Cosmetic Surgery Highlight: Upper Body Liposuction & Tummy Tucks

Have you reached your goal weight – or are almost at it – but feel frustrated with excess skin and/or pudgy areas that won’t budge? You are not alone. Many of our patients seek out liposuction to address stubborn areas such as the thighs, hips, abdomen, and arms. This blog post is about upper body liposuction for the arms and tummy tucks for the abdomen – you can read about lower body liposuction for the thighs and legs here.

Upper Arm Liposuction (Brachioplasty)

For some people, countless pushups, tricep exercises, and planks can’t get rid of the localized fat and excess skin in the upper arms. This is often referred to as a “bat wing”. If fat is the main issue, it usually can be treated with liposuction and the skin will contract after the removal. If the skin is too loose (which can happen with a large amount of weight loss or with loss of skin elasticity as we age), a skin removal excision can be done. Incisions will be inside the arm and above the elbow and will not be visible from the front or the back. If only a small amount of skin is removed, the removal can be confined to or near the armpit so there is minimal or no scar visibility.

Abdominal Liposuction and Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

After childbirth, many people find that their stomach and flank area is not the same. If you’ve got “bulges” in the abdomen area that won’t budget (despite healthy eating and regular exercise) then you are a good candidate for abdominal liposuction. Small incisions are made under the navel, pubic hair, or  under the bikini line and are easily hidden.

If you have some excess abdominal skin, you and Dr. Perkins may elect to do a “Mini Tummy Tuck“. The excision will lie at the upper edge of the pubic hair and will be hidden under bathing suit bottoms or underwear.

If you have a greater amount of excess abdominal skin, a regular “Tummy Tuck” may be desired. This involves the full abdomen and making an incision that is slightly longer than a C-section. The abdominal muscles are tightened and detachment and repositioning of the belly button allow the tissues to shift. The end result is usually more definition of the waist and a flatter, tighter abdomen.

It is important to remember that liposuction at Santa Barbara’s Cosmetic Surgery Center is considered a body contouring procedure and not a weight loss solution.

For a consultation about liposuction or tummy tucks with Santa Barbara cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Perkins, please call 805-563-0000. 

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