Body Procedures

In this Section: Labiaplasty • Leg Veins • Liposuction • Scar revision • Thigh Lift • Tummy Tuck • Arm Lift

Labiaplasty

Labiaplasty, also known as vaginal rejuvenation, is quickly becoming one of the most inquired about cosmetic procedures. There are many reasons that our patients request information about this procedure. Many women are born with large or irregular labia. An enlarged or irregular labia minora can be derived from exposure to hormones during development or acquired from chronic mechanical irritation or inflammation. Normally, the labia minora barely protrude past the labia majora, if at all. This is often a combination of enlargement if the inner labia minora and loss of volume in the outer labia majora. Not only is this considered aesthetically unacceptable to some women, it causes local irritation and problems with hygiene, it causes interference with sexual intercourse, and it can cause discomfort during physical activity such as cycling or running. It can also cause discomfort with tight clothing and finally it can cause social embarrassment and psychological distress in extreme cases. The procedure does not address the vagina itself and is not a tightening procedure. The reduction procedure is a minor operation and causes little discomfort. It can be performed under general anesthesia or sedation as an out patient surgery in our own private surgery center. The excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is sutured to heal with aesthetic and youthful results. The sutures are dissolvable and thus there is no need for suture removal. Usually fat transfer to the outer labia majora to optimize the esthetic results.

After a couple of weeks the incisions are practically imperceptible and sexual intercourse can be resumed in about 6 weeks. The procedure has a very high level of patient satisfaction. The most common risks are bleeding, delayed healing, infection or scarring. Fortunately, these complications are rare and do not frequently occur. For further information please contact our office for a complimentary consult.

Leg Veins

Treating unwanted spider veins and varicose veins can improve many women’s self-confidence. The foam sclerotherapy procedure is performed in our office and typically takes 30 – 45 minutes. The veins are injected with a foamed vein sclerosing solution using a very fine needle. The procedure is not overly painful. Some patients choose to take an oral sedative such as Valium before the procedure to make it more comfortable. After the procedure, your legs will be wrapped with a flexible dressing. We then ask that you go for a walk for an hour in the mall or outside. Later that evening you can remove the elastic dressings and place on compression stockings. You must purchase the thigh high 20-30 mmHg compression stockings before your procedure. You can find these online or at local medical supply stores. It is recommended to wear the compression stockings 24 hours a day for 2 weeks to minimize the likelihood of vein recurrence. Most patient do however require a series of 2 to 3 treatment sessions spaced approximately 6 weeks apart. As with any procedure there are risks. The most common problems are bruising and swelling. Occasionally patients can develop minor skin ulceration that can lead to scarring and hemosiderin (pigmentation) deposit in the skin. The brown discoloration of the area treated is caused by the iron pigment from the red blood cells being released and staining the skin. This usually disappears in a few months but in 1% of patients the pigmentation can last longer than a year. Most patients, with realistic expectations, are very satisfied with the treatments. It is not realistic to expect every vein to disappear and new veins can form with time, so additional treatments may be necessary.

Liposuction/Liposculpture

Liposuction/Liposculpture is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures designed for the permanent removal of fatty tissue. It is an elective operation in which the cosmetic surgeon removes undesirable, subcutaneous fat in isolated areas that may not respond to diet and exercise. These areas include the hips, thighs, abdomen, knees, ankles, face and neck. Liposuction is not a weight loss tool and it is necessary that your weight is stable before undergoing. However, many patients find that after the removal of problem fat areas, they are more motivated to maintain their weight or even lose additional weight.

Scar revision

Scars from past injury or surgery can be quite bothersome, and while they can never be completely removed, we can often improve the appearance through scar revision. Most scars will fade significantly over time, so we recommend that patients wait at least 1 year before considering scar revision. Hypertrophic scars and keloid scars are often treatable with steroid injections, but if that doesn’t prove satisfactory, surgical techniques can be used. Scar tissue may be removed, and incisions performed that will make the scar less visible. ‘Z-plasty’ and ‘W-plasty’ are common surgical techniques that lessens the appearance of a scar by removing scar tissue, then creating triangular skin flaps that fold together nicely. Scars that result in contracture restrict movement when the healing skin gets pulled together. This condition can occur after a burn, injury, or surgical procedure. Contracture can also occur after breast augmentation surgery, when the scar tissue thickens and tightens around the implant. Revision procedures can often help in these cases. Every scar is different, so a consultation is the best way to determine what course of action, if any, is right for you.

Thigh Lift

Loose skin and residual fatty tissue in the upper and inner thigh region is common after weight loss. At Carolinas Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we offer several procedures to deal with this problem. In some cases, if you still have extra fatty tissue present, we may recommend doing liposuction first to debulk the area. This can then be followed by a thigh lift several months later. Sometimes the liposuction is combined at the same time as the thigh lift. At your complimentary consultation, we will examine the thighs carefully and determine what procedure is right for you.

Abdominoplasty

The tummy tuck is cosmetic surgery designed to remove excess skin from the abdomen and, at the same time, tighten the abdominal muscles. It is indicated for patients with lax abdominal skin that results in bulging due to abnormal stretching of the muscles and skin. This occurs frequently following pregnancy or significant weight loss. Unlike liposuction surgery, which just removes fat, this operation involves removal of skin and fat, with tightening of the abdominal muscles. For this reason, it is more extensive than liposuction. The actual extent of surgery will depend on the amount of excess skin and the laxity of the abdominal muscles. For patients with bulging muscle and excess fat, whose skin is relatively tight, an endoscopic abdominoplasty may be an option. It is reserved for the patient who has good skin tone, but bulging underlying muscle. Only a small percentage of patients with abdominal complaints fit into this category.

Arm Lift

After losing weight, many women hide their upper arms and are unwilling to wear sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts. You may feel that your upper arms are too big or that the skin hangs or is too loose. Fortunately, there are several effective techniques used to reduce the size of the upper arms and to get rid of excess skin. The technical name for the arm reduction procedure is called a brachioplasty.Brachioplasty is often used in conjunction with liposuction to create a more attractive upper arm. For those people considered proper candidates after evaluation, these surgical techniques can be used to contour the arms, giving them a more appealing look. The best candidates are patients that have excessively loose skin in the upper arm or a combination of loose skin and extra fatty tissue making the upper arm seem disproportionate to the rest of the body.