Body Surgery for Los Angeles, Beverly Hills - Tummy Tuck Surgery and Liposuction

Century Aesthetics® offers a variety of cosmetic procedures for our patients in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and surrounding areas. Our procedures include liposuction and tummy tuck.

Liposuction
Tummy Tuck
Body Sculpting

Liposuction (Lipoplasty) including PAL and UAL

Liposuction

Many patients travel to Los Angeles for Dr. Fodor’s expertise in liposuction. He’s written extensively on the topic and has even helped develop innovative techniques widely used today.

Liposuction (also known as lipoplasty, suction-assisted lipectomy, lipolysis or simply "fat suctioning") is the most common cosmetic procedure performed today, not only in the United States, but worldwide. The main advantage of liposuction over other procedures is that the incisions, which are often no more than 1/4 inch in length, can be strategically placed, leaving very minimal, if any, scarring. The natural elasticity of the dermis (skin) allows it to contract once the fat is "vacuumed out." The younger the patient, the more elastic the skin. However, Dr. Fodor has performed the liposuction procedure successfully on selected individuals up to 75 years of age.

At our practice located near Beverly Hills, we use liposuction for body sculpting and removal of benign fatty tumors and as part of surgical procedures that involve skin removal, such as face lift, breast reduction, or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

Liposuction is NOT a treatment for generalized obesity, and it does not replace dieting and/or exercise. However, it does contour stubborn, “out-of-proportion” body areas (“figure faults”), which do not respond well to dieting and exercise. You can schedule a consultation at our Los Angeles office, near Beverly Hills, to determine if you’re a candidate for liposuction.

Recovery after liposuction takes approximately two to four days, and some bruising may occur. The final results of liposuction may not be evident until up to six months after the procedure has been performed.

PAL

Power Assisted Lipoplasty (PAL), a term coined by Dr. Fodor as principal medical consultant in developing this lipoplasty technique, facilitates fat removal.

Not only is the surgeon’s ability to sculpt greatly enhanced by using this equipment, trauma to the tissues is minimized. Because bruising and swelling are also greatly reduced, those undergoing PAL typically enjoy a rapid recovery.

UAL

Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL) is a relatively recent advancement in liposuction technology first introduced in Europe and South America. UAL is now widely used in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, New York and other cities across the United States This form of liposuction is innovative because it liquefies the fat, which can then be suctioned out using much less force than it takes to extract fat globules with traditional suction. This decreased amount of suction is less disruptive to the surrounding tissues and, as such, the potential benefits are many. UAL is not a replacement for traditional liposuction, but rather should be used in conjunction with it. UAL is particularly effective in the fibrotic areas of the body, such as the upper abdomen, hips, and breast area. Ultrasound is often used to reduce the problem of Gynecomastia (male breasts). Dr. Fodor has served as a consultant for “VASER™”, the most advanced UAL equipment, from the beginning of its development.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

No matter how much they exercise and stick to a healthy diet, some people cannot rid themselves of fat pockets and extra, loose abdominal skin. During consultations at our Los Angeles clinic, we usually suggest that these patients undergo tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty.

In the past, a complete tummy tuck was the only type performed. But now, surgical and medical advancement allows for less-invasive surgery that treats only the patient's problem areas, such as a pouch below the belly button. At our Los Angeles clinic, we perform such techniques, including partial tummy tuck and abdominal lipoplasty, both of which are typically completed under general or epidural anesthesia.

During a complete tummy tuck, an incision is made along the abdomen above the pubic area, and another is made around the navel. Next, the abdominal skin is separated from the abdominal muscles and folded down. The muscles are then sutured together to create a tighter, smaller waist. Excess skin is trimmed away, and the belly button is repositioned. Lastly, the abdominal flap is replaced and the incisions are closed.

During mini abdominoplasty, a shorter incision is made than with complete abdominoplasty. The flap is then folded down and excess skin is trimmed away. Next, the flap is replaced and sutured into place. If necessary, both complete and mini abdominoplasty may be accompanied by lipoplasty in order to simultaneously remove extra fat.

Many patients seeking a flatter, more toned abdomen may not need to undergo either type of tummy tuck - instead, liposuction by itself may be sufficient. Liposuction offers the best contouring results and is also effective in the elimination of love handles. During liposuction, tiny incisions are made in the area to be treated and surplus fat cells, pockets, and tissue are extracted using thin, delicate instruments.

Tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, and lipoplasty may take anywhere from one to four hours at our Los Angeles surgical center near Beverly Hills. In complex cases tummy tuck surgery, patients may need to stay overnight in a hospital for observation.

Contact our Los Angeles office near Beverly Hills for more information on tummy tuck surgery.

Body Sculpting and Appearance of Lifts

Americans in the baby boomer generation have entered their late forties and fifties and are experiencing the hormonal changes that occur at this age. These changes result in a tendency to develop undesirable fatty accumulations over the waist ("love handles"), under the waist ("hip rolls"), and under the buttocks at the top of the thighs ("banana rolls"). In addition, women who have always experienced difficulty with "saddle bags" can notice an increase in the outer thigh area.

Many of the most enthusiastic exercisers notice that regardless of which form of exercise and which method of dieting they subscribe to, love handles and hip/banana rolls seem to change very little. Frustration over this lack of results can lead to a loss of will to continue. Subsequently, more weight is gained in this and other parts of the body, leading to more frustration, obesity and depression.

Dr. Fodor believes that the answer to this vicious cycle rests in a combination of liposuction, properly selected exercise programs, and appropriately designed food intake. Strategic suctioning around the buttocks will create a shapelier and/or more compact looking backside. In addition, Dr. Fodor also may recommend tummy tuck surgery for some patients.

The first form of liposuction to be developed was deep level suction, or lower layer suction. Deep layer suction respects the superficial layer of fat, which serves as a cushion under the skin and camouflages potential waves, depressions, and irregularities. It works well for patients with elastic skin, and for smaller fat deposits.

A more recent innovation in liposuction, superficial level suction, or upper layer liposuction, is currently practiced skillfully by only a handful of the most experienced plastic surgeons, including Dr. Fodor. Upper layer suction works closer to the surface of the skin. It is more difficult to perform evenly, but when properly done results in better skin contraction; it therefore works in older patients and for larger accumulations of fat.

The array of options available to patients today, including lower and upper layer liposuction, make it possible for liposculpture to create the visual impression of a body lift. In conjunction with liposuction, some patients also receive breast lift surgery or breast reduction.

Liposuction works. In the hands of a properly trained plastic surgeon, its safety has been proven. Liposuction has a very low instance of complications. Discomfort following the procedure is similar to what most patients are used to experiencing after a heavy workout. The results are permanent, as witnessed by hundreds of thousands of patients who have had liposuction. Fat cell regrowth has been extensively studied at the site of suction and elsewhere, and has been found to be insignificant. Because they no longer have body regions that resist efforts to diet and exercise, most patients can lose additional weight after suction more easily than before the surgery.

Dr. Fodor’s many personal contributions to refining lipoplasty over the last two decades have made the procedure extremely safe and, for most patients, painless. Due in large part to Dr. Fodor’s efforts, liposuction’s results are highly predictable, with most patients now attaining significant aesthetic improvement. This is what not just liposuction, but liposculpture, is all about.

Contact our Los Angeles office for more information on body sculpting and lifts performed with liposuction.

Please contact our Los Angeles office if you would like to learn more about liposuction, tummy tuck surgery, or body sculpting procedures.