Bikini Ready Body

4 New Procedures For a Sexier Shape

by Dr. Remus Repta

Cosmetic plastic surgery is continuing to make advances in the ability to meet the needs of men and women who desire to improve the way they look and feel. The goal of cosmetic plastic surgery has always been to achieve beautiful and natural looking results and to do so in a safe and consistent manner. Today’s “cutting edge” options include procedures to alleviate back fat, improve the contour of buttocks and address the loss of volume in aging tissue.

GOODBYE, BRA OVERHANG

Think of it as a face lift for the back; the Bra Line Back Lift is a plastic surgery procedure designed to improve the shape and contour of the back. With age as well as with weight loss or fluctuation, the skin and soft tissue of the upper and middle back can become loose. Back fat usually rolls and bulges near the horizontal part of the brassiere line and is often visible beneath sheer or form-fitting clothes.

This outpatient procedure improves the shape and contour of the bra-line area by directly removing excess skin laxity and fat. The final incision line is hidden under the horizontal strap of the brassiere, so a two-piece bathing suit can be worn with no visible signs of surgery. Surgery takes about an hour, and the recovery period is fairly easy. Most women describe a general sensation of tightness but are otherwise comfortable enough to return to normal daily activities the day after surgery.

A BETTER BOTTOM

Purse-string gluteoplasty combines a buttock lift with buttock augmentation, using the patient’s own tissue. Initially, the technique was developed to help people who had lost a significant amount of weight regain the firmness and contour of their buttocks.

Sometimes referred to as the Phoenician Butt Lift, the technique involves taking tissue from slack buttocks—which would have otherwise been removed—and using it to improve the projection and contour of the central part of the rear. As a result, the laxity of the buttocks and back portion of the thighs are tightened, and the buttocks are given a rounder, more youthful shape.

The final incision is placed at the upper border of the panty line, near the waist. Women who undergo purse-string gluteoplasty can wear a two-piece swimsuit, low-riding pants or other revealing clothing without the incision being noticeable. The procedure can be performed alone or in combination with an abdominoplasty, resulting in a total lower-body lift. The recovery period is usually well tolerated, with no sitting or position restrictions as long as there is adequate padding. A drain is usually used for the first week following surgery.

IMPLANT INNOVATION

Over the last 15 years, the majority of breast augmentation has been performed by placing the implant underneath the muscle—an approach that has both benefits and drawbacks compared with placing the implant directly under the breast gland, in which all the weight of the implant is supported by the breast skin.

A new, third option is “subfascial”—somewhat a combination of the two—offering the best of both worlds. The implant is placed beneath the thick connective tissue that covers the muscle, keeping the muscle intact and giving the augmented breast a softer feel. Recovery is quicker as well.

Placing the implant above the muscle offers the additional benefit of preventing breast animation—the movement of the implant and breast with contraction of the pectoralis muscle. The thick, subfascial connective tissue provides support for the implant, which contributes to long-lasting results. Subfascial breast augmentation works best using cohesive gel implants, sometimes referred to as “gummy bear” implants.

FRIENDLY FAT

A significant component of the aging process is a loss of volume seen in many parts of the body, particularly the face. In the past, facial rejuvenation involved tightening lax skin but did little or nothing to address the volume issue—until the introduction of fat grafting.

Fat grafting is most frequently performed on the face or buttocks. Fat is removed from areas of excess, processed in the operating room, and positioned where volume is needed. The grafted fat forms a new blood supply to its locale, helping to rejuvenate volume in the area and improve contour for a more youthful appearance.

Dr. Remus Repta is a plastic surgeon with Advanced Aesthetic Associates in Phoenix.

www.aaaplasticsurgery.com