Lipoabdominoplasty

Glendale, Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Surprise, & Peoria, AZ

For some people who have lost a significant amount of weight or have given birth, finding a better surgical option to achieve a more defined waistline may be an important consideration. Glendale plastic and reconstructive surgeon Paul Angelchik, MD, uses principles of both the traditional tummy tuck and liposuction in the body contouring technique known as “lipoabdominoplasty.”  Several years ago, renowned Brazilian plastic surgeon, Dr. Osvaldo Saldanha developed and introduced the lipoabdominoplasty technique.  

Lipoabdominoplasty Procedure

Many of the principles of lipoabdominoplasty are the same as traditional liposuction and traditional tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) in that it combines fat and skin removal with muscle tightening. The liposuction performed is more aggressive in the area of the tummy with less direct undermining of the skin. This means that blood vessels and nerves are spared, which helps the healing process.

Using this increasingly popular technique, Dr. Angelchik removes fat while flattening the abdominal muscles and removing excess skin and stretch marks. Dr. Angelchik begins the lipoabdominoplasty procedure by performing liposuction on the abdomen. Skin from the level of the navel to just above the pubic bone is excised as in an abdominoplasty, but lymphatic vessels are not touched so that postoperative swelling is minimized. The abdominal muscles are tightened and the abdominal skin is pulled down and closed with sutures.

Advantages of Lipoabdominoplasty

Lipoabdominoplasty allows patients to retain more of the feeling in their abdominal area and have an easier recovery. Using the lipoabdominoplasty procedure, Dr. Angelchik is able to preserve approximately 70 percent of abdominal skin blood flow, rather than the 20 percent that remains using traditional techniques.

The improved blood flow allows Dr. Angelchik to be more aggressive with the liposuction portion of the procedure. This helps him control the contours of the abdomen better. Other advantages of lipoabdominoplasty over traditional tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and liposuction procedures include:

• Shorter scars for most patients
• Lower rate of postoperative complications
• Less likelihood of postoperative numbness
• Less swelling, bruising and pain

Currently, Dr. Angelchik is the only West Valley plastic surgeon performing the Saldanha lipoabdominoplasty. Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, he has been practicing since 1994.  He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

For more information, see Questions about Lipoabdominoplasty.

If you are interested in lipoabdominoplasty, please contact experienced lipoabdominoplasty surgeon Dr. Angelchik for an initial consultation today.