were young. Patients with poor skin tone may not achieve as good a result as younger patients with good skin elasticity.
Your Liposuction Consultation
During your consultation with Dr. Brooksher, he will review your medical history, and perform a physical examination. He will evaluate your areas of concern, and carefully assess your skin quality. Dr. Brooksher will review the most appropriate options for achieving the best body contour for you.
Please be open and honest in discussing your concerns with Dr.Brooksher. He will be equally open and honest with you, describing the options in detail as well as their limitations and risks. Dr. Brooksher will be very honest in helping you to decide which the most appropriate treatment for you. This decision is based on a number of factors, including your specific concerns, expectations, and anatomy.
Before Your Liposuction Procedure
Before your surgery, you will be given instructions on medications and care after surgery. Please make arrangements for a friend or family member to drive you home after the procedure, as you will not be able to drive that day.
Where Your Liposuction Will be Performed
Liposuction is usually done at YRMC outpatient surgery. Under certain circumstances liposuction can be done in the office with local anesthesia and tumescence.
Liposuction Technique and Variations
Liposuction is a procedure where fat deposits are removed to contour one or more areas of the body. Through a very small incision, a solution called "tumescent solution" is first injected into the areas of concern. This solution greatly reduces blood loss and provides anesthesia during surgery and reduces discomfort after surgery. A cannula attached to suction is then passed back and forth through the fatty layer, breaking up and removing the unwanted fat.
After Your Liposuction
To control swelling and to help your skin better fit its new contours, you will be fitted with an elastic garment to place gentle compression over the treated areas for a few weeks. Discomfort is not severe, and can be controlled with over the counter and prescription pain medication if needed.
Getting Back to Normal after Liposuction
You will start walking around as soon as possible after surgery to reduce swelling and stimulate circulation. You will begin to feel better within one week and you should be back to work within a week following your surgery. Strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month as your body continues to heal. The majority of the bruising and swelling usually goes away within a few weeks; some swelling may remain for several months.