Plastic surgery should never be considered a replacement for a healthy lifestyle. This is why Dr. Florence Mussat offers medical weight loss programs to help her patients slim down in a safe, manageable way. But, what if you’ve already done the hard work of losing weight? Can plastic surgery help you contour problem areas and improve your weight loss outcomes? Yes, it can—and here’s how:
Liposuction: The Best Solution for Localized Fat Deposits
For many people, getting close to a healthy weight isn’t the hardest part of weight loss. Instead, it’s those last ten or twenty pounds that can seem all but impossible to shift. Factors beyond our control—like genetics, hormones, and natural aging—can create pockets of diet-resistant fat. Women who have had children, for example, often have stores of stubborn fat on their hips, flanks, and thighs. Likewise, most people over 40 have some degree of fat centralization. As we get older, fat leaves our extremities, settling around the midriff instead. Consequently, a person can stay the same weight for decades, but still develop diet-resistant belly fat.
Liposuction is the best way to remove stubborn, localized fat deposits, because it’s both safe and effective. Unlike extreme dieting, it won’t put patients at risk of nutritional deficiencies or energy deficits. Fat is liquefied with a special solution, then extracted through a thin tube (called a cannula). The whole procedure can be performed using just local anesthetic, and the patient usually feels better within five to seven days.
Gynecomastia Surgery: Better Body Confidence for Men
Male breast enlargement—also called gynecomastia—makes it extremely difficult for affected men to adhere to a fitness routine. Men with gynecomastia typically avoid any activity that will draw attention to the chest. Furthermore, research has shown that some men with this condition actually gain weight on purpose, thinking that a large belly will take attention away from their chest area. Fortunately, there’s a much healthier solution: Gynecomastia surgery. This procedure permanently reduces the size of enlarged breasts, giving men the freedom to exercise without embarrassment.
Body Contouring: Key to Long-Term Weight Maintenance
Formerly obese individuals who have lost a large amount of weight (either through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery) are strongly advised to consider plastic surgery. According to a study published in the October 2013 edition of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, formerly obese patients who don’t undergo body contouring regain at least 11% of the weight they lost. Patients who do undergo body contouring, on the other hand, regain just 4% of the weight they lost.
Body contouring can take the form of a full body lift (usually recommended for patients who have lost 100 or more pounds) or a tummy tuck.
The Mommy Makeover: Healing After Pregnancy
For new moms, the biggest barrier to exercise is usually damaged abdominal muscles. During pregnancy, the tissue that joins the lateral halves of the abdominal muscles often tears. Once this happens, the muscles no longer work together properly. As a result, they weaken, and the stomach protrudes outward—even after all of the “baby weight” is gone. During a mommy makeover, sutures are placed in the patient’s damaged abdominal tissue, allowing it to heal properly.
Plastic surgery isn’t a substitute for diet and exercise, but it can be a powerful weapon in your fight against weight gain. To learn more about these procedures, contact Dr. Mussat to schedule a personal consultation.
Labiaplasty is often referred to as being the little operation with the big recovery time. While the operation itself is brief, usually performed under local anesthesia and takes less than two hours, certain lifestyle adjustments need to be maintained for at least six weeks afterward. If you’re planning to book a labiaplasty consultation soon, here’s what you need to know to form a recovery schedule:
5 Things Facts about Labiaplasty Recovery
1. Labiaplasty recovery is not usually very painful, but some soreness is to be expected.
Most women experience some soreness and swelling for three to five days after their operation. In rare cases, this tenderness can last for up to two weeks. To maximize comfort, you’ll be given prescription painkillers after your surgery. Remember: it’s easier to prevent pain than it is to control it once it’s flared up. We suggest taking your first dose of medication before your anesthetic has worn off.
Adjusting your lifestyle will help, too. Try to spend the week after your surgery resting on your back in bed; only get up when necessary and avoid placing pressure on the area by sitting up directly. Instead, prop your body up on pillows if you want to read or watch TV. Note that cool compresses can be a great way to reduce pain and swelling.
2. You should plan to take at least one week off work.
Sitting, walking, and other normal activities will be painful right after you have surgery. You’ll need to take at least one full week off work to rest and recover. If you have a highly active job (one where you’re often required to bend down or lift heavy objects), you will probably need to take two weeks off, or longer. When you come in for a labiaplasty consultation, make sure to discuss the demands of your job with Dr. Mussat.
3. You’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise for at least one full month after your labiaplasty.
The tissues of the labia minora are extremely delicate. They remain prone to tearing for weeks—even after your sutures are gone. You will need to limit all forms of strenuous activity, like vigorous exercise and lifting heavy objects, for one month after having a labiaplasty. If you try exercising after this amount of time has passed and discover that it still causes you pain, you should stop immediately and wait another two weeks.
Note that some forms of exercise, such as cycling, should be avoided for at least six weeks after having this type of operation. Cycling places a great deal of pressure on the treatment area and must be approached with caution.
4. You’ll need to abstain from sex for six weeks after having a labiaplasty.
The amount of friction involved in sexual activity creates a strong risk of tearing. To ensure complete healing and reduce the risk of infection, you’ll need to avoid sex for six weeks after having a labiaplasty.
5. Mild lingering or periodic soreness for weeks or months after labiaplasty is normal.
Scar tissue takes a long time to fully mature (usually between six months to one year). In the meantime, it’s normal for this type of tissue to sometimes become slightly inflamed, causing minor soreness or irritation. If this happens to you, don’t panic; apply a cool compress to the area and rest it. If you have severe soreness, redness, and inflammation, you should see a doctor right away to rule out the possibility of infection.
As a final note, after your operation, you’ll be given special bathing instructions and a disinfecting cleanser. Make sure to use this cleanser to minimize the risk of infection, as the area is particularly prone to developing post-surgical infections.
Booking Your Labiaplasty Consultation
If you have any questions about this procedure, or you’re ready to book a consultation, contact us. Dr. Mussat is a highly experienced female plastic surgeon who has extensive knowledge about this procedure. She’ll be happy to answer your questions and put your mind at ease about having a labiaplasty. While labiaplasty recovery involves some lifestyle adjustments, the rewards of this procedure—increased comfort and confidence —are well worth it.
Summer, the time of sun, fun, and fewer clothes. The heat is high, the skies are blue, and most people do not want the summer to end. While summer is one of the most beloved seasons, it can be a very difficult time for people that haven’t spent all winter preparing for summer. The idea of bikinis, swimming trunks, shorts, and tank tops can be terrifying. But there is a way to calm your worrying! Dr. Mussat can offer some solutions to get your body summer ready! These procedures will have you feeling confident and ready to strut your stuff.
Liposuction
If you are wanting to rid annoyingly present fat deposits from basically any area of your body, then liposuction can do the trick. Liposuction can be performed in the following areas: knees, thighs, hips, buttocks, abdomen, flanks, back, upper arms, neck, and chin. This procedure will leave you feeling less bogged down by fat and able to fit into those cute summer shorts and dresses you’ve been eyeing. The ideal candidate for this procedure will have skin that can easily shrink back. In addition, the ideal candidate will be in current good health. This includes a healthy diet, exercise, and a healthy mental state.
Liposuction is an outpatient procedure that is performed using general anesthesia or local anesthesia. During the procedure, a small incision is made in the area desired by the patient and the unwanted fat cells are cleaned out. Once the procedure has been completed, the incision site is covered with soft bandages along with a compression garment on top to help minimize any swelling.
Tummy Tuck
This procedure is not one that can be done at the beginning of the summer but needs to be planned out further in advance. The recovery time is longer than a procedure like liposuction, but its results are well worth it. An ideal tummy tuck patient has loose, hanging skin and issues tightening the skin on their own through diet and exercise. This procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis using general anesthesia. Surgery may include some liposuction along with a horizontal incision from one hipbone to the other. During the procedure, permanent sutures are inserted in the area called the muscle fascia. This holds the muscles together after the procedure is finished. Finally, the procedure ends with the remaining skin being reapplied over the area and then bandaged up with two different types of dressings. Once complete, a tummy tuck provides you with a leaner, more confident midsection.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is popular in the springtime because it needs to be done in plenty of time before the start of summer. Done in spring, this procedure will most definitely have you ready for that beach party or vacation.
A breast augmentation will give you three choices of implants: saline breast implants, silicone gel breast implants, and form-stable silicone gel breast implants. While all three deliver great results, there are pros and cons to all of these choices and it’s important to discuss your goals and lifestyle with your surgeon.
The actual procedure involves an incision in one of four areas. These areas include the underside of the breast, under the arm, around the nipple, or through a previous incision. The implant is placed through the incision and then stitched up. The surgery is very routine and very effective.
Breast augmentation can deliver natural-looking results you will love and can give you the curvier figure that you never had or that you lost.
Brazilian Butt Lift
In addition to a voluminous chest and flattened tummy, a butt lift can also add a wow factor to your summer body. The Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a procedure that enhances the derrière without using butt implants. This procedure harvests fat from around the abdomen and thighs to be transferred to your buttocks. According to the Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, BBL has seen a 58% increase in popularity. The ideal candidate for this procedure will have enough fat in other parts of their body to be used in the butt lift along with all the other factors that have been mentioned.
Chemical Peels, Dermal Fillers, and Botox
Botox and Fillers can help fine lines and wrinkles disappear. Facial procedures are harder once spring and summer roll around due to the sun, but they are possible. Chemical peels are one of these procedures and should be done in the earlier months before summer. However, Botox and fillers can be administered year-round without the need for extra precautions.
If you are ready to get the summer body of your dreams, you can schedule a private consultation with Dr. Mussat. During your initial meeting, our surgeons will provide you with all the information you need about the procedure(s) and answer any questions you may have.
To schedule your consultation, call 312.751.9000!
Most of us have been led to believe that it’s always possible to lose weight quickly; we just have to adhere to the latest fad diet or take up a punishing exercise regime. In reality, however, each of us has a very different body with its own unique physiology. As such, there is no “one size fits all” weight loss solution.
For some people, the weight loss journey is a long, challenging one. Hormonal imbalances, metabolic factors, and medication use can all conspire to work against us while we try to shed excess pounds. Likewise, some people are genetically predisposed to storing fat in certain areas (such as around the midsection or on the flanks). These people often have deposits of stubborn fat that simply will not budge, even when they’ve reached a healthy weight.
If you’re struggling with the issues described above and feeling desperate to get in shape in time for the holidays, we have good news for you: There are medical interventions available. Depending on your medical needs, bariatric and/or plastic surgery can help you both lose weight and reshape your body.
Bariatric Surgery and Nonsurgical Alternatives: Offering Hope to Obesity Sufferers
If you’ve decided to pursue surgical weight loss treatment, it’s important to first differentiate between true weight loss procedures and spot fat reduction procedures. Weight loss surgery generally refers to bariatric surgery, either the placement of a gastric band or the use of sutures to close off a portion of the stomach. Both of these options dramatically reduce the capacity of the stomach, allowing the patient to feel full after eating just a small meal or snack. This helps him or her dramatically cut down on the number of calories he or she is consuming and usually results in rapid weight loss. However, because these procedures also carry risks, they are generally only performed on people struggling with chronic obesity.
For those who don’t wish to have surgery, there are nonsurgical alternatives available. Gastric balloons, such as the Orbera balloon, can be inserted into the stomach without any incisions being made. These balloons, which must be removed after six months, occupy much of the stomach’s capacity, thereby reducing appetite.
Plastic Surgery: Putting the Finishing Touches on Your Body
For many people, getting to a healthy weight is only the first part of the battle. Those who have struggled with obesity often have significant loose skin that needs to be removed once their excess fat has been lost. Additionally, there may still be pockets of stubborn fat that have not responded to diet, exercise, and medical weight loss surgery. This is especially likely if the patient suffers from Metabolic Syndrome, a condition wherein the body is prone to storing fat around the midsection.
To tackle these issues, you’ll need to see a plastic surgeon. He or she will generally recommend that you have liposuction, tummy tuck surgery, or a combination of both of these procedures.
During liposuction, a minimally invasive tube-like instrument is inserted below the skin in areas where fat needs to be removed. The fat cells are loosened with a lubricant and then literally sucked out; this creates a sleek, toned appearance in the treated areas. Liposuction has been performed for decades, so this procedure is well-understood and generally very low-risk. Better still, because it’s not particularly invasive, most patients recover in just a couple of weeks.
Tummy tuck surgery, on the other hand, is a major operation—but it’s an important one. In addition to removing the folds of loose skin that result in a “flabby looking” stomach following weight loss or pregnancy, a tummy tuck addresses deeper structural issues. During a tummy tuck, damaged abdominal muscles are repaired so that they can support the abdominal tissue properly again. This both creates a taut, flat stomach and gives the patient back his or her ability to exercise effectively. (It’s impossible to tone damaged abdominal muscles via exercise alone.) Tummy tuck surgery usually takes about two months to completely recover from (though most of the initial healing is done within the first two to three weeks).
While not a lot of fat is technically removed by either liposuction or tummy tuck surgery (about 5-8 pounds are lost on average), these surgeries make a profound difference in the patient’s appearance. Tummy tuck surgery, in particular, often makes the patient look as though he or she has lost 15-20 pounds. The muscles repaired by this procedure compress the abdominal tissue so effectively that a stomach that stuck out noticeably before the operation will often be completely flat after it.
Tummy tuck surgery and liposuction have an important role to play in the fight against obesity. Not only do they complement weight loss surgery in a physical sense, they’ve been proven to have psychological advantages, too. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, previously obese women who undergo tummy tuck surgery are more likely to continue losing weight than women who do not have plastic surgery. This is an important consideration given the fact that many formerly obese patients are at risk of gaining back the weight they have lost. If you have lost a great deal of weight but still find you’re unhappy with your body, plastic surgery may therefore be the right choice for you.
While tummy tuck surgery boasts an array of both medical and aesthetic benefits, there’s no denying that it’s a major operation to have. Patients who receive a full tummy tuck must typically wait 2-3 months for complete healing to occur, and even with proper after-care, there is sometimes a risk of scarring. As such, many people who are interested in abdominal sculpting prefer the idea of having a “mini” tummy tuck instead. There are, however, a few things to be aware of before choosing this option.
What’s The Difference Between A Full Tummy Tuck And A Mini Tummy Tuck?
The primary difference between full and “mini” tummy tuck surgery is the amount of the abdomen being treated. During a full tummy tuck procedure, loose skin is removed from both above and below the navel. During a mini tummy tuck procedure, on the other hand, loose skin is removed only from the lower stomach.
The main benefit of mini tummy tuck surgery is that it requires one less incision. While full tummy tuck surgery makes use of two incisions (one along the lower stomach and a smaller one around the navel), mini tummy tuck surgery needs just one single incision slightly above the pubic area. If mini tummy tuck surgery is performed by a skilled surgeon, the resulting scar is often invisible when the patient is clothed.
A mini tummy tuck is not for everyone, of course. It’s ideally suited to people who have a small-to-medium amount of loose skin on their lower abdomen. Those who have significant skin stretching above the navel as well must elect for full tummy tuck surgery. This is because they need to have their navel surgically released (via a second incision) in order to allow the skin above it and around it to be properly repositioned.
Whether or not you’re a good candidate for mini tummy tuck surgery will depend on your age and the amount of weight you have lost. Young, slim women who have gone through pregnancy, for example, are often excellent candidates for mini tummy tuck surgery. A middle-aged person who experienced significant obesity for many years, on the other hand, will almost certainly need the full procedure. As always, however, only a full consultation with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon can tell you which operation is right for you. If you would like to learn more, call at 312.751.9000 to book an appointment with Dr. Mussat today. Don’t forget to take a look at our tummy tuck gallery while you’re here!
