A Reverse abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to improve the contours of the abdomen. Unlike an abdominoplasty to tummy tuck, this surgery addresses patients who have excessive skin above the belly button.  Here the skin is pulled up rather than down. 

For this surgery, an incision is made along the bottom half of the rib cage, just below the breasts. The excessive skin is removed along with fat deposits and the remaining skin is pulled in order to tighten the tissues and improve the look of the upper abdomen. This incision is usually made along the natural curves of the breast so as to minimize the visibility of the scar. 

Unlike many other types of cosmetic surgery, this will require a 2 to 3 day stay in the hospital. 
Women who want breast restructuring along with abdominal contouring will find this type of surgery very beneficial. This is because the placement of the incision allows the surgeon to work on both areas simultaneously. This leads to the formation of only a single scar, unlike having breast contouring surgery and a traditional abdominoplasty, which would create two separate scars. 

The incision is also made in such a way that the scar created is camouflaged by the natural contours of the breasts. In most cases, it is also not visible when wearing a two piece swimsuit and thus suits more women than the traditional tummy tuck. Another advantage of this surgery is that it does not alter the position of the belly button. 

A reverse abdominoplasty is usually performed on people who have a flat stomach below the navel, but have excessive fat and skin above the navel. It can be seen in people have experienced drastic weight loss. It may also be suggested as a follow up surgery to a traditional tummy tuck is the skin above the navel is still sagging. However, only a doctor can decide if this is the type of surgery needed for you. 

This procedure very rarely has side effects. This is because it does not interfere much with the muscle structure and only adjusts the skin. In some cases, there may be slight irregularities. This can be corrected by further liposuction. Another issue would be the recurrence of the problem is the tissue is not correctly adhered to the rib fascia. However, this is seen in very few cases. In normal scenarios, even slight weight gain at a later date is accommodated by the skin.

What Is a Reverse Abdominoplasty and Who Needs It?

Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a frequently performed cosmetic procedure which is meant to improve the looks or appearance of your abdominal region. The primary goal of this procedure is to remove excess skin or fat from the abdominal region and then reconnect the tissues with sutures to get a more toned and flat look.

The requirement for abdominoplasty
The tummy tuck surgery is for someone who has folds of fat or skin on their abdominal region that results in an unsightly appearance and causes body image issues. These problems may be caused by multiple factors, some of which are mentioned below:

1. Significant weight loss: Men or women who have lost a lot of weight tend to have excess loose skin on their bodies as a result of the skin being stretched over a long period of time.

2. Pregnancy: Many women who have gone through multiple pregnancies also have similar problems as the skin in their abdominal region tends to stretch over multiple times which may result in the skin becoming flabby.

3. You have a weak lower abdominal wall: Some patients tend to generally have a weak lower abdominal wall which over the years tends to protrude and hang. This results in a misshapen body which they want to correct for body image issues. 

4. To correct scarring from C section: Many women who give birth via C-section tend to have a scar on their body and some abdominal contouring can change the shape and size of the scar, which in turn not only tightens the tummy but also hides the scars.

Considerations before abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty isn't recommended if you fall under any of the following categories:
1. Still have to lose weight: If you have to lose a lot of weight, then it is advised that you wait till your goal weight is reached and only then consider this procedure. Abdominoplasty isn't meant to reduce weight, but to take out excess skin and flab that remains after weight loss

2. Plan on becoming pregnant again: If you are planning to become pregnant again, then the muscles and tissues in your abdomen might loosen and cause a flabby belly again.

3. If you have heart disease or other conditions: If you have heart related conditions or are diabetic, then abdominoplasty won't be considered as it might put you at high risk of complications after surgery.

Abdominoplasty - An Overview

Liposuction is very popular as a relatively quick and safe cosmetic surgery to get rid of excess fat. At one time, the procedure was even touted as a better alternative to healthy diet and exercise. Regardless of such myths, liposuction is an important development in cosmetic surgery. Indeed in certain cases (of extreme weight gain) liposuction is the first surgical procedure performed on the patient. Like all surgeries, liposuction has a few do's and don'ts, and they are:

Do's
1. Keep your weight at a healthy level before surgery. The more the amount of fat is removed from your body, the greater is the risk involved in surgery, which is why controlling your weight pre surgery is important. Losing a large amount of weight leaves a lot of loose skin in your body, which can make your skin look saggy.
2. Wear your compression garments. Compression garments help your skin compress over the area where the fat used to be, leaving smooth, tight skin.
3. Continue exercising (with the go ahead of your doctor) after the procedure and follow a healthy diet to maintain your body.
4. Maintain gentle activity for two weeks after the procedure. This will help in removing fluid deposition in the surgical area and prevent complications.

Don'ts
1. Do not take anti inflammatory medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen as these medicines may cause bleeding complications. They also harm the body's immune system, which is detrimental to recovery.
2. Do not smoke or drink while recovering as Nicotine disturbs normal skin growth, which may lead to permanent scars, while alcohol interferes with the effect of some medicines.
3. Don't lift heavy objects or bend down immediately after the surgery. Your doctor will give you a more specific timeline as to when you can pursue such activities.
4. Don't expect results from day one. You will see results after you have recovered from the surgery.
5. Do not opt for liposuction specifically for weight loss. Liposuction is chiefly a procedure for shaping and contouring the fat in your body to give you that shape you always desired.

Do's and Don'ts of Liposuction

Losing weight for an obese person is a big achievement, but mere weight loss may not give them the desire look. Dramatic weight loss often causes excess skin to hang in folds. This can be both embarrassing and unappealing. While exercising and dieting can reduce fat, there is no way to deal with this excess skin other than surgery. Body contouring refers to plastic surgery procedures that address this. 

There are many type of body contouring surgeries. Face lifts, tummy tucks and breast lift procedures are common examples of such surgeries. Body contouring surgeries that follow weight loss usually address more than one area.  The lower body lift, which focuses on the tummy, midsection and thighs is one of the most common procedures. Though such a surgery is usually performed by a team of surgeons who simultaneously focus on different parts of the body, a body contouring surgery can take up to 8 hours. People who have undergone drastic weight loss may still need multiple surgeries to achieve the desired look. 

The risks of such a surgery are similar to other procedures that are performed under anesthesia. The most common complications experienced after this surgery are infections of the wound, seroma formation, slow healing of the wound, excessive bleeding and reopening of the wound. Patients may also notice a difference in the quality of their skin. This can lead to slow wound healing, skin laxity and issues related to scarring. For the overall cosmetic results to be appreciated, the patient must wait for at least 3 months. The scars can take up to a year to heal and blend with the rest of the skin. Body contouring is also a surgery that is not covered by most insurance policies and can be quite expensive. 

If you are considering this surgery, ensure that your weight remains stable for 3 to 6 months before the surgery. This will ensure that the surgery has long lasting results. Weight fluctuations, both gain and loss can lead to the need for additional procedures. If your weight loss is a result of bariatric surgery, you may need to wait a year before undergoing a contouring procedure. Instead of opting for an overall contouring procedure, prioritize your problem areas and address these first. You may realize that you do not need additional surgeries. You should also be aware that though this surgery removes excess skin, it will not leave you with flawless skin. the scars caused by this surgery may lighten over time but are permanent.

Facts About Body Contouring Surgery

Facial surgery can be opted for by people for a number of reasons, and these include being born with facial impairments like cleft lip, birthmark or other birth defects, the effects of aging, sun damage, or other facial traumas that are noticeable on the face as well as a sense of general dissatisfaction with your facial features. Depending on these factors, facial plastic surgery can be divided into two categories:  reconstructive and cosmetic.

Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed for correcting conditions that may be present from birth, including birthmarks on the face, cleft lip and palate, protruding ears, and a crooked smile. Conditions resulting from accidents, traumas, or burns are also corrected by this type of surgery.

Cosmetic facial plastic surgery is performed to enhance the visual appearance of facial structures and features which include facelifts, eye lifts, rhinoplasty, cheek and chin implants, and liposuction. 

If you are planning to get facial surgery done, there are certain things you need to do to prepare yourself for it. These are:

Choose a qualified surgeon: It's important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon who has experience performing the specific procedure you are considering. You should also ask to see before-and-after photos of the surgeon's previous patients.

Understand the risks: As with any surgery, facial surgery carries some risks, including infection, bleeding, and scarring. Make sure you understand the potential risks and complications of the procedure before making a decision.

Have realistic expectations: While facial surgery can produce excellent results, it is not a magic cure-all. It's important to have realistic expectations about what the surgery can and cannot do.

Follow post-surgery instructions: After your surgery, it's important to follow your surgeon's instructions for care and recovery. This will help ensure that you get the best possible results and minimize the risk of complications.

Schedule a surgery when you are healthy: If you are planning for either of the surgeries, try to schedule it during a period of relatively good health. Your immune system will have the best chance of a speedy recovery. Scheduling the surgery at the year-end is ideal when you can take a few days of paid leaves. 
Get enough essential nutrients: Your diet, before and after the surgery, should be rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, copper, and selenium. They help the wound to heal quickly and build immunity, thereby reducing the chances of an infection. You can recover from more comprehensive procedures like tummy tuck, facelift or liposuction by including the requisite nutrients in your diet.
Stay hydrated: Consuming 6-8 glasses on the day prior to the surgery is very important to help cleanse and hydrate the body. Since fluid intake is reduced on the day of surgery, water intake is especially important prior to the surgery. To avoid complications during surgery, ensure that you do not drink anything after midnight on the night prior to your surgery unless advised by your surgeon.
Overall, it's important to do your research and consult with a qualified surgeon before making a decision about facial surgery. Good luck!

Related Tip: "Causes and Risks of Craniofacial Surgery"

7 Things To Keep In Mind For Facial Surgery

Immediately after hair transplantation, you need to exercise little extra care to derive the best benefits. This includes immediate postoperative care, some common with most other surgeries and some very specific to hair transplantation. 

The following things will happen immediately after transplant, throughout the first week: 

Immediately after surgery, like any other surgery requiring anesthesia, there will be slight drowsiness and so it is advisable to arrange for a drive.

Expect some mild swelling and soreness that can be managed with rest and anti-inflammatories.

There will also be a tight and itchy feeling in areas where transplant has been done.

Spray water or saline every half an hour to keep the scalp moist in both the recipient and the donor sites. This promotes healing and also reduces the itchy feeling in these sites.

Thermal shock would be applied to areas to damage the existing follicles and new stem cells would be transplanted. This can also produce a warm feeling, sometimes referred to as 'thermal shock'.

In some people, there could be scab formation which occurs due to fall of the topmost transplanted hair follicles.

If you have undergone a micrograft, then you will have a compression bandage around your head. This should be in place for a day and will cause a tight feeling.

Sleep with your head elevated with a couple of pillows.

The first day after surgery, hair needs to be washed under the supervision of a physician or a nurse. Use a shampoo, which contains tea tree oil.

It is recommended to shampoo your hair regularly from day 2, as it is required to remove the dirt, blood, and oil that often accumulates at the recipient's site. This also helps to controlling infection, which is common post surgery.
Wait for at least 14 days before you resume coloring your hair, use of hair sprays, gels, and other hair care products.

All transplant surgeries require stitches. If the suture material is absorbable, there is no need to follow-up for removal. If it is not of absorbable material, they need to be removed after 2 weeks' time.

Please do not get into a regular exercise routine for up to 6 weeks. Cycling, gymming, swimming, golfing, etc., are to be avoided until the scalp is completely dry and to avoid stretching of the scar.

Everyone's body is unique and responds differently to hair transplantation. Go for periodic review with your doctor to understand how your body is responding.


What To Expect After Your Hair Transplant Session?

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