​ABDOMINOPLASTY (TUMMY TUCK)

If you suffer from loose, redundant abdominal skin as a result of natural aging, weight loss or childbirth, an abdominoplasty might be the right choice for you. This surgery, most commonly done through a “bikini-line” incision, removes excess skin, fatty tissue and stretch marks, creating a natural and younger appearing abdomen.  Through the bikini-line incision, an abdominal skin flap is carefully dissected upwards to the level of the rib cage.  An elliptical block of redundant tissue, containing skin, subcutaneous fatty tissue and stretch marks, if present, is ultimately excised.  Dr. Ford will inspect your underlying abdominal musculature and, if laxity is present, will perform a tightening procedure with permanent sutures to create an abdominal “six-pack.”  The abdominal skin is then redraped and closed, yielding an excellent, youthful abdominal contour and tone.  The belly button is carefully inset into a new location based on precise anatomical landmarks.  The majority of the surgical scars will be nicely hidden below the bikini-line.  A tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia in the safety and comfort of a hospital operating room as an outpatient procedure.



BRACHIOPLASTY (ARM LIFT)

Natural aging and/or significant weight loss can lead to upper arm sagginess, creating a “bat-wing” deformity.  Many patients complain that they feel self-conscious about wearing short sleeves due to the excess redundancy of upper arm skin.  A brachioplasty offers excellent surgical correction of this condition and involves an incision which runs from the armpit to elbow.  The incision may be placed on the front side of the arm, on the back side of the arm, or along the midline of the upper arm.  Dr. Ford prefers a midline incision, as the scar is least visible in this location.  Through the midline incision, an elliptical block of redundant tissue, containing skin, subcutaneous fatty tissue and stretch marks, if present, is carefully dissected and ultimately excised.  The remaining upper arm skin is then carefully redraped and closed, yielding an excellent upper arm contour and tone with a youthful look and feel.  Brachioplasty is performed under general anesthesia in the safety and comfort of a hospital operating room as an outpatient procedure.



LIPOSUCTION

Excess fatty tissue (lipodystrophy) may be present even at the ideal body weight. Liposuction can be done throughout the body to remove unwanted fatty deposits. Liposuction may be done independently or in combination with another procedure to enhance the overall aesthetic result.  Dr. Ford utilizes the tried-and-true techniques of traditional tumescent liposuction and ultrasonic VASER liposuction.  These techniques will yield excellent, predictable and lasting results.  There are currently no long-term follow-up studies substantiating the results of the newer liposuction techniques.  Liposuction is performed under general anesthesia in the safety and comfort of a hospital operating room as an outpatient procedure.   

 

​SCAR REVISION

​The natural history of scars indicates that they will become most red and most raised at 6-8 weeks after wounding. The scar will then reshape and remodel for one full year.  It will take 10-12 months before the final appearance of the scar is revealed.  Dr. Ford recommends the use of Mederma or silicone scar guard during the first 12 months after surgery in order to minimize the appearance of the scar.  Unsightly mature scars may be treated with a surgical scar revision.  Depending on the extent of unsatisfactory scarring present, scar revision may or may not require general anesthesia and is performed in the safety and comfort of a hospital operating room.

 

​THIGH LIFT​

Natural aging and significant weight loss may lead to the presence of skin redundancy and excess fatty tissue in the inner and outer thigh regions.  Dr. Ford will assess the degree of your skin redundancy and design an incision which will allow for excision of the redundant skin and subcutaneous tissue, yielding a more youthful thigh contour, tone, look and feel.  The scar will be as thin as Dr. Ford can make it, using multiple layers of sutures to prevent spreading.  A thigh lift is performed under general anesthesia in the safety and comfort of a hospital operating room as an outpatient procedure.​​