Abdomen
The abdominal contour is frequently addressed by aesthetic abdominal procedures. A spectrum of abdominal contour issues can be addressed depending upon the desires of the patient. These contours can range from a small amount of excess fat, to the mild or moderate bulge of the abdomen that is often difficult to escape after pregnancy, to the significant additional skin following massive weight loss. Despite the vast array of contour irregularities, the goals of aesthetic abdominal procedures uniformly attempt to create a more smooth, flat, and appealing contour. Dr. Pathy will work with you in determining the procedure most suitable for you.
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In This Section
Abdomen
Body
Breast
Face
Non-surgical Therapies
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Liposuction (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy, Liposculpture, Lipoplasty)
Unfortunately, despite proper diet and exercise, contour irregularities can persist. Although this procedure has many pseudonyms and the procedural techniques have several variations, liposuction addresses fat accumulation that can result in uneven countours. Liposuction addresses excess fat through means of suctioning through small incisions. Because a requirement of liposuction is that the skin must have adequate elasticity to shrink back into place after the excess fat cells are removed, not every patient is a candidate for this procedure alone. A compression garment is worn post-operatively to assist in attaining the optimal contour. Common sites of liposuction include the abdomen, hips, thighs, arms, and neck.
The tumescent technique, which involves injecting a high volume of an anesthetic solution, is often used in conjunction with liposuction to reduce post-procedural pain and bruising. In addition, other liposuction modifications which Dr. Pathy frequently utilizes include Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) which makes use of a rapidly vibrating device that can target certain challenging pockets of thick tissue, and VASER® Lipo, (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance), which utilizes an ultrasound-assisted liposuction system.
Each procedure is individualized to the patient, and a combination of techniques is frequently used to achieve the ideal result.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
An abdominoplasty is a procedure that addresses not only excess skin, fat, and stretch marks of the abdomen, but also the bulge that can develop between your “six-pack” muscles which can become noticeable following pregnancy. The procedure tightens the layer of tissue superficial to the “six-pack” muscles and then eliminates the excess skin and fat to achieve a more appealing contour. The scar may extend from one hip to the other, depending upon the extent of excess tissue that needs to be removed. However, the incision can often be concealed beneath the bikini line.
Mini-Abdominoplasty
This procedure involves utilizing a much shorter scar than the traditional abdominoplasty, and is reserved only for specific patient candidates. Through this shorter scar, only the skin and fat below the navel is lifted, and the excess tissue is removed to create a more flat contour. In this procedure, only the bulge between the “six-pack” muscles occurring below the navel is tightened. Liposuction is often utilized as an adjunct to this procedure to achieve the desired results.
Circumferential Abdominoplasty (Belt Lipectomy)
Following the massive weight loss that often occurs after gastric bypass procedures, patients tend to develop excess abdominal skin as the fat begins to shrink. While the weight loss is highly appreciated by the patient, the excess saggy skin that usually develops is not. This excess skin can result in difficulty fitting into clothes as well as persistent rashes. The skin that must be resected can vary from an incision that is similar to a traditional abdominoplasty, or can even extend completely around the body to connect the abdomen and the back (circumferential abdominoplasty). The layer of tissue superficial to the muscles are also tightened as in a traditional abdominoplasty. Based upon the extent of the patient’s functional deficits with the excess skin, insurance may sometimes cover the procedure.
Panniculectomy
A panniculectomy addresses solely the excess of skin (pannus) that hangs below the waistline in either the obese patient or the patient who has lost significant weight. This wedge of overhanging abdominal tissue is removed, and the layer of tissue superficial to the muscles is not tightened in this procedure. Based upon the extent of the patient’s functional deficits with the excess skin, insurance may sometimes cover the procedure.
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