The Procedure + Surgical Techniques

Body contouring is highly individual, and is achieved through a range of procedures that are dependent on each patients’ surgical needs.

Body contouring may include:

Abdominoplasty – otherwise known as a tummy tuck, an abdominoplasty can remove excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen to smooth and tighten the area.

Brachioplasty – otherwise known as an arm reduction, a brachioplasty can remove excess skin under the upper arm to improve overall aesthetic shape and contours of the arm.

Thigh Reduction – a thigh reduction is an effective way of removing excess sagging skin in the inner thigh area as a result of major weight loss.

Mastopexy – otherwise known as a breast lift, a mastopexy can raise and reshape the breast contour by removing excess skin. This procedure does not involve the use of an implant.

Body Lift – sometimes patients who have excess skin around their back and stomach require a circumferential lift or a belt lipectomy.

For further information we highly recommend you watch the animated video on our website, which outlines these various procedures in more detail.

Hospital Stay and Anaesthesia

For reasons of patient safety, body contouring procedures are performed under a general anaesthetic with an anaesthetist present. Depending on your individual surgery details, surgery can take place as a day procedure, however an extended stay is often required. Your plastic surgeon will discuss your choices in your initial consultation and determine which option is best for you.

Your Consultation

In order to keep your consultation as smooth and efficient as possible, we ask that you please bring all relevant documentation with you on the day. This includes your referral letter, Medicare card, private health insurance details, any third party or return to work insurance information, and any relevant scans i.e. x-ray or ultrasounds.

During your initial consultation with one of our specialist plastic surgeons, you will have an extended opportunity to discuss expectations and desired outcomes, along with any questions you may have about the procedure.

You will then meet with one of our experienced nurses, where you will have clinical images taken in our blue room as a before and after reference for both yourself and your surgeon (please note that all our images are confidential and are stored securely online pursuant to the current privacy act). During this time, you may also be fitted with a compression garment or post-operative bra if indicated by your surgeon.

The final stage involves meeting with your surgeon’s personal assistant. You will be given an in-depth quote, outlining the surgeon, hospital and anaesthetist fees, along with some take home information your procedure/s.

There is a lot of information to take in after your first consultation. We encourage patients to go home and discuss their procedure with loved ones and come back for a second visit. We find patients almost always come back with additional questions they hadn’t previously thought of, and this second visit allows you to go into your surgery feeling confident and fully informed about your procedure.

We recommend that you allow an hour for this consultation. Please keep this in mind when organising parking so that you don’t feel the need to rush.

Before your procedure

There are a number of things you can start to implement before your procedure, to encourage a smooth recovery and ensure you are as comfortable as possible post-surgery.

It is important that you:

• Exercise, having good physical health will significantly help your recovery process
• Reach and maintain your optimal weight (if previously discussed and agreed upon with your surgeon).
• Provide a complete medical history for your specialist plastic surgeon, including all current medications, as some may need to be stopped prior to surgery.
• Quit smoking
• Because you’re having general anaesthesia, it is important that you pre-arrange someone to transport you too and from your surgery, as well as stay with you 48 hours after returning home.
• Ensure you follow pre-operative instructions, such as fasting times, or your procedure may have to be cancelled.
• We recommend having plenty of loose comfortable clothing that is easy to get in and out of i.e. zip through jackets. Exercise, having good physical health will significantly help your recovery process
• Reach and maintain your optimal weight (if previously discussed and agreed upon with your surgeon).
• Provide a complete medical history for your specialist plastic surgeon, including all current medications, as some may need to be stopped prior to surgery.
• Quit smoking
• Prepare your recovery area! You’ll want to have everything you need to recover easily accessible and within arm’s reach. We suggest comfortable pillows, icepacks, prescribed medications, emergency contact details, a phone, as well as things to keep you entertained.

Recovery

Recovery time is highly individual and your time frame for recovery will vary depending on your individual surgery details, the nature of your employment and your overall level of health. Your surgeon will discuss this with you prior to surgery, and it is important to allow yourself the recommended recovery time. Vigorous activity and exercise should be avoided for the first six weeks, however gentle walking is encouraged after the first few days.

On discharge, you will be given specific postoperative instructions to facilitate recovery, and a follow-up appointment will be made with your plastic surgeon. These instructions will cover everything you will need to know in order to make your recovery as smooth and comfortable as possible.  

Post-surgery it is common to have localised bruising and swelling concentrated at the surgical sites. This typically resolves within the first two weeks, but can persist for up to a month. If previously indicated by your surgeon, it is important you wear your compression garment or surgical bra.

We are dedicated to supporting you to make a swift, uncomplicated recovery. A 24/7 on-call medical assistance service is available for all post-operative patients.  

Not quite ready or have a question to ask?

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