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Study Reveals Patients’ Expectations of Body Contouring after Weight Loss

For some bariatric surgery patients, weight loss surgery may only be the first surgery on their way to a slimmer body. A new study found that a majority of patients, 75% of females and 68% of males, desire body contouring surgery after their weight loss.

Body contouring procedures after weight loss are often a last and necessary step in a patient’s weight loss surgery journey.

Medically-assisted weight loss often results in loose and hanging skin on the upper arms, breasts, abdomen and thighs. Because of this, one or more body contouring procedures — such as a tummy tuck, breast lift, body lift, arm lift or liposuction — may be desired.

The Austrian study, published in Obesity Surgery journal, examined patients’ expectations of body contouring after massive weight loss. A questionnaire on body image, quality of life and expectations of body contouring surgery was answered by 252 patients who had gastric bypass surgery between 2003 and 2009.

While 90% of women and 88% of men surveyed said their appearance after weight loss was “satisfactory, good, or very good,” 96% reported having surplus skin that caused itching. Some also said they had problems with playing sports and finding clothing that fit well.

A majority of men and women surveyed expressed a desire for body contouring, and the top three expectations of the surgery were:

• Improved appearance
• Improved self–confidence
• Improved quality of life

Both men and women ranked the abdominal area as most in need of contouring, followed by the breasts, thighs, upper arms and buttocks.

The researchers concluded that the success of using weight loss surgery to treat obese patients can’t be judged on weight loss alone. “Patients’ expectations for body contouring surgery are very precise and high,” so it is important that patients are given realistic expectations from their cosmetic surgeon before surgery, according to the authors.

For more information, view the full text of the study.

HOW TO FINALLY CROSS OFF THAT ELUSIVE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION WITH LIPOSUCTION

When Diet & Exercise Aren’t Enough to Achieve the Body You Want

Every year, going into my local Maryland gym in January feels like the first day of class. A bunch of new faces crowd the machines and it is more difficult than ever to find an open treadmill or elliptical. The reason? Many of us are stuck having the same resolution every year – lose the belly and the love handles. However, when aging thrashes your metabolism and those stubborn deposits of fat are more difficult to burn off, you can get stuck in the cycle of having that same resolution every year.
Continue reading “HOW TO FINALLY CROSS OFF THAT ELUSIVE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION WITH LIPOSUCTION” »

Study Finds Men Highly Satisfied After Treating Their Gynecomastia with Surgery

Treating gynecomastia, a condition where men have excess breast tissue, greatly improves the patients’ quality of life, according to a new study.

Researchers also found that patients who had male breast reduction surgery reported a high degree of satisfaction with the procedure.

What is Gynecomastia?

Doctors believe the excess breast tissue is caused by hormonal problems. Men with gynecomastia can get a more masculine chest by having male breast reduction surgery.

During surgery, excess glandular tissue or fat is removed, either through liposuction or surgical tissue removal.

Results of Treating Gynecomastia

The study examined 126 patients who had undergone male breast reduction surgery in Siena or Pisa, Italy. The patients, whose average age was 28, were given questionnaires both before and one year after surgery. The survey asked patients about their motivations for treatment, degree of satisfaction with the procedure and quality of life.

All of the patients said their quality of life improved after the surgery, with an average satisfaction score of 8.2 out of 10.

The researchers found the results of surgery to be so positive that they suggested that patients with gynecomastia “undergo surgery always and as soon as possible.”

The surgery is relatively short — generally about one hour of operating time. The study reported a 17.72% complication rate. Potential complications include scarring, pigment changes, asymmetry, infection, bleeding and fluid loss or buildup.

Recovery from male breast reduction takes about one week, and exercise can usually be resumed about three weeks after surgery.

Contact Will Surgical Arts for more information on male breast reduction.

Do Fat Cells Return after Liposuction?

If you have stubborn pockets of fat that just won’t go away, you’re not alone. Many of us find that even the most diligent diet and exercise regimens fail to deliver the results we are looking for. The main reason for this is largely due to genetics. We are genetically predisposed to store fat in certain places, and these may not always be the most flattering areas to accumulate fat deposits. Fortunately, liposuction is an effective way to put the finishing touches on your fitness program and deliver the toned, sculpted figure you desire.

Continue reading “Do Fat Cells Return after Liposuction?” »

FDA Investigating Silicone Buttock Injections

Recently, there has been an increase in  women reporting  complications from silicone buttock injections, according to the Baltimore Sun.

A dancer in Baltimore was admitted to the hospital in March with silicone in her lungs after the procedure, and the FDA is investigating this and other instances across the U.S.

The woman who injected the dancer, who is not a doctor or nurse, was arrested in October. Court records also showed the silicone may have come from a home improvement store.

The medical-grade liquid version of silicone is only approved for the treatment of detached retinas, according to the FDA. But in the past, doctors have used it for procedures, including breast augmentation and lip enhancement.

Doctors say injectable silicone is dangerous and is not used in procedures today, as it causes an inflammatory reaction in the tissue where it’s injected, and it can spread to other organs. The encased silicone used for breast and buttock implants is considered safe.

Safe Alternatives to Silicone Buttock Injections

There are cosmetic surgery procedures that are safe for augmenting the buttocks, such as fat transfer. The procedure, which is often used for the face, is referred to as a Brazilian butt lift when used for buttock augmentation.

During the procedure, fat is harvested from another area of the body, such as the abdomen, through liposuction. The fat is then purified and injected into the buttock tissue.

Buttock implants are another option. During the procedure, a silicone gel implant is inserted beneath the gluteus maxiumus muscle.

If you are interested in a cosmetic procedure, be sure to choose a qualified cosmetic surgeon. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery provides guidelines for choosing a surgeon on its website.

What is a “Mommy-Makeover”?

Plastic and cosmetic surgeons have coined the term “mommy makeover” to market a series of procedures intended to help women regain their pre-pregnancy figure.

The most common procedures offered as part of the mommy-makeover are the breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction. Pregnancy and raising children can bring unwanted body changes, and while diet and regular exercise can make a tremendous improvement, some of those unwanted changes can only be corrected through surgical means.

The Fox news video below features an explanation of the mommy makeover – its risks, benefits, cost – and also an interview with a satisfied patient.

Read more about liposuction.
Read more about a tummy tuck.

Answers to Common Liposuction Questions

Liposuction is a popular cosmetic surgery body contouring procedure that removes unwanted fat and recontours the targeted area for a more aesthetically-appealing look. Here are answers to some common liposuction questions.

Is liposuction a weight loss procedure?

Liposuction is not an obesity or weight loss treatment; it selectively removes persistent subcutaneous fat — fat that’s directly under the skin — that you have not been able to get rid of through diet and exercise.

Before surgery, your cosmetic surgeon will ask to lose as much weight as you can, as the results will be better if you are at a healthy weight prior to surgery.

What areas of the body can be treated with liposuction?

Liposuction can be used to treat many areas of the body where fatty deposits are found, including the abdomen, neck, chin, chest, upper arms, hips, thighs, knees and ankles.

Does liposuction remove cellulite?

Liposuction is not a cellulite removal procedure. Patients should be aware that sometimes removing the fat just under the skin can actually worsen the dimpled look, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS). Talk to your cosmetic surgeon about what kind of results you can expect from liposuction, based on your body.

Does the removed fat come back after liposuction?

Fat does not return to the area treated with liposuction, according to the AACS. However, it is recommended that you keep up a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and exercise.

While a recent study did find that fat may come back and be redistributed in other areas of the body after liposuction, researchers reported that the women in the study were happy with their results.

For more information on liposuction, contact Will Surgical Arts in Ijamsville, Maryland.

Nerve Blocks Takes the Pain Out of Tummy Tucks

Injecting a combination of nerve blocks and long-acting local anesthetics into nerve branches around the abdomen before tummy tuck surgery appears to significantly decrease pain during the patient’s recovery period, according to a new study. A nerve block is an injection of medication into a specific area of the body that numbs the nerves there.

Dr. Lu-Jean Feng, a microvascular plastic and reconstructive surgeon, looked at the charts of patients who underwent an abdominoplasty over a ten year period. The treatment group included 77 patients who received the numbing solution—which works by blocking pain impulses between the abdomen and brain—and the control group included 20 patients who did not receive nerve blocks.

A comparison between the two groups found that  those who received nerve blocks prior to surgery:

• Had significantly less pain following surgery
• Required significantly less narcotics during recovery
• Spent less time in the recovery room

The study used recovery room data and patient questionnaires and also found that the treatment group that received nerve blocks also had significantly less pain at home after surgery and was able to resume driving and other normal activities significantly sooner than the control group.

Dr. Feng said, “Today prospective patients are not only looking at the aesthetic quality of results of an elective surgical procedure. They are also looking at ease of recovery and shorter downtimes.”  She presented her study at Plastic Surgery 2010, an annual scientific meeting sponsored by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that was held October 1-5 in Toronto.

The study may also lead to looking at using the technique for other cosmetic surgical procedures, such as breast augmentation. Another implication for use is that with reduced pain for patients, a combination of procedures may be tolerated more easily.

Read the abstract of the study at plasticsurgery.org.

Bandage Shows Promise for Reducing Scarring after Tummy Tuck

In addition to a smaller stomach, abdominoplasty leaves you with something you may not appreciate — a scar.  Now, a new bandage developed by a plastic surgeon could reduce scarring after tummy tuck surgery, according to study results of a small group of patients.

The results showed a statistically significant difference in the ratings of the scars by both plastic surgeons and lay people between the treatment and the control group, with the treatment group getting better ratings for scar appearance.

Dr. Geoffrey C. Gurtner, who developed the bandage, said, “In none of the cases was the treated scar worse than the control scar, which I think is different than some of the biologic agents we’ve seen over the last few years.”

Gurtner and his colleagues developed the bandage so that it isolates the wound from the movement of the skin around it. One reason scars form is that skin movement around the incision pulls at the new skin tissue that is growing as the wound heals, causing the scar tissue to thicken and spread out.

The incision is covered by the bandage, which is held on by adhesive strips that run parallel to the wound. Gurtner said that they transfer the stress of movement away from where the skin is growing back together.

The bandage could be used for more than just scars from cosmetic surgery. Gurtner reported there is interest in it from orthopedic surgeons who perform knee replacements.

Reducing Scarring after Surgery

There are a variety of ways to reduce scarring after cosmetic surgery. Surface treatments can reduce uneven pigmentation and soften surface irregularities, and options include dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, chemical peels and skin bleaching agents. Topical treatments, such as gels, tapes or external compression, can help in wound closure and healing, while injectable treatments can be used to fill depressed or concave scars.

The Three Top Tummy Tuck Myths

Despite being the top rated procedure for patient satisfaction, there are many people often swayed away from the tummy tuck because of certain things that they may think or may have heard. It is time to clear up some of those misconceptions. Here are the five top myths about tummy tucks that everyone needs to stop buying into.

Myth #1: If you just eat healthy and exercise then you could get rid of the flab.

Many people think that tummy tucks are meant to help a person lose weight, but that is not what the procedure is designed to do. The tummy tuck is a body contouring treatment not to help you lose weight, but rather to help smooth your body and remove unwanted flab and excess skin or tissue. After major weight loss or pregnancy, your skin may lack the elasticity to adjust to your new, stummy tucks limmer shape. No diet or exercise can get rid of the hanging skin or tissue. So despite what many people may think, tummy tucks are actually designed for healthy people already at or close to their ideal weight.

Myth #2: Only women get tummy tucks.

Nonsense. Abdominoplasty (the official name for the tummy tuck) is just as much designed for men as they are for women. Last year, over 4,000 men underwent the procedure. While the procedure is more common for women because of pregnancy, abdominoplasty can also help men who have lost a lot of weight by removing the leftover flab and finally allow him to bring out his abs.

Myth #3: Liposuction is always needed when getting a tummy tuck.

While it is often used to help sculpt the waistline during a tummy tuck, liposuction is not always necessary. However, if there are areas of fat that you would like to be addressed during your tummy tuck procedure, make sure to talk with your board-certified plastic surgeon so that he can help you to better achieve your desired results.