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Where Are Incisions Made for Body Contouring Procedures?
As a fellowship-trained plastic surgeon, Daniel C. Mills, MD, FACS has extensive experience in incision placement. Not only has he spent decades perfecting this delicate art, but he knows how to place incisions in the most discreet locations possible; in fact, Dr. Mills’ meticulous incisions can usually be concealed by clothing.
Dr. Mills encourages patients to understand that incision placement depends on their unique needs and goals – a rule that applies to every plastic surgery procedure. Below, Dr. Dan Mills has created a list of typical incision placements for various body contouring surgeries offered at Aesthetic Plastic Surgical Institute.
Tummy Tuck
During a tummy tuck, excess skin between the belly button and the pubis will often be removed, and abdominal muscles will generally be tightened from lower rib cage down to the pubis. As a result, the belly button may need to be reformed, and the incision will typically stretch from hip bone to hip bone.
Liposuction
For liposuction, Dr. Mills usually places very small incisions (only about a quarter of an inch wide). When doing traditional liposuction of the love handles, two incisions will generally be made in the middle of the back. For the abdomen, three incisions will usually be made: two in the pubic area, and one in the umbilicus in order to reach to the upper portion of the abdomen.
Dr. Mills prefers to use ultrasonic liposuction because it literally melts the fat, and frequently creates a much more even result than traditional liposuction. Using the VASER® liposuction techniques, Dr. Mills can increase the temperature to the deep part of the skin for improved contraction (similar to facial laser treatments). This heats the skin from underneath and typically makes for enhanced constriction.
Arm Lift
When performing an arm lift surgery solely to address excess fat, Dr. Mills usually places a tiny incision at the elbow, through which he can remove lower arm fat. If extra skin is present, Dr. Mills typically places a relatively inconspicuous incision along the inside of the arm, generally resulting in a scar that’s virtually undetectable when the patient’s arms are at their sides.
Thigh Lift
A thigh lift – which is essentially a posterior tummy tuck – focuses on the buttocks and lateral thighs. In order to perform this procedure, Dr. Mills can make an incision at the bikini line at the top of the buttocks and thigh in order to conceal any potential scarring. Should liposuction be necessary for the inner or outer regions of the thigh, small incisions can typically be made in the groin and outer crease, respectively.
Ultimately, Dr. Mills prides himself on the concealment of potential scarring, and always strives to hide scars in the regular lines of skin tension so they’re not as noticeable. Additionally, we offer scar care treatment to ease the severity of any scars that do appear. If you have any questions about the above procedures or postoperative scar reduction options, feel free to contact our office today.
Editor’s note: This blog was originally posted on April 25th, 2014.
If you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mills, please feel free to contact our office today.
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