Body procedures

Whether you’ve experienced a pregnancy, weight loss or just can’t seem to tone up your midsection through diet and exercise alone, a tummy tuck can create a firmer, slimmer appearance. Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, removes loose, excess skin and can repair separated abdominal muscles for improved contours. 

Often a tummy tuck procedure is paired with liposuction to maximize your results.

Is a tummy tuck right for you?

• You are at or very close to your target weight
• You are in good general health
• You are seeking to restore a tighter, leaner look.

Your procedure: Abdominoplasty can consist of a variety of different surgical techniques and methods, and the best choices for you will depend on your unique body shape and goals for your final results. Quite often, men and women can benefit from adding some amount of liposuction to their tummy tuck surgery to remove small pockets of excess fat as well as addressing loose skin and muscle.

A full tummy tuck can be the ideal body contouring solution for women wishing to get their pre-pregnancy body back, or for men and women looking to remove loose, sagging abdominal skin as the result of weight loss. During traditional abdominoplasty, our cosmetic surgeons typically create two incisions, one around the belly button and one that runs from hip to hip in order to remove excess skin and fat.

A “no drain” tummy tuck is a combined liposuction and tummy tuck procedure that requires no drains. In the appropriate candidate, the abdomen can be thinned with liposuction and then the excess skin of the lower abdomen removed.

Recovery and results: Following your tummy tuck surgery, you will likely be sent home the same day and will be given detailed instructions for your recovery. Most men and women should be able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks, though you should avoid strenuous physical activity for about 4 to 6 weeks. At 8 weeks post-op, you can expect to be able to begin reintroducing your normal exercises and activities into your daily routine.

During your tummy tuck recovery, it’s crucial to listen to your body and gradually increase your physical activity throughout the process, according to the advice of our team of experienced cosmetic surgeons. Note that you may experience some swelling, bruising or discomfort, but these symptoms should subside over time and can be eased with oral medication.

Your final results should begin to reveal themselves within 4 to 6 months after your abdominoplasty, leaving you with a better-defined waistline that complements your natural physique.

If you have trouble getting rid of stubborn pockets of fat in nearly any area of the body through diet and exercise, liposuction can be an effective body contouring solution. Although liposuction isn’t meant to act as a substitute for weight loss or maintaining a healthy lifestyle, this body sculpting procedure can help you to achieve a leaner, more toned-looking body when other methods don’t work.

Is liposuction right for you?

• You are at or very close to your target weight
• You’re frustrated by the appearance of stubborn fat along your waistline, around your thighs or in other areas
• You want to achieve smoother, leaner, more proportionate contours

At your initial consultation, we can talk more about the specific body sculpting goals you have, and whether liposuction is best to help you meet those goals. If you have concerns about loose skin in addition to fatty problem spots, a tummy tuck or other body contouring surgery may be a better choice for you.

Your procedure: Liposuction is a surgical procedure that can remove excess subcutaneous fat that lies just beneath the skin. There are a variety of different liposuction options to consider, and the best choice for each person will depend on your specific needs and goals. 

During traditional tumescent liposuction, our experienced cosmetic surgeons first inject a saline solution and local anesthesia into the treatment area, which causes the fat to become tumescent, or firm and swollen and loosens individual cells for easier removal. This allows for a cannula, or small tube, to be inserted into the body through small, carefully placed incisions. The swollen fat cells are then removed with suction, creating the desired slimmer, smoother appearance.

Ultrasonic liposuction is an innovative liposuction technique that combines ultrasonic technology with traditional liposuction. Rather than using saline solution and local anesthesia to loosen fat cells prior to removal, UAL employs high frequency sound waves to liquefy fat, which is then suctioned out of the body. This liposculpture method involves less tissue trauma than with traditional liposuction, resulting in a shorter recovery period.

Power-assisted liposuction is performed in much the same way as tumescent liposuction, only this approach involves the use of a powerized cannula that moves back and forth through the fat cells in a rapid motion. Power-assisted liposuction can remove fat with less force than is necessary with traditional liposuction, which may make the experience more comfortable and deliver more comprehensive results.

Vaser liposuction offers a cutting-edge solution for body contouring with remarkable benefits. Vaser (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance) employs ultrasonic technology to target fat cells, leaving surrounding tissues virtually untouched. This results in a quicker recovery and smoother results compared to traditional liposuction. This technique minimizes discomfort and bruising while encouraging skin tightening for a toned appearance.

Recovery and results: After your liposuction surgery, you may notice some swelling, bruising or numbness in the affected area(s), but these side effects should diminish on their own as your body continues to heal. You can expect to rest and perform light activities during the first few days or within 1 week of your liposuction recovery. Depending on how physically demanding your job is, you may be able to return to work as soon as 2 to 5 days.

You should notice an immediate improvement after your liposuction, with final results taking shape over the following 3 to 6 months after your procedure.

For men and women seeking a fuller, rounder posterior that flatters their figure, a Brazilian butt lift can enhance the shape and size of the butt using your own fat cells. While certain exercises can help tone your butt, achieving a fuller posterior typically requires a little cosmetic help. A Brazilian butt lift uses liposuction to harvest fat cells from another area of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs. The fat cells are then transferred via injection into specific areas of the buttocks to enhance their size and shape. Many women include Brazilian butt lifts as part of their mommy makeover.

Is Brazilian Butt Lift right for you?

• You are in good overall physical and mental health
• You are at or near your target weight

During your consultation, you’ll have the chance to speak with one of our cosmetic surgeons about your goals for buttock enhancement and the kinds of results you can expect.

Your procedure: Brazilian butt lift surgery is often performed under local anesthesia, though your surgeon may have an alternate recommendation for you. The first step of the procedure is to collect fat cells from a donor area of your body. Many people find this to be an additional benefit of the Brazilian butt lift, as you may be able to slim down an area where you have trouble losing weight.

In most people, the best donor areas are the abdomen or thighs, though your surgeon may be able to use a different area. Liposuction requires one or more small incisions around the target area, harvesting cells through a small tube called a cannula.

After the fat cells are harvested, they will be injected carefully into and around the buttocks. Your surgeon will customize his or her approach based on your goals and unique anatomy. Because not all of the transferred fat cells will survive, your buttocks may initially appear larger than your final results.

Recovery and results: Following your Brazilian butt lift, you may experience some soreness, bruising and swelling in both the donor area and the buttocks. Most people take up to 1 week away from work and other normal activities as they heal. Your surgeon may ask you to wear a compression garment or use ice packs to help minimize soreness and swelling.

Although individual results vary, most people see final results from a Brazilian butt lift within about 6 months of the procedure.

After a pregnancy, even when following a healthy diet and exercise plan, you may find it difficult or nearly impossible to get your pre-baby body back. When loose skin and muscle, sagging breasts or localized areas of exercise-resistant fat become a concern, mommy makeover surgery can help restore your figure after having children.

Is a mommy makeover right for you?

• You are in good overall physical and mental health
• You have considered completing your family to ensure that your results will last for years to come

Your procedure: Because mommy makeover surgery is made up of multiple procedures combined into one, it is highly customizable based on your individual needs and goals. The most common areas treated in a mommy makeover include the stomach, hips and breasts, as these areas of the body are typically the most affected by pregnancy.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can remove and tighten stretched or loose abdominal skin and repair abdominal muscles that may have been impacted by a pregnancy. After your abdominoplasty, you can expect to enjoy a slimmer, more toned-looking midsection, and these results can be very long-lasting as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Liposuction can remove small areas of excess fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise. The most common regions addressed by liposuction are the thighs, belly, hips and waist, although this body contouring procedure can effectively target stubborn pockets of fat almost anywhere on the body.

Breast enhancement is a cornerstone of many mommy makeover procedures. The size and shape of your breasts may change as a result of pregnancy or breastfeeding, and a breast augmentation or breast lift can help to restore breasts to a fuller, perkier appearance. For women whose breast size increased after pregnancy more than they may have preferred, breast reduction is another option to help bring out the best in your body.

Ways To Help You Get Beautiful Mommy Makeover Results

Choose a Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon: For an optimal outcome from your mommy makeover, work with an experienced board-certified cosmetic surgeon.

Be at a Stable, Healthy Weight: Being close to or at your ideal weight can help ensure you get the most out of your mommy makeover. You should be done with dieting before you book your appointment.

Consider Your Final Proportions: If your mommy makeover includes breast augmentation, make sure to pick breast implants that are proportionate. Choose implants that will complement your figure.

Getting the Right Size and Shape Breast Implants: For a natural look and feel, tear-drop shaped silicone implants may be your best option. If your breasts are asymmetrical, your cosmetic surgeon may suggest implants of differing sizes.

Follow Your Cosmetic Surgeon's Instructions: Your recovery is just as important as the mommy makeover procedure. Focus on resting and healing, wear your compression garment and do what your cosmetic surgeon tells you to.

Recovery and results: One of the most appealing benefits of getting a mommy makeover is that it requires only one recovery period, rather than recovering individually from each single procedure. After your mommy makeover, some swelling and bruising is to be expected in your treatment areas. Your cosmetic surgeon may prescribe pain medication to help alleviate any initial discomfort. While everyone will heal at a different pace, most women can return to work within 2 to 3 weeks after mommy makeover surgery. You should avoid heavy lifting, including your children, for 4 to 6 weeks following your mommy makeover.

Remember that your specific recovery instructions can vary depending on what is included in your mommy makeover, and it’s important to listen to your body when gradually reintroducing more demanding physical activities into your routine.

Over the following weeks and months, you should begin to notice your final mommy makeover results taking shape, revealing a shapelier, more contoured silhouette.

Laser vaginal tightening treatment with V-Lase can help to restore vaginal tightness that may have been lost due to childbirth, menopause, aging or a variety of other factors. Many women choose V-Lase to gain improved sexual satisfaction, treat incontinence or to simply feel more like themselves again.

Vaginal laxity and atrophy can result in inflammation, weakened pelvic muscles, painful or unsatisfactory intercourse and urinary incontinence. Both women who’ve had children and those who haven’t may benefit from non surgical vaginal tightening. Laser vaginal rejuvenation with V-Lase can be a very effective solution to vaginal atrophy, enhancing muscle tone and vaginal strength for improved control, comfort and sexual satisfaction.

Is a Vaginal Rejuvenation right for you?

• You are in good overall physical and mental health
• You have have realistic expectations for the results. While V-Lase can provide long-lasting and even permanently restored vaginal tightness, follow-up treatments may be necessary to maximize your results.

During your consultation, you will be able to discuss your specific needs and goals for vaginal rejuvenation with one of our cosmetic surgeons, who can determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure, as well as design a treatment plan that will best fit your needs.

Your procedure: V-Lase is a specialized laser that your cosmetic surgeon can use to tighten vaginal tissue and restructure vaginal size. Through this innovative treatment, the advanced laser technology rejuvenates and firms the vaginal walls, resulting in a significant improvement in vaginal laxity, sexual pleasure and a correction of urinary stress incontinence. Laser vaginal tightening is typically performed as an outpatient procedure and involves little to no downtime.

Recovery and results: Many women are able to return to work almost immediately after laser vaginoplasty, although this may depend on how physically demanding your occupation is. You’ll need to avoid sexual activity and tampons for 5 to 7 days after vaginal tightening to ensure your safety and best results. It’s recommended that you also avoid strenuous exercise for 1 week after your V-Lase appointment.

Additional treatments within the next year are recommended. After 3 treatments, one a year or one every 2 years.

The thighs can become a trouble spot as you age or lose a significant amount of weight. Your thighs may develop loose, saggy skin, cellulite and extra fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise, making you appear older and heavier. A thigh lift smoothes skin, firms tissue and removes fat for a sleeker shape that fits your proportions and boosts your self-confidence.

Thigh lift surgery, or thighplasty, can be an effective treatment for excess skin and fat in the inner and outer thighs for people who haven’t seen results from diet and exercise or have experienced substantial weight loss.

Is a Thigh Lift right for you?

During your consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will listen to your concerns and goals for having thigh lift surgery and perform a physical examination. Your surgeon may talk with you about the differences between an inner and outer thigh lift and which one may be right for you. Because thigh lift surgery isn’t specifically intended for fat removal, your cosmetic surgeon may assess the amount of extra fat and recommend including liposuction to eliminate excess fat and improve the contours of your thighs.

Your procedure: Thigh lift surgery is performed using IV sedation or general anesthesia based on your cosmetic surgeon’s recommendation for you. There are three types of thigh lifts that both include removing extra skin, re-draping the skin and tightening the underlying tissue for a smoother shape.

Inner (medial) thigh lift: An inner thigh lift focuses on removing loose skin and fat along the inside of the thigh. Though an incision in the crease of your groin, your cosmetic surgeon works to reshape the thigh from your knee up to your groin and may use liposuction to eliminate excess fat. Your incision may wrap around the back of your thigh but the incision should be placed where a swimsuit or clothing will cover the scar. Depending on the condition of your thighs, you may be a good candidate for a minimal incision that is confined to the groin area.

Mini thigh lift: The mini thigh lift is a less extensive version of the inner thigh lift and only addresses lax skin in the upper part of your thigh. You may have a smaller incision and a shorter recovery period but the results won’t be as dramatic.

Outer (lateral or bilateral) thigh lift: An outer thigh lift can be a more comprehensive surgery than an inner thigh lift because your cosmetic surgeon may remove more tissue and reshape buttocks in addition to the front and outer thighs. The incision may start in the crease of your groin and run up along the top your hip toward your buttock where underwear or a swimsuit would conceal the scar.

Recovery and results: You may be sore after your thigh lift and experience swelling and bruising. Your cosmetic surgeon may recommend that you wear a compression garment or elastic bandages for the first couple weeks to minimize swelling and support the redefined contours of your thighs. You should rest for the first 10 to 14 days and move slowly and carefully as you sit, bend and walk. In the next few weeks, the swelling should subside and you can begin driving and walking for exercise again. You should avoid jogging, strenuous activity and heavy lifting for up to 8 weeks.

After a thigh lift, you should see an immediate difference in the look and shape of your thighs that improves as your body heals. If you maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle, your results should be long lasting.

Gynecomastia, a medical term for the overdevelopment of male breasts, affects one out of every ten men. Enlarged male breasts can be the result of fat deposits, hormone imbalance, liver disease or side effects of certain medications. In most cases gynecomastia can be treated through male breast reduction.

Is a Male Breast Reduction right for you?

Because the details of your male breast reduction surgery will largely depend on the causes for your gynecomastia, it’s best to schedule a consultation with one of our cosmetic surgeons to go over your appearance goals. During this time, your surgeon will evaluate your candidacy, including looking at anatomical factors like the elasticity of your skin and the presence of fatty tissue vs. glandular tissue.

Your procedure: Surgery for gynecomastia is normally performed on an outpatient basis using a general anesthesia. The procedure can last from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the extent of correction.

In many cases, the breasts can be reduced by removing fatty tissue with the help of liposuction. A tiny incision is made in an inconspicuous location on the chest, and a straw-like cannula is inserted through this incision. Excess fat cells are then sucked out through a vacuum system attached to the cannula. The result is an elimination of fatty deposits along with re-sculpting the chest into more masculine contours.

For some men, gynecomastia is caused by a glandular disorder. If excess glandular breast tissue is present, surgery for gynecomastia is the better option, as liposuction can only remove fat cells. This type of male breast reduction surgery may be performed alone or in conjunction with liposuction. The initial incisions can be hidden at the edge of the areola or in the underarm area. Through these incisions, your cosmetic surgeon can remove the excess glandular tissue, fat and skin from the chest. A more significant level of correction may require longer incisions.

Recovery and results: After gynecomastia treatment, bed rest is recommended for the first day. You may experience some discomfort for several days. For the first few days following your procedure, it’s recommended that you wear surgical dressings, which will be exchanged for a special compression garment that’s typically worn for about 2 weeks. Most men are back to work within the first week.

Most discomfort associated with male breast reduction can be controlled with oral medication prescribed by your cosmetic surgeon, and antibiotics may also be prescribed. Most men experience some degree of swelling, bruising and tenderness, but these symptoms should subside in a short time. Within about 2 weeks, all sutures will be removed, and you can begin to gradually resume physical activity, along with enjoying improved self-confidence and a more clearly sculpted physique.

As part of the natural aging process, facial lines and creases begin to appear as our skin’s collagen production slows. This can also result in the loss of facial volume, which may cause a deflated facial appearance. While there are a number of medical spa treatment options that can address these common signs of aging, fat transfer utilizes the natural fat cells from your body to fill in lines and wrinkles and plump your cheeks and chin.

Many men and women are unhappy with the inevitable signs of aging and seek solutions to restore the smooth, full and youthful look of their skin. For those who desire a subtle boost of facial volume or wish to smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, fat grafting can be an effective treatment option. Because it uses your body’s own fat cells, fat transfer has become a popular alternative to some other cosmetic treatments. Fat transfer injections first involve harvesting the body’s own fat cells and therefore is often done in conjunction with liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation or other body contouring procedures.

Is Fat Transfer right for you?

You will be able to discuss your specific needs and goals with one of our experienced cosmetic surgeons during your initial consultation. For more progressed lines, wrinkles and sagging skin, a surgical facelift may be a more appropriate option, especially for those men and women looking for a longer-term solution.

Your procedure: The fat transfer process involves two primary steps. First, our skilled cosmetic surgeon will anesthetize both the donor site as well as the treatment site. They will then use a small needle attached to a syringe to remove adequate fat cells from another area of your body. This can be your buttocks, abdomen, thighs or another location where there are dense, excess fat cells. Next, that fat is purified and then re-injected into the desired areas of your face, plumping or smoothing as needed to create your desired results.

Recovery and results: The most common side effects following a fat transfer to the face include some mild swelling or bruising near the injection sites, but these symptoms typically subside over the next few days following your procedure. Once any swelling diminishes, you should begin to notice your final results taking shape, revealing your fuller and smoother new look.

One of the many benefits of using fat injections to erase lines and wrinkles and improve the contours of your cheeks and chin is that your results can last as long as 3 years. That said, your initial fat grafting may require some touching up within the first few months to ensure that you achieve the best possible results. The exact amount of fat injections that you might require can vary depending on your unique circumstances, but generally speaking, most people can expect to receive 3 to 4 fat transfer treatments over a 6 month period.