Cosmetic Surgery - Body

What are the risks?

Abdominoplasty is not straightforward surgery. It should be performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. As with all surgery, there are certain risks associated with it. All surgery involves a degree of bleeding. In the vast majority of cases, this is minimal and easily controlled during the procedure itself. In a small percentage of patients, there may be a more significant collection of blood that may even require a return to the operating theatre to remove it.

Meticulous steps are taken before, during and after the surgery to ensure that the risk of infection is minimal. However, the risk of infection can never be completely eradicated. In a few cases, the incision can become red and inflamed. This usually settles down with simple antibiotics.

All surgery involves the formation of scars. The incision scars will be raised and pink for the first few months, but will usually settle into fine white lines after several months. In some cases the scars can remain raised and pink.

The skin of the lower abdomen will become somewhat numb after the surgery and, although this sensation returns to a degree after a few months, some numbness will be permanent.

After the Surgery

After a general anaesthetic it is normal to feel tired and out of sorts, but this is temporary and you can expect to leave hospital the same day for a mini or standard tummy tuck and most fleur-de-lis approaches. It may be necessary to spend one night in hospital for the larger fleur-de-lis or circumferential body lift but not always. You will need someone to drive you home. You will find the suture line quite tight following the surgery and you should expect to be walking a little hunched over for the first week or so as the tension along the suture line will take a little time to relax. You will feel a little sore for a few days following the surgery, but this is usually well controlled with normal painkillers. You will be given a support garment to wear and this should remain in place for 1 week followed by compression underwear for a further 5 weeks.

You will be able to shower normally from one week after the operation.

A week after your surgery you will visit the dressing clinic. Here, the dressings are removed. The sutures are dissolvable and do not need to be removed.

The tummy may be quite swollen following the surgery. However, this generally resolves well within a few months.

Thigh Lift

What is a thigh lift?

A thigh lift is a surgical technique to remove excess skin and fat from the upper inner thigh in order to improve the contour.

What are the risks?

Thigh reduction is relatively straightforward surgery. However, there are risks involved as with any surgery, and it should be performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. All surgery involves a degree of bleeding. In the vast majority of cases, this is minimal and easily controlled during the procedure itself. In a small percentage of patients, there may be a more significant collection of blood that may even require a return to the operating theatre to remove it.

Meticulous steps are taken before, during and after the surgery to ensure that the risk of infection is minimal. However, the risk of infection can never be completely eradicated. In a few cases, the incision can become red and inflamed. This usually settles down with simple antibiotics.

All surgery involves the formation of scars. The incision scars will be raised and pink for the first few months, but will usually settle into fine white lines after several months. In some cases the scars can remain raised and pink.

There will be some change in sensation to the inner thigh. In most cases it will feel somewhat numb, but may even be overly sensitive. This usually settles down after a few months. In very few, however, the change can be permanent.

Since the surgery involves the groin area, it can be difficult to keep it clean and dry and so there can be delayed healing in some areas. This is usually not a problem and settles down with simple dressings.

The surgery is close to the lymph nodes that drain the leg. The fluid that these lymphatics produces can gather in the thigh (seroma) and may need drainage in the outpatient department. It is possible, although extremely rare, that damage to these lymphatics can cause swelling in the leg (lymphoedema). In the unlikely event that this occurs, it usually settles on its own. In a very few cases, it can be permanent.

After The Surgery

After a general anaesthetic it is normal to feel tired and out of sorts, but this is temporary and you can usually leave hospital on the same day. You will need someone to drive you home. You will need to wear a support garment such as cycling shorts for the first 6 weeks after the surgery. You will feel a little sore for a few days following the surgery, and may find walking difficult at first. However, this is usually well controlled with normal painkillers and it is important to start getting up and about early after the operation.

You will be able to shower normally after the first dressing change.

A week after your surgery you will visit the dressing clinic. Here, the dressings are removed. The sutures are dissolvable and do not need to be removed.

The thighs will remain swollen for a few weeks and you may even notice that they settle down at different rates. However, after a couple of months the swelling should have resolved and the thighs will have settled.

What are the risks?

Arm reduction is relatively simple surgery. However, some difficulty lies in the ability to judge the amount of excision and adequately hide the scars. It should therefore be performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. All surgery involves a degree of bleeding. In the vast majority of cases, this is minimal and easily controlled during the procedure itself. In a small percentage of patients, there may be a more significant collection of blood that may even require a return to the operating theatre to remove it.

Meticulous steps are taken before, during and after the surgery to ensure that the risk of infection is minimal. However, the risk of infection can never be completely eradicated. In a few cases, the incision can become red and inflamed. This usually settles down with simple antibiotics.

All surgery involves the formation of scars. The incision scars will be raised and pink for the first few months, but will usually settle into fine white lines after several months. In some cases the scars can remain raised and pink. The aim of the surgery is to hide the scars within the inside of the arm. The scars will be visible, however, when the arm is lifted up away from the body.

There will be some change in sensation to the inner arm skin. In most cases it will feel somewhat numb, but may even be overly sensitive. This usually settles down after a few months. In very few, however, the change can be permanent

Since the surgery involves the armpit area, it can be difficult to keep it clean and dry and so there can be delayed healing in some areas. This is usually not a problem and settles down with simple dressings.

The surgery is close to the lymph nodes that drain the arm. The fluid that these lymphatics produces can gather in the arm (seroma) and may need drainage in the outpatient department. It is possible, although extremely rare, that damage to these lymphatics can cause swelling in the arm (lymphoedema). In the unlikely event that this occurs, it usually settles on its own. In a very few cases, it can be permanent.

After the Surgery

After a general anaesthetic it is normal to feel tired and out of sorts, but this is temporary and you can expect to leave hospital the same day. You will need someone to drive you home. You will need to wear a compression garment for the first 6 weeks after the surgery. You will feel a little sore for a few days following the surgery, and may find lifting the arms and performing manual tasks difficult. However, this is usually well controlled with normal painkillers normal function returns within a few days.

You will be able to shower normally from the first week after the operation.

A week after your surgery you will visit the dressing clinic. Here, the dressings are removed and the wounds examined. The sutures are dissolvable and do not need to be removed.

The arms will remain swollen for a few weeks and you may even notice that they settle down at different rates. However, after a couple of months the swelling should have resolved and the arms will have settled.

How is it done?

Because the suction tubes (cannulae) used for liposuction are thin (2 to 4mm in diameter), the incisions required to insert them under the skin are also very small. This minimally invasive aspect of liposuction is probably its greatest advantage. Liposuction most commonly targets the tummy and hips, but may also be a useful tool for moulding the arms, legs, buttocks, knees, ankles, neck and even face.

However, liposuction does have its limitations and so you should approach it with realistic expectations. It is best used in patients within the normal weight range who have isolated pockets of fat that can be targeted. Liposuction removes fat, but does not remove excess skin. In younger patients with more elastic skin, the skin will tend to redrape itself over the new body contours. However, in older less elastic skin or in areas where there is already skin excess, liposuction alone is not likely to be as effective.

What are the risks?

Liposuction is generally a safe procedure as long as the patient is appropriate, the surgeon is adequately trained, and the hospital is well-equipped. Although exceedingly rare, liposuction is associated with some serious complications such as fat clots and blood clots that may become lodged in the lungs. However, more common complications include irregularities of the skin contour, loose skin, bruising, numbness, and some pigment changes. Most of the time these minor issues settle with time, but occasionally they will need correction.

After the Surgery

After a general anaesthetic it is normal to feel tired and out of sorts, but this is temporary. Liposuction is generally a day case procedure, so remember to bring someone with you who can drive you home. You will need to wear a compressive support garment for the first 6 weeks after the surgery. You will feel a little sore for a few days following the surgery, and may find a good deal of bruising in the involved area. However, this is usually well controlled with normal painkillers. It is a good idea to undergo regular lymphatic massage after the procedure to maximise the results.

You will be able to shower normally from one week after the operation.

One week after your surgery you will visit the dressing clinic. Here, the dressings are removed.It takes quite a long time for the swelling to settle and for the skin's natural elasticity to conform to your new shape, so although you will see an immediate difference, do not expect to see the early benefit of the procedure for up to 3 months afterwards. The final result will take a year or so.