Chrysalis Cosmetics in Sacramento — Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, and Other Body Contouring Procedures

Tummy tuck and other body-contouring procedures are popular at our Sacramento practice. Procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, and upper arm lift are ideal in restoring a youthful contour to the parts of the body that commonly show the effects of aging, weight loss, and pregnancy.

• Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
• Liposuction
• Post-Weight Loss Body Contouring
• Labioplasty

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)

Prepare to enjoy a flat tummy, a slim waistline, and a youthful attitude! Tummy tuck surgery helps men or women troubled by a protruding abdomen that has not responded to diet and exercise. These individuals may also have areas of loose skin coupled with excess fat. With the tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Perry is able to remove skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen while tightening the muscles to slim the waistline, giving back your youthful look and feel.

We offer both the full and mini tummy tuck surgery at our Sacramento practice. Mini tummy tuck is a less drastic procedure than the full abdominoplasty, making it ideally suited for those with a protrusion primarily below the navel.

While full and mini tummy tuck can yield impressive results on their own, combining the surgery with liposuction is sometimes recommended to remove stubborn fatty deposits from around the abdomen.

     

  

Back to Top

Candidates for Tummy Tuck

Full tummy tuck surgery is excellent for men or women who are of relatively normal weight and have a significantly protruding abdomen as a result of aging, pregnancy, weight loss, or other factors.

Ideal candidates for mini tummy tuck are those with trouble areas located primarily in the region below the belly button. Like full tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck may be combined with some liposuction.

Weight loss and pregnancy are common causes of abdominal protrusion and excess skin along the midsection. Pregnancy, in particular, stretches the skin and muscle of the abdomen in a way that can only be corrected surgically.

If you smoke, you should quit at least two weeks before full or mini tummy tuck surgery, and abstain from smoking for one to two weeks after surgery. Smoking delays healing and increases the chances of poor healing. This can result in conspicuous scars and the need for additional surgery.

Tummy tuck is not recommended for:

• Individuals who intend to lose a significant amount of weight
• Women who may become pregnant in the future
• Individuals with unrealistic expectations
• Individuals with scarring from previous abdominal surgery

Back to Top

Things to Consider Before Undergoing Tummy Tuck Surgery

Financial responsibilities

Fees for tummy tuck are not covered by health insurance. Surgical fees include the cost of anesthesia, lab tests, medications, cost of surgical supplies, surgery center charges, and more. If complications develop, you will incur additional charges. However, if the complication poses a health risk, your health plan will cover hospitalization, anesthesia, and/or secondary surgery.

Scarring

Tummy tuck surgery leaves a scar. In the case of a full tummy tuck, the scar will extend from hip bone to hip bone. A mini tummy tuck leaves a less extensive scar. While this scar is designed to be hidden by swimsuits and similar garments, you cannot expect it to fully disappear.

Back to Top

How is tummy tuck performed?

Tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia, or a local anesthesia plus a sedative. Tummy tuck, especially mini tummy tuck, is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, so you will be able to go home the day of surgery.

A full tummy tuck is performed through a long incision that extends from hip to hip. The surgeon will also make an incision to free the navel from its underlying tissue, preparing it to be moved upward. The surgeon will draw your abdominal muscles together and stitch them carefully into their new position, creating a flatter abdomen and slimmer waistline. Next the surgeon will excise extra skin and reposition the navel. Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures, and drains are placed to aid in the healing process.

In a mini tummy tuck, the incision is much shorter, and the navel is not repositioned. This procedure addresses protrusion below the navel. Just like in a full tummy tuck, excess skin and fat are removed and muscles are tightened, but on a smaller scale than full tummy tuck. To find out which type of tummy tuck is best for you, it is best to be examined by Dr. Perry.

Back to Top

Risks of Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck and mini tummy tuck, just like any surgical procedure, carry some risks. Patients should know that one or more complications are possible.

Infection

While infection is unusual after tummy tuck surgery, the rare development of an infection would require treatment using antibiotics or drainage, possibly requiring a prolonged hospital stay.

Poor healing and conspicuous scarring

If you follow aftercare instructions and don’t smoke, you can expect excellent healing and scar resolution after tummy tuck surgery. However, poor healing, especially if you smoke, is always a risk, possibly leading to the formation of conspicuous scars that may require a second surgery to treat.

Unsatisfactory result

The exact results of tummy tuck surgery can never be predicted. For this reason, patients should maintain realistic expectations and not anticipate perfection. Even with realistic expectations, tummy tuck surgery may yield an unsatisfactory result. Additional surgery may be required to improve upon sub par results and can be completed six months to a year after the original surgery, when healing is complete and the final results have emerged.

Reactions to anesthesia or surgical materials

All types of anesthesia involve risk and the possibility of complications, injury, and even death. In rare cases, patients have experienced allergic reactions to suture material, surgical tape, and other products used during tummy tuck surgery. Reactions such as these are impossible to predict and may require additional treatment.

Complete Pre- and Post-operative Instructions for Tummy Tuck Patients

To make your tummy tuck experience a positive one, we have prepared this comprehensive list of instructions. We recommend that you read these guidelines over as soon as your surgery day is scheduled. On your surgery day, print out the instructions and bring them with you.

Tummy tuck instructions (printer-friendly)

Tummy Tuck Surgery at Our Sacramento Practice

Whatever your age, don't let a protruding abdomen hold you back from enjoying life to the fullest! For tummy tuck surgery in the Sacramento area, patients from Roseville, El Dorado Hills and beyond rely on Chrysalis Cosmetics and Dr. Charles Perry. To learn more about this procedure or schedule a consultation, contact our cosmetic surgery practice today.

Back to Top

Liposuction

Liposuction is celebrated for its near-miraculous ability to sculpt the body and make patients look and feel glamorous, youthful, and rejuvenated. At our Sacramento practice, liposuction is used to remove stubborn, unwanted fat deposits from targeted areas of the body. The technique can be used to slim the face, neck, upper arms, trunk, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles. Liposuction does not a replacement for weight loss and is best used to address localized fat deposits that have not responded to diet or exercise. Dr Charles Perry utilizes Vaser Tumescent Liposuction techniques to enhance your results. Tumescent liposuction combined with Vaser enhancement allows for precision sculpting with gentle techniques. The recovery seems to be less painful than traditional methods and allows patients to achieve that youthful, glamorous shapely body, neck, buttock, thigh, arm or calf. It is truly exciting to see the wonderful transformations liposuction can help one achieve.

Liposuction is effective on its own as a body contouring procedure, though it can also be combined with other techniques — such as facelift, tummy tuck, or thigh lift — to refine contours and tighten loose skin and underlying tissue.

Back to Top

Candidates for Liposuction

If you are of normal weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and are willing to continue this healthy lifestyle after undergoing liposuction, you are an excellent candidate for this procedure. When healthy lifestyle practices are maintained over a lifetime, liposuction patients will preserve their improved body contour and may even see the contour improve.

Liposuction is not recommended for:

• Obese individuals
• Individuals suffering from certain medical conditions
• Individuals with unrealistic expectations
• Individuals seeking to address cellulite or irregularities caused by structures other than fat
• Individuals with poor skin tone

Poor skin tone may be due to weight loss, stretch marks, or aging and will result in sub par results. For these individuals, the skin will not conform to your new contours and additional surgical techniques may be required to tighten excess skin.

Back to Top

How is liposuction performed?

At our Sacramento practice, several liposuction techniques are available. However, Dr. Perry prefers the tumescent liposuction technique. In this method, the targeted areas of fatty tissue are injected with a tumescing fluid, which contains epinephrine (adrenaline) and dilute local anesthetic. This fluid causes the fat cells to “tumesce” making them swell and become firm, thus simplifying the removal of stubborn deposits. When compared to other liposuction techniques, tumescent liposuction is associated with less discomfort during the procedure, as well as an easier recovery period characterized by less bruising and pain.

Liposuction , regardless of technique, is performed through a series of small incisions. A hollow instrument called a cannula slides easily through the incisions and is attached to a vacuum source. The surgeon moves the cannula back and forth vigorously, breaking down fat, and the vacuum removes the remainder with suction.

The type of anesthesia used during the liposuction procedure varies. Many patients prefer general anesthesia, though the anesthetizing fluid used in tumescent liposuction makes it possible to perform the procedure while the patient is simply sedated. If the patient prefers, the anesthetizing tumescing fluid can serve as the sole means of anesthesia.

Following tumescent liposuction, the patient will need to wear dressings and specialized support garments, which help control swelling and promote healing.

Back to Top

Things to Consider Before Undergoing Liposuction

Financial responsibilities

Fees for liposuction are not covered by health insurance and include the cost of anesthesia, lab tests, medications, cost of surgical supplies, surgery center charges, and more. If complications develop, you will incur additional charges. However, if the complication poses a health risk, your health plan will cover hospitalization, anesthesia, and/or secondary surgery.

Liposuction cannot replace weight loss, diet, and exercise

At our Sacramento practice, we consider good candidates for liposuction to be those who are of a normal weight, healthy, and active both before and after their procedure.

Back to Top

Risks of Liposuction

Just like any surgical procedure, liposuction carries certain risks. While these risks are rare, those considering liposuction should educate themselves before making their decision to undergo this procedure. Below is an introduction to liposuction’s risks; for more information, schedule your consultation to speak with Dr. Perry about liposuction.

Bleeding and seroma (fluid accumulation)

It’s unusual, but possible, to have a bleeding episode during or after liposuction. If significant postoperative bleeding occurs, you may require emergency treatment to drain the blood. In addition, it is possible for fluid accumulation to occur in areas sculpted with liposuction. The draining of this fluid, as well as additional surgery, may be necessary.

Infection

Like tummy tuck or any other surgery we offer at our Sacramento practice, infection after liposuction surgery is unusual. However, the rare development of an infection would require treatment using antibiotics or additional surgery.

Change in skin sensation

It’s possible to experience a temporary loss of skin sensation after liposuction, but sensation will return over time. In rare cases, diminished or complete loss of sensation does not completely resolve.

Skin discoloration/swelling

Commonly, skin discoloration and swelling is experienced after liposuction. It’s rare for swelling and discoloration to persist for a long time, and permanent skin discoloration is also unusual.

Irregular skin contour

Irregularities such as dimpling, wrinkling, and skin depressions may follow liposuction, possibly requiring additional treatments, including surgery, to correct.

Asymmetry

Normal pre-surgery asymmetry in the body’s features is affected by skin, muscle tone, and bone prominence. Just as the body is not symmetrical before liposuction, it will not be symmetrical afterward.

 

Back to Top

Unsatisfactory result

Despite realistic expectations about the results of liposuction, some patients are disappointed with the outcome. In rare cases, a patient’s results are improved through additional surgery.

Surgical shock

Especially when multiple or extensive areas are treated with liposuction, the procedure can cause severe trauma, including infections or excessive fluid loss that can cause severe illness or even death. For this reason, patients planning large volume liposuction (greater than 5000 cc’s) may be advised to be monitored post-operatively and remain overnight in the hospital.

Long-term alterations in body contour

These can occur over time because of many circumstances unrelated to liposuction, such as aging, pregnancy, weight loss, weight gain, or other factors.

Skin loss or chronic pain

Skin loss and chronic pain after liposuction are extremely rare conditions, but can occur.

Pulmonary complications

In very rare cases, fat embolism syndrome — when the lungs trap fat droplets — can occur, and is sometimes deadly. This complication necessitates hospitalization and additional treatment.

Need for additional surgery

Complications from liposuction are rare but cannot be predicted. In some cases, complications will create a need for additional surgery or other treatments.

Back to Top

Complete Pre- and Post-operative Instructions for Liposuction Patients

To make your liposuction experience a positive one, we have prepared this comprehensive list of guidelines. We recommend that you read them over as soon as your surgery day is scheduled. On your surgery day, print out the instructions and bring them with you.

Liposuction instructions (printer-friendly)

Liposuction at Chrysalis Cosmetics

If diet and exercise have left you disappointed, consider liposuction as a way to attain the beautiful body you deserve! Our practice offers state-of-the-art liposuction techniques, as well as a surgeon skilled in safely giving you the body contour you desire. Contact our Sacramento practice today to learn more about liposuction, or to schedule a consultation.

Back to Top

Post-Weight Loss Body Contouring

In addition to liposuction and tummy tuck, there are other body contouring procedures that can address skin laxity that emerges with age or significant weight loss.

Body Lift

Body lift, or belt lipectomy, is an excellent option for those who have lost a significant amount of weight and have folds of skin hanging off their torso, waist, thighs, and other areas. Body lift constitutes a group of procedures that are highly customized depending on the patient’s needs.

Upper Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

Upper arm lift, a procedure that removes extra skin and fat on the upper arms, can be performed on its own or as one of a larger group of body contouring surgeries. This procedure restores a streamlined look to the arms by excising extra skin and fat through an incision hidden on the underside of the arm.

Both of these procedures are covered in full on our post-bariatric plastic surgery page.

Back to Top

Body Contouring at Chrysalis Cosmetics

At our Sacramento practice, techniques such as liposuction and tummy tuck hold tremendous promise in erasing the effects of aging, pregnancy, and weight loss. If you are troubled by a protruding abdomen, stubborn pockets of fat, or other issues that cannot be eliminated by diet and exercise alone, we urge you to come into our office for a consultation. Dr. Perry looks forward to helping you attain a rejuvenated appearance. To learn more about liposuction and tummy tuck, please contact our Sacramento cosmetic surgery practice today.

Labioplasty

What is Labioplasty?

Recently popularized by the media, labial shaping has become a commonly requested procedure. Many women are born with larger labia that interfere with activities of daily life. Analogous to being born with massive breasts and requesting a breast reduction to improve self esteem and quality of life, women are now requesting labia reduction with shaping to improve self esteem. Large labial lips can interfere with sexual intercourse, make it difficult for sexual relationships, painful to ride horses, bikes, wear jeans, swim suits or short shorts and even difficult to exercise.

Labioplasty instructions (printer-friendly)

Back to Top

How long has Labioplasty been performed?

Labial reduction has been preformed for years, however, Dr Gary Alter of Dr 90210 recently created a unique way of reducing the labia that has allowed for better shaping, sensitivity, healing and improved results. The procedures popularity continues to grow as more women are electing to have the procedure at younger ages before having children and are letting others know of the benefits. Previously, most physicians offered a reduction that was more of an amputation of the excessive tissue. This procedure has been improved upon by focusing on the resulting shape and preserving as much of the outer lip edge and sensitivity as possible. This requires the physician to tailor the procedure to the individual and her concerns. The procedure can also be combined with other enhancements such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty or liposuction if one desires.

Back to Top

Am I a candidate for labial reduction?

You may be a candidate for labial reduction if your inner labial lips hang below you outer labia majoria, you experience pain with intercourse associated with excessive pulling on the lips, difficulty with hygiene, inability to wear your clothes with confidence secondary to the labia or pain with bike or horse riding. Your plastic surgeon or other qualified physician can then evaluate your labia. It is the norm for one of the labia to be larger than the other, and asymmetries can be expected following the procedure as well. Your evaluation will proceed with a complete history and a physical examination of the area.

Options for treatment will then be discussed. For excessive labia majora, liposuction or excision of the labia majora can be offered. However, if the labia majora are too small, fat transfer may be the better treatment. Labia minor will be assessed for size and clitoral hooding as well. Often one area of the minora is excessive and a small triangle of tissue can be removed to allow for improved size as well as shape. This can often be combined with removal of excessive clitoral hooding by simply extending the incision between the majora and minora superiorly. Once the excess tissue is removed and meticulous hemostasis is achieved, shaping of the labia proceeds with customized closure. Other options include laser tightening and g-shots. However, the science and predictable of these two therapies remains to be fully elucidated and awaits further validation.

Back to Top

How long does it take to recover from Labioplasty?

Healing form this procedure can take up to six weeks. During this time one must keep the area clean. The sutures are absorbable and dissolve over the first 3-6 weeks. An antibiotic ointment is placed along the incision line twice a day for the first two weeks. One must maintain abstinence during the first 40 days to avoid closure dehiscence and prolonged healing. Complications are rare however suture dehiscence, hematoma, prolonged bruising, or need for additional trimming and recurrence can occur. The surgery is typically performed in an accredited facility with anesthesia to make the experience safe and comfortable. You can choose to be awake or asleep for the procedure. Most patients find that being asleep is more comfortable.

Pre and Post-Operative Instructions

Back to Top

To view this, you need to install the Flash Player 9. Please go to here and download it.

Please contact our Sacramento practice today to learn more about liposuction, tummy tuck surgery, or any other body contouring procedure.

* indicates a required field



Message