Body Procedures
Liposuction
Liposuction, also called suction lipectomy, is a procedure that removes pockets of fat from the body to help smooth contours. Many people find that no matter how healthy their lifestyle may be, they are unable to lose fat in particular areas. Liposuction is an ideal procedure to address fatty deposits on the thighs, hips, belly, flanks, upper arms and neck. Liposuction is a method of body sculpting and is not intended for weight loss. Proper diet and exercise after liposuction is important to maintain the contouring achieved by liposuction.
Many different techniques are available for liposuction. During your consultation with Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub, you will discuss these techniques, including tumescent liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, Smart Lipo and liposculpture.
Liposuction is performed through tiny incisions. When recovering from liposuction, you can expect some bruising and swelling, most of which will resolve in 4- 6 weeks. During this time, Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub may encourage you to undergo Endermologie treatments, which can help decrease swelling and make your recovery more comfortable.
After your procedure, you will wear a compression garment for 6 weeks to help minimize swelling and for comfort. It is important to continue an active, healthy lifestyle after liposuction in order to maintain the benefits of the procedure.
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Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck surgery", is a dramatic procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the belly, and tightens the abdominal musculature. The abdominal area is commonly affected by weight fluctuations and pregnancy, causing the abdominal skin to become loose, often leaving stretch marks. The abdominal muscles also stretch and lose their tone, causing a prominence of the lower belly. These changes in the abdominal skin and muscles may be unresponsive to diet and exercise.
To address these problems, Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub offer an elegant solution to the residents of Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Jose and the greater Bay Area: abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery. Tummy tuck surgery removes the excess skin and fat as well as stretch marks of the lower abdomen. A muscle-tightening component is often added to narrow the waistline. Liposuction can be added to further sculpt the abdomen and flanks.
At Duet, Dr. Lim and Dr. Weintraub operate together, which reduces the time you spend in surgery. Abdominoplasty typically takes 2 – 4 hours, and the incision lies low on the abdomen near the pubic area, where the scar can be easily concealed by underwear or a bathing suit.
The surgical team of Duet will place drain tubes during the operation, which are typically removed 1 – 2 weeks later. You will wear an abdominal garment after surgery to help reduce swelling, and you will be able to shower once the drain tubes are removed.
Some tummy tuck patients will be able to go home the day of surgery, especially if they live locally on the Peninsula, the South Bay, or elsewhere in the Bay Area. However, our abdominoplasty patients from beyond San Francisco or San Jose and anyone who undergoes more extensive surgery may warrant an overnight stay in a care facility or hospital.
Returning to work is usually possible 2 – 4 weeks after surgery. While we encourage you to take gentle walks following surgery, strenuous activity should be avoided for 6 – 8 weeks following an abdominoplasty to allow proper healing. Although the scar will always be present, it should fade over time. Most people notice a dramatic and permanent improvement of their abdominal area after a tummy tuck.
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