Cosmetic Surgery for the Body
Cosmetic surgery is usually performed to correct a physical abnormality or to enhance an otherwise normal physical feature and, therefore, improve a person’s appearance.
I perform the following procedures for the body:
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
An abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck) is an operation to remove loose skin and fat from your abdomen together with tightening up the muscles. This excess tissue is often a result of pregnancy or weight loss.
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift or Bingo Wing Correction)
As we age, or after losing a lot of weight, it is common to develop an overhang of skin on the upper arms.
Unfortunately, no amount of exercise can remove the loose skin and this “bat wing” appearance can only be corrected through surgical excision.
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
A Brazilian Butt Lift or BBL is a term popularized for fat grafting to the buttocks to improve the shape and volume of the buttock. During this procedure, I remove fat from an area where it’s not wanted—such as the abdomen or thighs—and place it into the buttocks. Essentially, this is a combination of liposuction and buttock augmentation. While these numbers are not as high as those performed for breast augmentation, it does help to explain why it is one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures today. In properly skilled hands, it is not just about increasing the size of the buttock, but also about obtaining an improved shape with recontouring of the entire torso, including the waist, abdomen, and thighs.
Safety is crucial because sadly there are multiple reports of BBL fatalities from round the world, where it has been performed with unsafe practices and without the addition of intraoperative ultrasound to confirm the correct placement of the fat when it is grafted.
Buttock Lift
A buttock lift is a surgical procedure designed to enhance the appearance of the buttocks. Factors such as weight loss or aging can cause the buttocks to droop and sag.
This procedure can be done on its own or as part of a lower body lift (circumferential abdominoplasty). In a lower body lift, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is performed at the front, with the incision extending around to the back to lift the buttocks and eliminate loose skin from the flanks and love handles. This comprehensive approach allows for the contouring of the buttocks, groin, thighs, and abdomen.
Banana Roll Excision
A Banana Roll excision is surgery to remove extra skin and fat from the crease under the buttocks (gluteal fold).
The aim is to elevate and tighten the posterior thigh, as well as symmetrise the level of the buttock creases.
Liposuction can also be used to remove any excess fat from the posterior thighs, hips, back and buttocks.
Banana roll excision is commonly required in asymmetry of the gluteal fold where patients have had previous liposuction that has weakened the support of the buttock and allowed it to drop into an abnormal position with a double crease.
Fat transfer
Fat transfer (fat grafting or lipofilling) is a dynamic procedure, which has gained immense popularity to augment various parts of the body. The therapeutic effect of stem cells present in fat cells is an additional benefit that has an emerging role in tissue regeneration and wound healing.
The technique involves aspirating and collecting fat through a small diameter cannula. The harvest technique is the same as for liposuction and the fat is best taken from an area of diet resistant fat such as the abdomen, hips or thighs. In addition to the fat grafting, you will have the benefits of liposuction at the donor site.
Fat grafting is tailored to the areas requiring additional volume and it can be used to shape the body in a way that implants cannot. It is used in many different places and can be tailored to the individual.
Labioplasty
A labioplasty (or labiaplasty) is a surgical procedure that will reduce and/or reshape the labia minora – the skin that covers the female clitoris and vaginal opening.
Occasionally women also request reduction of the labia majora. This can be done in isolation or at the same time through the labioplasty incision. Women with large labia complain of pain during intercourse, discomfort during everyday activities and often feel considerable embarrassment.
Labial reduction can also greatly improve the aesthetic appearance of an abnormally enlarged labia as well as correcting any asymmetry.
Lateral chest wall excision
As we age, or after losing a lot of weight, it is common to develop a bulge of loose skin and soft tissue, which overhangs the upper edge of the bra in the axillary area. This is characterised by excess skin from under the armpit, which extends to the upper back. The lateral chest wall/upper back reduction procedure is designed to excise this extra skin to improve contouring and clothing options.
Lipoedema Surgery
Lipoedema is a recognised medical condition and often be misdiagnosed as lymphoedema. A fat disorder, it is characterised by an accumulation of painful fat below the waist, resulting in hips, buttocks and legs that are out of proportion with the upper body. It can also affect the arms, resulting in laxity of skin with abnormal fat pads at the elbow and wrist.
Rehabilitative liposuction is recognised as a successful technique which can permanently remove the excess fat cells and improve any associated lymphoedema. As this is a specialist area of medicine, in particular tending to complex patient need, it is recommended that liposuction is preferably performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon with the appropriate knowledge of lipoedema and requisite experience with multi-stage liposuction.
Liposuction for Lipoedema
Liposuction is a surgical procedure for removing fat. In patients with lipoedema, liposuction can remove these fatty deposits. After liposuction, there is an immediate reduction in the size of the limb(s), and most patients who do not have lymphoedema should not need to wear compression long-term.
The input of a physiotherapist trained in manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is essential to assist post-operative recovery.
I use the term ‘Rehabilitative Liposuction’ to recognise the complex care need of patients, with a recognised medical condition, that is different to standard cosmetic need.
Liposuction
No matter how much you diet and exercise, fat in certain places sometimes just will not budge. Surgeons call this “diet resistant fat”.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure for removing these pockets of fat in specific areas. Common areas treated by liposuction include the tummy, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, neck and breasts in males (gynaecomastia).
Liposuction works best for people who are normal or near normal in body weight with firm, elastic skin.
Thigh Lift
A thigh lift is a procedure to improve the shape and size of the thighs by reducing excess fat deposition and tightening loose skin. It is of benefit to patients who have had substantial weight fluctuation and do not like the appearance of their thighs.
