How Can a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Work Together?
If your
midsection is a “problem zone” for you, you probably already know how difficult
it is to maintain a lean look. You may do everything right—including eating
well and exercising—but a flat abdomen seems to stay out of your reach. The Cosmetic
Surgery Institute team explains that while lifestyle-based efforts can give you
a healthier body overall, and are ideal for reducing fat, diets can’t be used
to target specific areas. Sit-ups can build muscle, but the results may remain
hidden under a thick layer—or the muscles may be separated from being stretched
out.
To address a
range of cosmetic belly problems, there’s no substitute for an abdominoplasty, available at our Palm Springs-area practice. For the procedure better
known as a tummy tuck, we make strategic incisions that allow us to tighten
muscles, fascia, and skin, as well as to excise any redundant skin. A traditional,
full tummy tuck is limited to the area that extends below the chest to the
pelvis.
But what about
stubborn, resistant rolls that often surround the belly area? For additional
fine-tuning, there’s always liposuction. Our approach involves using surgical
fat removal to optimize results, in addition to standard surgical techniques.
Performing two
procedures (a tummy tuck and liposuction) at the same time proves to be more
efficient, effective, and less expensive than performing them separately—not to
mention patients won’t have to go through two surgeries and recovery periods. Also
with this approach, the risk of complications associated with standalone tummy
tucks, such as seromas, is reduced, and combining procedures has been shown to
improve patient satisfaction. This combination is sometimes referred to as
“lipoabdominoplasty” or “liposuction-assisted abdominoplasty.”
Liposuction is a
commonly performed body contouring procedure that allows patients to remove
resistant, subcutaneous fat deposits from most areas of the body, using a
hollow cannula to break up and extract fat cells. In addition to the belly it
also allows for shaping features that border the belly area, like the hips,
flanks, waist, and back, for more definitive contouring. Slimming down these
other areas also accentuates a flatter abdomen. This improves your overall body
contours for a more streamlined and balanced appearance.
Patients from
Palm Springs and surrounding areas can plan an abdominoplasty with liposuction
at Cosmetic
Surgery Institute. Call (760)
837-0364 or send a message online to get more information or arrange a
consultation.
The Negative Effects of Smoking on Liposuction Results
Liposuction
continues to be an ideal surgical technique for dramatic body-contouring
results. It produces new contours faster than non-invasive alternatives can, is
generally low risk, doesn’t require a long recovery time, and only causes small
scars. The procedure can be a useful tool for body contouring—also referred to
as body sculpting, a term referring to a range of procedures intended for
altering the contours of the body by modifying fat, skin or muscle. While it is
great for removing fat from almost any area of the body, doctors at Cosmetic
Surgery Institute explain to patients in the Los Angeles basin area that liposuction for body contouring's success hinges on them avoiding nicotine
before and after surgery.
You may have
noticed in your research before the big day that cigarette smoking is
emphasized on just about every list of things to avoid before going in for
plastic surgery. Some surgeons recommend staying away from cigarettes for a few
weeks or up to a month before the operation and for a long time afterward as
well. But why exactly is smoking so bad for you—in this specific case?
In short, smoking
makes you much more likely to develop post-operative complications after
liposuction surgery. If you’re a regular or heavy smoker, surgeons understand
that giving up the habit can be difficult, but they can also help you find support
during this time.
A chemical
called nicotine, which is contained in cigarettes—and such cigarette
substitutes as gum, patches, chewing tobacco, pipes, cigars, etc.—is the source
of the problem. When you have plastic surgery, some of the blood vessels are
severed, and it’s up to the remaining intact vessels to supply the oxygen and
nutrients needed by the rest of your body. This includes the incision sites and
tissues in the surgical site that need to heal. Poor healing can lead to poor
results. Scars may be more pronounced and visible, since nicotine restricts
blood flow and inhibits oxygen supply to cells.
If you still
continue smoking, your surgeon may not want to administer liposuction. Complications
from pre-op and post-op smoking may include infections, fat necrosis, blood
clots, increased pain, and thick scars.
Are you ready
for a new you? Get started on your plastic surgery journey today with help from
the Cosmetic
Surgery Institute team. To
schedule a consult regarding liposuction for body contouring in the Los Angeles
basin area, connect with us by phoning (760) 837-0364 or sending a message.
Working Out After Breast Augmentation
If you’re unsatisfied with the size and shape of your
breasts, one of the most popular options for making a change is breast augmentation. The Palm Desert-based
Cosmetic Surgery Institute team offers the procedure, but hears from many
patients who want to know when it would be safe to return to their exercise
routine after surgery. The good news is that implants won’t prevent you from
enjoying an active lifestyle in the long run, but you should be prepared to
take a few weeks off for rest and recovery following the procedure.
Breast augmentation is ideal for creating noticeable results that not only change the look of the chest, but also impact body proportions as a whole. With that in mind, patients who are interested in keeping their overall physique fit and lean must have a long-term diet and exercise plan in place. In some cases, getting breast implants may be the very thing that kick-starts a woman into taking better care of her health.
In the first few days and weeks after breast augmentation
surgery, it is OK to engage in light activity, such as short walks. In fact,
this sort of gentle exercise is actually recommended, as it helps to stretch
the muscles while improving circulation. That said, hold back on intense
exercise during the first few weeks to avoid injuries or other increasing your
risk of other complications. Strenuous activity raises your blood pressure
while stressing muscles and tissues.
Patients typically get their strength and energy back
within around a month’s time, though it may take about six months for the
breasts to fully adjust and look their best after augmentation surgery. Each
person’s recovery process will be different, with some women being able to heal
more quickly than others. This has to do with genetics, lifestyle choices (such
as smoking), and overall health before and after the procedure.
When you do go back to running, jogging, and lifting
weights, remember to wear a quality support bra. Patients may want to start their
exercise regimen by doing what feels comfortable and gradually increasing their
activities over time rather than rushing into intense exercise as soon as they
can. Some doctors believe that patients should refrain from any kind of
hardcore chest-building workouts even after they’ve recovered. Follow your
doctor’s specific post-surgery instructions.
For questions or
inquiries about breast augmentation or other breast-related procedures—as well
as what to expect from the post-surgical recovery process—call (760) 837-0364 or
submit a contact form to get in touch with Cosmetic
Surgery Institute in the
Palm Springs area.