Davis

Many would probably say that their hands betray their age. They typically receive as much exposure to the sun as our faces, but we devote a lot less self-care to the them. (Anti-aging creams and skin-care serums aren’t cheap, after all.)

But I’d venture to say that even more of us are self-conscious about the varying degrees of excess fat and loose skin that began to appear on the underside of our upper arms sometime during our forties and only seems to have worsened since, no matter how much we tighten the screws on our diets and exercise routines.

Unfortunately, we’re waging a losing battle. As we age, the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that help our skin stay plump, firm, and smooth, slows down, which results in areas of lax, aging skin. We usually notice it first on our faces and necks, but it can occur anywhere on the body. Similarly, our metabolism also slows with age, making it harder to shed pockets of unwanted fat.

That said, with the right tools, there are ways to regain the upper hand over Mother Nature—and shave years off your appearance in the process. One of the most effective among them is a procedure called a brachioplasty, more commonly known as an arm lift. Usually performed as an outpatient surgery, an arm lift permanently recontours the upper arm, tightening loose skin that stems from aging or a significant weight-loss.

The surgery is often combined with liposuction to remove excess fat and give arms a more toned look. The reason why liposuction alone isn’t enough to remedy so-called “bat wings” is because it doesn’t address sagging skin. To achieve a successful result with just liposuction, you need skin that’s essentially going to shrink-wrap itself once the fat’s removed. In order to do that, the skin needs to be thick, young, and have minimal sun damage and stretch marks. Which, of course, is asking a lot.

If you can check all those boxes, a less invasive procedure, like CoolSculpting, may be a better fit for you.

There are also a number of minimally-invasive treatments that address loose, sagging skin, such as radiofrequency tightening, but they generally don’t yield the dramatic results that surgical procedures, like an arm lift, do. And that’s because the surgical procedures remove some skin in order to recontour the area.

I’ll discuss what exactly happens during an arm lift, as well as what the recovery’s like, in my next post. In the meantime, as you continue to read up on arm lifts, look for board-certified plastic surgeons who offer both surgical and non-surgical solutions. Universal as “bat wings” may be, you deserve to have a treatment plan tailored to your particular needs and goals.

You’re feeling pretty sure that a tummy tuck’s a good fit for you after reading my last post. (A little uncertainty’s natural. That’ll work itself out during the consultation, as you get to know your plastic surgeon.) Let’s unpack, then, what exactly the procedure entails, how you should expect to feel afterward, and what you’ll ultimately look like.

What happens during the procedure

Generally, the procedure’s performed under general anesthesia, though it also depends on the complexity of the surgery. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of being asleep, discuss your options with your surgeon beforehand. Either way, it’s considered an outpatient procedure, which means that you’ll go home after a few hours of monitoring following the surgery.

During the procedure, your surgeon will make a horizontal incision just within or above your pubic area. If you have loose skin above your belly button, a second incision may be made around it. They’ll then separate the skin and underlying tissue from the muscles up to your rib cage and repair your abdominal muscles.

The skin and tissue above your abdominal muscles are then pulled down, the excess is trimmed, and the remaining skin is sutured together at the site of the initial incision. (It’ll be easily concealed.) A new opening is created for the belly button, which is then anchored to your abdominal wall. And any excess fat around the new opening is removed, creating the “innie” look.

Most surgeons use dissolvable sutures, which won’t need to be removed. It’s also likely that your surgeon will place surgical drains (clear plastic tubes) to keep fluid from building up in and around the incision as it heals. A drainless tummy tuck is another option. It refers to a suturing method that restricts fluid accumulation. Ask your surgeon about it during your consultation.

How you’ll feel afterward

You may already have encountered some descriptions of the recovery from a tummy tuck elsewhere online. Everyone experiences pain and heals a little bit differently, so it’s important not to assume that one person’s experience will necessarily match your own. Plus, internet rabbit holes rarely offer any reassurance. That said, a tummy tuck is a significant surgery. You should plan to dedicate around four to six weeks to your recovery, and that includes a couple of weeks of initial bed rest.

You’re not going to be able to stand up straight for about a week, and you shouldn’t force it. Many women who’ve had a C-section have equated it to the same sensation. It’s important to enter into a tummy tuck with the mindset that this is you beginning a new chapter. The first few days after your surgery are going to be uncomfortable, but there’s so much of your story still to be written after that.

Setting your expectations

You’re going to notice a dramatic change in the shape of your body right after the surgery, even though the true extent will be obscured by some swelling. Let that be the motivation that carries you through the coming weeks.

As the swelling starts to subside and you begin to feel more comfortable moving around, you’ll get a truer sense of the outcome. Your final results should come into focus within a few months, when the surgery and recovery will be distant memories.

Even more, as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can expect the results of your tummy tuck to last well into the foreseeable future.

As the news broke that the stay-at-home restrictions were being lifted in Wuhan, China, after nearly three months, there was this detail: “Mountains of cardboard boxes sprouted up outside of apartment complexes as online shopping picks up,” read an article by The New York Times. “And more people are treating themselves,” shifting from buying daily necessities to buying clothing, cosmetics, and travel accessories.

The idea of rewarding ourselves in some way at the end of all of this feels too good to resist. For some, that may mean booking the vacation you were hesitant to commit to just a few weeks ago. For others, it could take the form of some overdue self-care, such as a spa retreat or even that tummy tuck that felt a bit self-indulgent before quarantine but now seems entirely appropriate.

If you’ve been following along, you’ve noted that liposuction is as popular as ever, even with the emergence of non-invasive fat-reducing treatments. And that’s because none of them can yet compete with liposuction’s dramatic results. But liposuction doesn’t address excess skin. Enter the tummy tuck.

What it does

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that trims the waistline and creates a smoother, firmer abdominal profile by removing excess skin and tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall.

There are a number of variations to the tummy tuck, which allow it to be tailored to your particular needs. But the traditional (or full) procedure entails removing excess (or sagging) skin from above and below the belly button and pulling the remaining skin and muscles tight. It’s often combined with liposuction.

You may also have heard of a “mommy makeover.” Again, there’s a lot of variation here, but almost every mommy makeover includes at least a tummy tuck and breast augmentation or a breast lift because they tend to address the most common concerns following pregnancy. And there’s this: Aside from sculpting the midsection, a tummy tuck may also reduce or remove stretch marks from the lower abdomen, as well as C-section scars.

Is it right for you?

So, who’s a good candidate for a tummy tuck? Sit up tall and reach down and lift up the bottom of your shirt. If you have hanging skin, you’re a good candidate.

Now, while you can expect to lose a few pounds during a tummy tuck, it’s not a weight-loss treatment. Ideally, you should be within 10 to 15 pounds of your goal weight. If you’re not, ask your plastic surgeon whether liposuction is a good fit for you.

Also, while it’s safe to have a tummy tuck before having kids, it’s not advisable. Pregnancy is likely to stretch out your skins and muscles and basically undo everything the tummy tuck did. Plus, if you wait until you’re done having kids, there’s this added benefit, according to a 2018 study: Any back pain and urinary incontinence you may experience should improve following a tummy tuck because stability’s been restored to your abdominal and pelvic areas.

The bottom line: No other procedure will tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess skin with the same effectiveness as a tummy tuck.

The “Quarantine 15” is real. We’ve all been under a ton of stress over the last few weeks. And, with precious few ways to process it, many of us are turning to the fridge or the pantry, again and again.

It’s important to remember, though, that this situation is temporary. I say that not only to offer hope during a challenging time but as a reminder that these shelter-at-home restrictions will eventually lift. When we return to a life beyond sweatpants and yoga pants, do you want to be saddled with your “Quarantine 15,” or perhaps even more? Of course not.

Enter liposuction, a minimally-invasive surgical procedure that removes excess fat from the abdomen, hips, thighs, butt, arms, and neck and, in the process, contours the body.

Starting fresh

Liposuction continues to grow in popularity—it was the second-most performed cosmetic surgical procedure in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons—even as nonsurgical fat-reduction treatments have become one of the fastest-growing segments of cosmetic plastic surgery. And that’s because only liposuction has the ability to provide patients with dramatic results after only one session.

Using a thin tube called a cannula, a board-certified plastic surgeon can remove stubborn pockets of fat through tiny incisions in much larger volumes than is possible with nonsurgical treatments. The surgeon can also contour the body as the fat is removed and transfer the fat, after it’s been purified, to other areas to add fullness.

In 2018 alone, 1.7 million liposuction procedures were performed worldwide, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In many of those cases, people simply wanted to fit in their clothes a little better and feel a bit younger in the process. But, shedding a significant amount of weight so quickly also tends to have the effect of kickstarting a healthier lifestyle. Imagine coming out of quarantine with a chance to start fresh.

Finding the right surgeon

As with any type of cosmetic surgical procedure, finding a qualified plastic surgeon is critical to achieving your desired results.

For starters, look for a plastic surgeon who’s board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Physicians who pursue cosmetic surgery can have varied backgrounds. And it’s not always a given that they include formal plastic surgery training in an accredited program. However, an ABPS-certified plastic surgeon is required to complete a residency specifically for plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Beyond that, use experience as a filter. Find a plastic surgeon who’s not only been practicing for at least 10 years but who’s been performing this particular procedure for much of that time. That’ll ensure that they understand the nuances of the procedure and can tailor the treatment to your particular needs and wants.