ABDOMINOPLASTY – SERVING NORTH YORK AND MISSISSAUGA IN ONTARIO
People are sometimes left with empty hanging folds of skin after pregnancy, serious weight loss, or sometimes just with aging. When this loose skin is surgically removed from the belly, it is called Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck or body contouring. When the skin is removed around the whole waist to raise the buttock, lateral thighs and trim the tummy, it is called body lifting. From the upper arms, we call it brachioplasty. Thigh lifting is for loose inner thigh skin or posterior thigh skin. Tummy tuck in Toronto is designed to tighten loose and flabby skin. Body contouring cosmetic surgery changes the texture of the skin by stretching it thereby making the looseness and wrinkling less apparent. Body contouring surgery may be combined with liposuction. Liposuction is designed to improve fat bulges and sometime also improve skin tightening and texture when done in specific way.
As with liposuction, body contouring surgery is not intended to correct obesity; patients should try to have as normal or near-normal weight before surgery.
Although tummy tuck surgery is sometimes done under local anesthesia, most other body contouring surgery requires general anesthesia. Loose skin cannot be removed without leaving scars, and body contouring often means long incisions that result in long scars. We will make every effort to give you the best scars possible, and to conceal them in the least visible areas.
We will advise you during your consultation about the type of scar you are likely to get following your Toronto tummy tuck procedure. Although scars will fade over time, you should know, that the scars will be permanent and that their final width, height and color are not entirely predictable.
The most common complications of body contouring surgery are hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin), seroma (fluid accumulation under the skin) and numbness of the skin. Most of the feeling usually comes back. Hematoma and seroma may require intervention to drain the blood or serum that has accumulated if it is a large amount. Problems with healing after surgery are also possible, especially if you are a smoker.
Normal activities can usually be resumed within a couple of weeks and many people return to work the third week after surgery.
BENEFITS
Below are a few of the many reasons why patients consider a tummy tuck procedure:
- An inherited condition that causes excess skin and fat in the abdominal area.
- Pregnancy that has stretched the skin and separated the muscles in the stomach area.
- The loss of a significant amount of weight resulting in extra skin.
- Simple aging that can produce unwanted abdominal fat and excess skin.
SIDE EFFECTS
- Temporary pain.
- Swelling.
- Soreness, numbness of abdominal skin.
- Bruising.
- Tiredness for several weeks or months.
SAFETY & RISKS
The risks associated with tummy tucks can be minimized by following the physician’s recommendations. Smokers should stop smoking well before the surgery. For patients on an aspirin regimen ortaking anti-inflammatory drugs, discontinuingthe treatments is advised, as they can thin the blood, which may result in surgical complications. Persons with other health concerns, such as diabetes, that may inhibit the healing process, should discuss these matters with their doctor. Fluid drainage can also be a challenge and may require extra visits to the doctor. More severe possible complications include blood clots, numbness in the skin, deep vein thrombosis, persistent pain and swelling in the legs and nerve damage. Patients considering an Abdominoplasty are wise to discuss their past and current medical history with their doctor, and ask detailed questions about the procedure before deciding to undergo surgery.
- Blood clots.
- Infection.
- Poor healing resulting in conspicuous scarring or skin loss.
- Need for a second operation.
RECOVERY
After surgery, the hospital stay is short, typically one to two days followed by recovery at home for about a week. The patient will likely experience pain or soreness in the abdomen and near the incision area, and is given a prescription for pain and medication to prevent infection. The swelling and bruising that may occur after the surgery will subside. Patients should get out of bed and walk around for short periods of time, so that blood circulation stays healthy, and to quicken the healing process. While walking is advised, care must be taken not to strain theabdominal muscles. This means no lifting, and limited bending and stretching. The use of compression garments around the waist that support the abdomen is recommended, however the bandages around the incision area must be changed regularly. Stitches are removed approximately one to two weeks following the surgery, after which, patients should be able to resume most of their routine activities.
- Back to work: 2 to 4 weeks.
- More strenuous activity: 4 to 6 weeks or more.
- Fading and flattening of scars: 3 months to 2 years.
Respected Toronto cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Hong, is widely known for his combination of skill and empathy. He has earned a standing, shared by both his peers and his patients, as a foremost tummy tuck and liposuction Toronto specialist. Dr. Hong is also famous as a gifted arm lift, thigh lift and buttock augmentation Toronto specialist. His surgical specialties include a number of breast surgery procedures to redefine the silhouettes of his breast augmentation Toronto patients.
Nevus: Before Treatment
Nevus: After Treatment
Cohesive silicone gel-filled implants
Recently, new cohesive silicone gel implants have become available to Canadian plastic surgery patients. Silicone gel implants tend to feel more like real breast tissue than saline implants and do not ripple or fold as much as saline implants. The current cohesive gel is less likely to seep, run or shift unlike the older type of liquid silicone implants. The silicone implants have two popular subtypes which are the “Round implants” & the “Tear Drop anatomical implants”.
Silicone Gel implants
With advancement in technology daily, new implants are been still invented under the silicone gel implants. Dr. Hong’s expertise in breast augmentation surgeries is remarkable from performing hundreds of breast augmentation surgeries with great artistic skills. His professional & passionate skills can help you achieve your prospective breast augmentation goals. You need a highly skilled and efficient plastic surgeon to give you your desired rejuvenated figure and Dr. Colin Hong is one of the top plastic surgeons in Toronto.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are concerned with the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne and other form of skin damage caused by environmental factors or aging.
Chemical peels can leave the skin to look more youthful, radiant, fresh and healthy. A mixture of chemicals is applied onto the skin and it strips off dead/damaged skin cells to allow for new and healthier skin growth.
Any form of treatment comes with the risk of infection. Patients will experience a burning sensation, redness, and sensitivity to the sunlight. If you are no protecting yourself from sun exposure and not using bleaching agents you may develop hyperpigmentation. Some patients may have an allergic reaction to the chemical peel and swelling.
Microdermabrasion and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), laser and RF devices are possible alternative.
Surgical options are mostly effective for reducing fine lines/wrinkles, such as different types of laser resurfacing, face-lift and autologous fat grafting. It is best to discuss this during your consultation.
It is not mandatory and patients will not experience serious adverse effects, therefore it is dependent whether the patient is willing to take time off from their daily routine and set aside a week to avoid any contact with other people.
The chemical peel will be done in my office.
Yes and it is dependent on the sensitivity of your skin, skin colour/pigmentation, age, the severity of skin damage, and degree of chemical peel.
Photos previous patients that have undergone different types of chemical peels are provided and can be found on my website or through consultation.
Photos (before & after) of previous patients are provided and can be found on my website or through consultation.
The results usually last for months to years, however the duration is dependent on how well the patient is able to follow preoperative and post operative skin care instructions and their efforts to avoid excess exposure to sunlight.
This will depend on the amount of sessions needed and the degree of chemical peel needed.
The first week, there will be redness and possible scabbing but it will go down as time goes by.
The procedure can vary from 30 minutes to 3 hours.
There is no pain but patients will feel a burning sensation.
Patients can return to their normal routine right away, however to look presentable (reduce in redness), it may take up to a week or even longer if the peel is deeper.
It is suggested patient comes in 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time, and that the patient has set aside some time for the procedure and recovery.
The contact information is available on my website.
- Call your doctor if you think of other questions
Please email or call my office. - Make sure you have the doctor’s contact information
- How long will my procedure take?
It can range from 30 minutes to 3 hours. - Make sure your procedure has been confirmed
- Confirm any allergies and side-effects you might have
- Make sure you understand and have signed the informed consent forms
Patients should strictly follow all postoperative care instructions.
Patients should take all efforts to avoid sunlight and avoid swimming.
Patients are allowed to shower as soon as they wish.
Patients should book an appointment to return in 10 days.
- You have a fever higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
- You notice increased redness, swelling, warmth, or pain around your procedural area
- You have persistent stiffness, numbness/tingling, or weakness of your face
- You have pain that your existing pain medications cannot control
Apply lotions and sunscreens to sun-exposed areas until the healing process is complete Please follow our post treatment instruction and cream. Follow your doctor’s instructions on resuming normal daily activities
