Body Sculpting (Tumescent Technique Liposuction)

You have dieted and exercised and there are still stubborn areas of fat that will not go away.  Your reason for choosing liposculpture may be as simple as just wanting to look better in your clothes.  While liposculpture is not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, it can make you look and feel better.

What Is Liposculpture?

Liposculpture surgery, or liposuction as it is often called, is performed to actually remove unwanted localized deposits of fat cells from the body.  The procedure is meant for body contouring.  It is not a treatment of obesity.  A suction tube is inserted through a tiny incision placed in an inconspicuous location on the skin.  With a high pressure vacuum, fat cells are extracted through this tube.  The result is a resculpting of bulging areas into more attractive contours.

What is the Tumescent Technique?

With the Tumescent Technique, large volumes of saline solution, local anesthesia, and adrenaline are infused into the fatty area being treated to cause swelling.  This enables the doctor to maneuver a small instrument called a cannula, connected to a vacuum machine, superficially under the skin.  The cannula is inserted into the fatty tissue through tiny incisions.  Dr. Shumway gently moves it around under your skin and suctions away the unwanted fatty deposits to reveal more attractive contours.

Who are the best candidates?

The best candidates for body sculpting:

•    Have firm, elastic skin and are in good health.

•    Have tried to eliminate bulges through diet, exercise and weight loss.

•    Have distinct areas of localized fat that are disproportionate to the rest of their bodies.

•    Have realistic expectations and are only slightly to moderately overweight.

•    Understand that liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss.

What areas can be treated by Liposuction?

The most frequent areas treated by liposuction in men are the “love handles”, breasts, abdomen and neckline.  In women they include: thighs, hips, buttocks, stomach, knees, lower leg, cheeks, and double chins.  Some women elect to have their fat recycles through lipo-augmentation.

How are the benefits of Liposuction measured?

Cosmetically speaking, successful liposuction is measure in inches rather than in pounds.  The weight removed is not as important as the improvement in your body’s contour.  Most important is our patient’s improved self-image and self acceptance.

Is the fat removal permanent?

Yes!  It seems that after puberty we do not create new fat cells.  When you gain weight, you expand the fat cells that you have.  Tumescent liposuction permanently removes fat cells that remain in your body.  The localized fatty deposits that existed prior to liposuction can no longer balloon up and out of proportion to the surrounding areas.

Will I need a second procedure?

Most likely one procedure will be sufficient.  However, some patients require a fine tuning procedure at a future date.

Will Liposuction get rid of cellulite?

Liposuction is not a treatment for cellulite, although many patients do notice an improvement in the appearance of cellulite after the fat cells are removed.

How will my skin look after surgery?

Dimples, ripples and stretch marks remain unchanged following liposuction.  Your new figure will be similar to what you would expect if you could lose an equal amount of localized fat through diet and exercise alone.  The use of smaller cannula allows the fibrous connections between your skin and body to remain.  These connections will contract over time.  As a result, excessive skin folds are so rare that many patients avoid the necessity for surgical skin excision by having excellent results with liposuction alone.

What will my recovery be like?

You will go home after the procedure and rest for a few hours, after which you may gradually increase your activity as tolerated.  After 2 to 5 days you may resume normal activities.  You may need to wear snug elastic dressing, girdle, or body stocking over the treated area to aid healing.

 

The day of your appointment:

Allow time before your appointment for filling out forms and for consulting with Doctor Shumway or a member of his  staff. If it's your initial visit, you may first meet with an on-staff licensed aestheticians or nurse who is trained in skin care and skin care procedures who can answer many of your questions.

You may also be asked about your expectations for treatment and if you have any allergies or any condition that wouldn't make you a good candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic.

The procedure:

Your doctor will determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The entire BOTOX® Cosmetic injection procedure takes approximately 10 minutes.

After the procedure:

There's no recovery time needed. You're ready to get on with your day! The most common side effects following injection include temporary eyelid droop and nausea. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

Seeing results:

Within days, you may notice an improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows that can last up to 4 months. Results may vary.

Breast Augmentation - Transumbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA)

 

For many women, breast size is an important part of feeling good, desirable and normal.  Most women compare themselves to a cultural idea of beauty.  Having a breast augmentation procedure can greatly improve self-esteem for many women.  It can make a woman feel more like the ideal by drastically improving the way she views herself.

Cosmetic Breast Surgery Without Scars

Breast enhancement or augmentation is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures in the United States today.  It can dramatically improve the appearance of a woman’s breasts.  The enhancement procedure is used to enlarge small breasts, underdeveloped breasts, or breasts that have decreased in size after a woman has had children.

Recent studies have supported the safety of saline breast implants.  Should a saline implant leak, the salt water is safely reabsorbed by the body as the implant deflates.  Most of the implant companies provide replacement warranty.

Is breast surgery for you?

During your conference with Dr. Shumway, discuss your goals and expectations of the surgery.  Dr. Shumway will asses the nature of your breasts, your expectations, and explain the probable outcome of your procedure.

You will be shown several before and after treatment photographs of patients having similar breasts, and Dr. Shumway will explain the treatment you can expect to receive.  You may also try some different size implants on in a bra to give you an idea as to the look you desire.  Often a mammogram (X-Ray) will be required pre-operatively.

The TUBA procedure

Transumbilical breast augmentation is performed on an outpatient basis using general or local anesthesia.  This popular way of performing breast augmentation is through an incision in the navel.  Utilizing this technique, no incisions are made on the breast or into the breast tissue.

A small incision in made in your belly button.  Through this incision, a slender instrument passes under the skin to a location behind the breast tissue.  Next, a tissue expander is inserted and placed under the breast.  With this expander, a space is developed to create a pocket for the implant size you’ve requested.  The position and size of this pocket is verified.  Then, an empty saline implant is placed in the pocket and filled with sterile saline.  The surgeon can adjust the amount of saline injected into your implant based on the size you have selected and help correct asymmetry of your breasts.  The incision in your navel is closed with a few absorbable stitches.

The entire procedure takes less than two hours.

What are the advantages of Transumbilical breast implants?

•    One small, inconspicuous scar

•    Takes less than two hours

•    Less breast trauma than traditional procedures

•    Minimal bleeding

•    Quicker recovery.

 

What is the recovery from TUBA surgery like?

Rest is recommended for the first few days following surgery.  A post-surgical sports bra is usually worn for several weeks.  Most discomfort associated with breast surgery can be controlled with oral medication prescribed by your surgeon.  Antibiotics may also be prescribed.  Most women experience mild swelling, bruising and tenderness.  These symptoms should subside in a short time.  All sutures in the navel are dissolvable and require no removal.  Dr. Shumway will advise you on a proper schedule for returning to normal activities.  Most patients are back to work within the first week.  Regular physical activity may be resumed in 4-6 weeks.

Following your cosmetic breast surgery, you will enjoy a new, more pleasing shape, with more comfortable breasts that are in better proportion to your physique.

If you have been considering breast augmentation, contact our office to arrange a private, free consultation to learn more about the Transumbilical procedure.