Surgical Procedures
Liposuction
For patients thinking about liposuction, it is important to remember that this treatment is not a cure, but can help to correct and improve bodily contours in areas that are resistant to weight loss.
As a surgical technique, liposuction works by removing pockets of fat in areas that are beyond the reach of diet and exercise. It is most effective for people who are near normal weight and have firm, elastic skin. It should not be thought of as a substitute for losing weight.
The areas that are most commonly treated by liposuction are the tummy, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, neck, upper arms and male breasts
Liposuction is carried out using a thin, hollow tube called a cannula that is inserted through the skin through tiny incisions. The cannula is then used to loosen the fat and create a nicer shape within the body part being treated. A special vacuum or suction device is attached to the cannula, and the fat is sucked from the body, with any incisions being sewn up at the end of the operation. The procedure takes between one to three hours to perform, depending on the size of the treatment area(s).
Various kinds of anaesthetic can be used and the decision on which is best depends upon your preference, along with the size of the areas to be treated. In most cases, patients will only need to be in hospital for a few hours, but an overnight stay may be recommended if a large amount of fat is to be removed.
There are various liposuction techniques available, but no single technique works for all patients. Each liposuction procedure will be tailored to a patient’s needs and physical condition. At the end of the operation, tight bandages or elasticated clothing will be applied to the area to minimise swelling and help the body conform to its new shape.
With the exception of showering, this garment should be worn both day and night for at least two weeks and thereafter for another four to six weeks.
Complications are infrequent, although there can be considerable pain following this procedure, particularly if a large amount of fat has been removed. The following are commonly experienced by patients:
Stiffness and pain; swelling, bruising; numbness; unusual sensations; fine thread veins; lumpy appearance as remaining fat settles
If a small amount of fat is removed during an operation, patients should be able to return to work within a day or two. However, you may need extra time off if the liposuction was more extensive. Patients can usually return to their usual routines within three to four weeks.
The effects of the operation should be long-lasting, so long as a patient’s weight remains stable.
Breast Reduction
Some women have great difficulty with their large breasts, especially if they are out of proportion to their overall figure. The symptoms and problems women may suffer from include:
- Painin the back, neck, shoulder and breast
- Groovingof the shoulders caused by bra straps
- Inflamedreddened skin under the breast
- Difficultyfinding a suitable bra that fits and supports the breast correctly
- Difficulty finding clothes that fit – often needingmuch larger size tops compared to bottoms
- Difficultyundertaking exercise owing to pain and discomfort caused by the movement of their heavy breasts
- Aloss of confidence in their appearance and feeling people are staring at their
Breast reduction surgery may help control these symptoms, if large breasts are the main cause. For example, back pain may be due to other causes. Read More
Your guide to a well-fitting bra
Why wear a bra?
Breasts are made up of tissue that doesn’t contain any muscle, so wearing a bra helps to support the breasts and give a defined shape. A well-fitting bra can help you feel more comfortable and confident. Read more...
The right size
Just as breasts come in all sizes, so do bras, with band sizes ranging from 28 to 56 inches and cup sizes ranging from AA to L. Just as breasts come in all sizes, so do bras, with band sizes ranging from 28 to 56 inches....
Measuring your bra
Department stores and specialist bra shops usually have trained fitters who can help you find a bra that fits you properly. You can ask to be measured – you may need to make an appointment in advance. You can also measure yourself....
Breast Reconstruction in Cancer
What is breast reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction is surgery to create a new breast shape.
It may be done after surgery to remove your whole breast
(mastectomy) or part of the breast (breast-conserving surgery).
When breast reconstruction is done
You may have reconstruction:
At the same time as a mastectomy or breast-conserving
surgery (immediate reconstruction)
Months or years later (delayed reconstruction)
Some people may be offered reconstruction as a 2-stage
operation known as a delayed-immediate reconstruction.
Types of reconstruction
A new breast shape can be created using:
A breast implant
Your own tissue from another part of the body
A combination of an implant and your own tissue
Your treatment team will explain the benefits and limitations of
the options suitable for you. Read More
ABDOMINOPLASTY (Tummy Tuck)
There are a variety of abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, procedures available, and operations can be tailored to suit a patient’s wishes and needs.
Generally speaking, however, tummy tucks are most commonly carried out to remove excess skin, unwanted scars, stretch marks and fat, and to tighten the stomach muscles.
The ideal patient is someone whose weight is normal, particularly those who have been overweight and have lost the excess weight. Abdominoplasty is not an operation for people who are overweight, or as an attempt at losing weight. In appropriate patients abdominoplasty can have a very marked effect and is associated with high patient satisfaction.
What surgery is available and what techniques are involved?
Full abdominoplasty
For patients who have significant skin laxity, excess fat and separation of the muscles, a classic tummy tuck is the most common procedure. Performed under general anaesthetic, this operation can require patients to be in hospital for two or three days.
During the operation, an incision is made from hip to hip and around the umbilicus. The excess skin and fat is excised from the umbilicus to just above the pubic hair. The muscles above and below the umbilicus are tightened. The skin is then sewn up to give a circular scar around the umbilicus and a long scar across the lower abdomen.
Although this operation leaves a large scar, it does provide the greatest improvement in abdominal shape. Patients who are thinking about becoming pregnant should not undergo this procedure, and should wait until they are sure they are not having any more children.
All the skin and fat below the umbilicus can be removed in a standard abdominoplasty. This results in a scar across the lower abdomen and a scar around the umbilicus.
Mini abdominoplasty
For patients with only a small amount of excess skin a lesser abdominoplasty might be appropriate. A general anaesthetic is still needed.
During the operating, a wedge of skin and fat is excised from the lower tummy leaving a horizontal scar above the pubic hair. Sometimes the muscles will also be tightened. No scar is left around the umbilicus, which may be stretched slightly to become a different shape. A mini abdominoplasty will give a smaller effect than a full abdominoplasty.
Liposuction
Liposuction can sometimes be done at the same time as the abdominoplasty. However, liposuction can be recommended instead of an abdominoplasty for younger patients who have good quality, elastic skin and whose main problem is a localised excess of fat.
A general anaesthetic is most commonly used, but treatment can often be as a day case. During the procedure, small incisions are made, excess fat is removed and the wounds are then closed. Some degree of skin tightening or shrinkage can be expected as well, but the results of liposuction can sometimes be unpredictable. Liposuction alone will have less effect than abdominoplasty.
What should I expect in terms of treatment, procedures and outcomes?
The surgical procedures described on this page are all best performed when a patient is fit and healthy. No special diet or exercise programme is required prior to an abdominoplasty, but you should be close to your ideal weight. You will be admitted on the day of surgery, and your length of stay depends on which procedure is done. With a full abdominoplasty you will have some dressings on your tummy and usually some drains (plastic tubes attached to suction bottles). The drains will usually be removed before you go home. You will be given instructions about your dressings and stitches when you go home. Most surgeons will use mostly dissolving stitches, but some stitches might need to be removed. Post-operative pain in these procedures is easily controlled. Patients will be mobile from day one and should be back to full exercise within six weeks. Patients are recommended to take at least four weeks off work immediately after the operation in order to ensure they recuperate fully. These timings are approximate and depend on what exactly is done; also some people recover quicker than others.
All abdominoplasties result in some scarring although the nature of the scars will depend on the technique that has been used. Scars tend to be quite red and raised in the first six weeks, changing over next six months or so and then fading to white. Most patients will form good quality scars over time, but occasionally and unpredictably some patients will get red lumpy scars that do not improve.
What complications can occur?
Whilst these operations are generally regarded to be highly successful, there are various negatives and complications that patients need to consider. A full abdominoplasty is a major operation and you must be prepared for the process and recovery period. Most patients are delighted with the physical and cosmetic improvements that abdominoplasty brings. However, it is impossible to guarantee that every patient will be completely satisfied with the result.
There will be minor asymmetries in respect of the scars, and possibly residual bulges. Occasionally patients will bleed immediately after the operation and need to go back to the operating room for this to be dealt with. Wound healing problems can occur. Most wound problems are minor and can be managed with simple dressings, however more major wound problems can arise such as infections, skin loss, wound separation and delayed healing. Wound problems, if they occur, can delay your recovery and result in worse scarring. In some patients fluid will collect in the abdomen in the region of the operation. If this occurs it needs to be removed using a needle, this is done in the outpatient clinic. All patients can expect alteration in the feeling of the lower abdomen which is usually permanent. This operation carries a risk of blood clots in the legs and possibly the lungs. Various precautions are taken to limit this risk but if a blood clot occurs, treatment with blood thinning medication will be needed for several months.
Blood clots in the lungs can be serious.
Breat Implants Cosmetic Surgery
Breast Augmentation (bilateral breast augmentation or BBA) is an operation to enlarge the breasts. It can be a life-enhancing procedure. However having a breast enlargement is a big decision. It is major surgery with potential risks, and the result you may hope for cannot be guaranteed. This booklet will help you understand the procedure better. It will also explain the risks of the operation both in the short and long term. If you have any further questions after your consultations and reading the booklet, please ask your surgeon. Read More
Embark on Your Path to Firmer, Youthful-Looking Breasts Today:
We can assist you if you’re eager to feel good about the way you look and enjoy having elevated, youthful-looking breasts. To arrange a consultation with one of our knowledgeable plastic surgeons, get in touch with our Breast Uplift Surgery in London. We will discuss your breast uplift surgery alternatives and create a customized treatment plan to support you in reaching your aesthetic objectives. With breast uplift surgery at our professional center, you may regain your confidence and beauty and stop letting drooping or sagging breasts hold you back.
