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Tummy Tuck

Is There Such Thing as Minimally Invasive Body Contouring for the Belly?

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smiling-woman-full-upper-body-shotIn the world of plastic surgery, certain areas of the body get labeled as “problem areas” due to how often they are the focus of aesthetic concerns for patients. While areas all over the body can be subject to the effects of aging, weight fluctuation, pregnancy, and all kinds of other changes over time, some areas like the abdomen are simply more of an issue for many patients than others. Today, I wanted to discuss some options I offer for minimally invasive belly rejuvenation.

Band Aid Tummy Tuck

It’s normal to carry a little additional fat in the abdomen as we age. But this stubborn fat, along with natural stretching of the skin over time, can make it impossible to address these concerns with diet and exercise alone. My signature Band Aid Tummy Tuck procedure is designed to help patients who seek a more minor, yet effective method for abdominal contouring. During the procedure (performed in my office), I apply gentle numbing (local anesthesia) to the abdominal area and then carefully remove this loose skin on the lower part of the abdomen (as well as fat and tissue as needed) to help provide a new trim and healthy-looking body contour. Patients who require additional benefits like repair of damaged or separated abdominal muscles may need a traditional tummy tuck surgery.

Band Aid Liposuction

Some people may only experience issues related to stubborn, hard-to-lose fat in their belly area (and not excess skin). In these cases, my minimally invasive Band Aid Liposuction procedure can provide much needed relief. During the surgery, I use refined liposuction techniques, to remove excess fat cells from the abdominal area and create a more toned and contoured physique. Because this too is done using gentle numbing and with a smaller surgical incision, recovery time is shorter and simpler following Band Aid liposuction.

In addition to terrific aesthetic results, reduced post-surgical scarring, less post-surgery recovery time, and less financial expense than a traditional procedure, these less invasive procedure options also offer patients even more benefits in the form of a Band Aid Mommy Makeover. This combined plastic surgery method combines a Band Aid Tummy Tuck and Band Aid liposuction (as well as a cosmetic breast procedure in some cases) into one procedure to provide thorough and more complete restoration to the belly area.

No matter which body contouring procedure is ultimately performed, my patients can count on receiving the best-possible care before, during, and after their surgery has been completed. For more information on my traditional or Band Aid procedures or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation appointment today, contact me, Dr. John LeRoy. You can follow along with me on Facebook for additional tips, practice news, and much more.

Which Type of Tummy Tuck Surgery Is Right For Me?

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marking-waist-for-Tummy-Tuck-SurgeryIn the world of plastic surgery, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all procedure. In fact, many patients may not realize that popular plastic surgery procedures like tummy tuck surgery can often be performed in different ways depending on the needs of each person. All tummy tuck methods are meant to help by removing sagging, stretched skin from the abdominal area, but there are differences that patients should be aware of heading into their consultation appointments. This is why I wanted to discuss the differences between standard tummy tuck surgery and my signature Band Aid Tummy Tuck here today.

Standard Tummy Tuck

A standard (or traditional) tummy tuck procedure is what typically comes to mind when discussing rejuvenation of the abdominal area with patients. This surgery is meant to help men and women who have loose skin, excess fat and/or damaged abdominal muscles that create the appearance of a “belly pooch.” During the procedure, excess skin and fat are removed, tissue is repositioned (if needed), while any damaged or separated muscles are repaired, to improve the tone and shape of the abdomen. This procedure can also provide terrific medical benefits as well for some patients, including improved posture, relief of back pain, and even addressing stress urinary incontinence in some cases.

Band Aid Tummy Tuck

Over the years, I have developed a series of minimally invasive procedure alternatives for patients including my Band Aid Tummy Tuck surgery. This less invasive form of tummy tuck was meant to provide more modest, subtle contouring results in the abdomen for patients who only need a small amount of skin or fat removed (and not muscles repaired). The Band Aid Tummy Tuck technique specifically focuses on regions of abdominal tissue that need the most attention, instead of addressing the entire abdomen. The surgery is performed in my office with gentle numbing, so recovery time is considerably shorter when compared to a standard tummy tuck.

How To Know Which Is Right For You

During the pre-surgery consultation, I will fully examine my patient to determine the cause of their aesthetic issue. This examination, paired with a thorough discussion of the patient’s preferences and cosmetic goals will help me better gauge which tummy tuck method will be the most appropriate for their needs. Some patients in need of muscle repair may not be good candidates for the Band Aid Tummy Tuck, but I like to leave all options open until a final decision needs to be made.

No matter which tummy tuck procedure is ultimately performed, my patients can count on receiving the best-possible care before, during, and after their surgery has been completed. For more information on tummy tuck surgery or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation appointment today, contact me, Dr. John LeRoy. You can follow along with me on Facebook for additional tips, practice news, and much more.

Meet Our Liposuction Patient: Sarah

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woman-writing-a-desk-with-smileThe goal of every plastic surgery procedure is to help the patient improve both their appearance and how they feel about themselves. And while I would like to say that the rate of patient satisfaction is 100%, this sadly is not the case. I have spoken to many patients over the years who came to my office, upset about a previous cosmetic procedure that they had undergone elsewhere that did not help them achieve their goals, and actually exacerbated their issues. But even in these cases, there is still light at the end of the tunnel. Today, I wanted to share a plastic surgery testimonial from Sarah, a patient of mine who came to my office to see what could be done about a liposuction surgery that was not what she had in mind.

When Sarah first came to my office, she was still upset about a previous liposuction procedure that she had undergone by another surgeon. The results were not to her satisfaction and she had legitimate regrets about undergoing the procedure. After discussing her past procedure at-length, what I would be doing to help improve and hopefully correct these issues, and showing her examples of previous liposuction results that I had helped patients achieve in the past, Sarah was ready to give lipo another chance. And as you can see from Sarah’s own words below, I think it’s safe to say that she was very happy with her decision to go forward with her procedure:

“Dr. LeRoy and his staff were amazing! They were upfront and realistic about expectations. I had a liposuction and fat transfer of my abdomen to fix a previous poorly done liposuction from 10 years ago. I am only a week out of surgery and never thought my stomach could look this “normal” again. He truly took his time to give me the best possible results. After many consultations and hearing a wide variety of quotes that were unmanageable and overwhelming, I was beginning to think I would never look at my belly without cringing again. After my initial consultation with Dr. LeRoy I was confident and excited to start the process. He did not disappoint.”

I’m always happy to be able to provide a happy outcome to stories like this. I want to thank Sarah for trusting me and my medical team, and also for taking the time to leave us such a kind and thoughtful testimonial. For more information on any of the cosmetic surgery procedures that I perform, contact me, Dr. John L. LeRoy, today. You can follow along with me on Facebook for additional tips, practice news, and much more.

Dr. John LeRoy Answers Your Questions About Tummy Tucks

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belly-being-marked-for-surgeryThe abdomen is an incredibly common “trouble area” for adults. When I say “trouble area”, I mean a portion of the body that is most in need of aesthetic rejuvenation for people as the years go on. Excess skin, stubborn fat, and damaged abdominal muscles that create the appearance of a belly “pooch” are common sources of frustration for people. Thankfully, tummy tuck surgery is designed to address all of these concerns and create a flatter and more healthy-looking abdomen for women and men. Today, I wanted to answer a few common questions about tummy tuck surgery and how it can help my patients.

Question #1: What is the difference between a tummy tuck and liposuction?

While these are both common body contouring procedures, they help patients in very different ways. During a tummy tuck, the focus is on repairing the abdominal muscle, as well as removing loose, stretched skin and tissue that has become lax over time. While fat removal is sometimes part of the procedure, that is not always the case. Liposuction on the other hand, is only intended to address excess fat and cannot help patients who need loose skin and tissue treated (as well as those who experience damaged abdominal muscles).

Question #2: Is there a less invasive version of the tummy tuck available?

I offer a minimally invasive tummy tuck variation known as my signature Band Aid Tummy Tuck. This alternative can be extremely helpful for patients who are within 5-10 pounds of their ideal body weight and experience excess fat deposits and/or mild to moderately sagging skin in the lower abdomen area. During the procedure, I am able to remove small amounts of excess skin and then refine the contour of the abdomen with liposuction (if needed). This option is performed in-office with gentle numbing.

Question #3: Is it true that a tummy tuck can improve my posture?

It is. In addition to the wonderful cosmetic benefits that it’s most known for, undergoing a tummy tuck can provide additional medical benefits like improved posture and reduced back pain as well. By correcting a protruding abdomen and tightening separated abdominal muscles, posture issues can often be addressed.

As a board-certified plastic surgeon, it’s important to me tha I be able to answer questions like this and guide my patients toward the best-possible surgical choices and outcomes for their unique needs. For more information about tummy tuck surgery, or any other cosmetic surgery procedure that I perform, contact me, Dr. John L. LeRoy, to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional tips, practice news, and much more.

Tips For Exercising After Undergoing Plastic Surgery

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I completely understand the impulse to want to get back into your daily routine after undergoing plastic surgery. And for many people, regular exercise is an integral part of their daily routine. Exercising regularly is a healthy lifestyle choice that can help patients maintain their aesthetic results in the years following their cosmetic procedure. However, it’s important to understand when it will be safe and advisable to fully dive back into your workout routine after plastic surgery.

I wanted to begin by reminding readers that every patient is different and post-surgery recovery varies from patient to patient. There are many factors to consider before a recommendation like when to begin exercising again can be made. Speaking generally, a simple rule that I explain to my patients is that it is likely safe to begin lighter exercise one to two weeks after a minor procedure like a Band Aid facial surgery and two to four weeks after more invasive procedures like a tummy tuck or mommy makeover. Readers may find the following tips for exercising after plastic surgery helpful:

  • Wait six weeks or more before any more strenuous (high impact) physical activity or heavy lifting in order to give the body time to properly heal after surgery
  • Start slow and build back your strength over time instead of instantly going as hard as you did before surgery
  • Make realistic goals and stick with them
  • Wear supportive garments (if applicable to your surgery) while exercising if advised to do so by your plastic surgeon
  • Make sure to take rest days between exercises and not push yourself too hard too soon

In the video below, I discuss exercise after plastic surgery in more detail:

Showing patience in the short term during the plastic surgery recovery period can provide several long-term benefits for patients. If you would like to learn more about plastic surgery or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, contact me, Dr. John LeRoy. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook or Twitter for more videos, tips, and updates from my practice.

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