Upper Arm Lift  If you have unsightly sagging skin on the upper arms due to aging, genetics or weight loss, an upper arm lift would be recommended.

Procedure

This procedure is usually done under general anesthesia. An incision that runs from near the elbow into the armpit is made to remove the unwanted skin. It is done on the inner arm toward the back, where the excess skin is removed and the incision closed. After healing some scarring will always be visible.

Risks

All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. 

Recovery

Post surgery, the upper arms are wrapped in an elastic sleeve to reduce swelling. Healing usually occurs in 10-14 days. Sutures can be removed within 2-3 weeks. The swelling and bruising around the area gradually disappear over 3-4 weeks. The scars depending on your skin fade off in 6 months to 2 years.

Liposuction is a procedure that is used to remove unwanted fat from specific areas like the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck.

There are different types of techniques used like the tumescent technique, super-wet technique and ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL). These provide better results and faster healing to the specific areas. These methods help in fat reduction from certain stubborn areas that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods.

Procedure

A narrow tube (cannula) is inserted through a tiny incision and the fat is sucked out  from the layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is moved through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. The suction is provided by a vacuum pump or a large syringe.

In the Tumescent technique, a medicated solution is injected into fatty areas before the fat is removed. The fluid is a mixture of an Intravenous salt solution, lidocaine and epinephrine and helps easy removal of fat with minimal blood loss. The solution also has an anesthetic which relives pain.

Super-wet technique is similar to the tumescent technique, except that lesser amounts of fluid are used. Usually the amount of fluid injected is equal to the amount of fat to be removed. This technique often requires IV sedation or general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours of surgery time.

Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL) requires the use of a special cannula that produces ultrasonic energy. As it passes through areas of fat, the energy explodes the walls of fat cells, liquefying the fat. The fat is then removed with the traditional liposuction technique.

The time required to perform liposuction may vary considerably, depending on the size of the area, the amount of fat being removed, the type of anesthesia and the technique being used. On average, 1 to 2 hours or more. UAL: 20-40 percent longer than traditional liposuction.

Anesthesia choice would depend on the area and the extent of fat removal.

Though done as an outpatient procedure, certain extensive procedures may require short hospital stays.

Thigh-Buttock Lift is a cosmetic procedure focusing on thighs, hips and buttocks.

If you have experienced a loss of skin elasticity of the thigh, hip or buttock areas or if your skin area is saggy, flabby then you are a person who could benefit from this procedure. It improves appearance of the thigh dramatically when you lift and remove the loose skin.

Procedure

The procedure is done under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The type of incision will vary from person to person. Lifting the inner thighs requires only short incisions extending from the anterior part of the thigh/groin crease around to the buttock crease. Lateral or anterior thigh lifts can be performed as separate procedures if desired. Lifting the entire thigh and buttock (circumferential lower body lift) will require much longer incisions that start in the buttock crease, extend around the groin, up over the side of the abdomen, over the flank and across the back. The buttocks can be lifted with upper or lower scars.

Recovery

The patient is placed in a compression garment (similar to a long-line elastic support girdle) at the end surgery to reduce swelling and assist in the natural shrinking and tightening of the skin.

Smaller thigh lifts: initial discomfort is usually easily controlled with prescription pain medication.

Larger thigh lifts: One or two nights care in a skilled nursing facility or hospital are usually required. This allows for pain injections, intravenous catheters, etc.

Bruising and swelling usually subside within a month. Strenous activities are usually possible in 6 weeks and almost all symptoms are gone in 4-6 months.

Results of this procedure would be a tighter, more attractive thigh and buttock skin with improved contours and decreased  irregularities on the skin surface.

Abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a "tummy tuck" is a major surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdominal and to tighten the muscles of the abdomen wall.

Procedure

A long incision is made from hip bone to hip bone, just above the pubic area. Next the naval is made free from the surrounding tissue by a second incision. With partial abdominoplasty, the incision is much shorter and the navel may not be moved. While separating the skin from the abdominal wall all the way to your ribs, the abdomen muscles are tightened by pulling them closer. They are then stitched together into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and a narrow waistline.

The skin flap is then stretched down and the extra skin is removed and the navel repositioned and stitched in place. The incisions will be closed and a temporary drain tube inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site.

A complete abdominoplasty usually takes two to five hours, depending on the extent of work required. Partial abdominoplasty may take an hour or two. General anesthesia is preferred for this surgery to avoid any kind of discomfort so as to sleep through the operation.

Postoperative complications such as infection and blood clots are rare but can occur. Temporary pain like swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising and tiredness will be experienced for several weeks or months.

Recovery

For the first few days, your abdomen will probably be swollen and you're likely to feel some pain and discomfort which can be controlled by medication. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you may be released within a few hours or you may have to remain hospitalized for two to three days.

Surface stitches will be removed in five to seven days and deeper sutures, with ends that protrude through the skin, will come out in two to three weeks. The dressing on your incision may be replaced by a support garment.

Time for basic activities will be about 3 to 4 weeks and more for other strenuous activity. Fading and flattening of scars typically takes 3 months to 2 years.