Body Procedures
FEEL CONFIDENT IN YOUR BODY
Achieve The Body of Your Dreams
Changing the body’s appearance is often times more involved than just eating a well balanced diet and exercising regularly. Even the strictest of diet and exercise regimens are sometimes not enough to eliminate fatty tissues stored in the body.
We offer many different safe, effective procedures that will assist you in achieving the body of your dreams. Talk to the doctor during your initial consultation about your body contouring options.
Body Procedures We Perform
Body Lift
Dr. Walter Gracia offers the body lift procedure at plastic surgery practice in Fort Worth for patients with loose and saggy skin in areas all across thier bodies due to major weight loss or pregnancy. A body lift is the ideal choice for people who want to tighten and refine the appearnace of the figure.
What Is a Body Lift?
A body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy, is a procedure to raise and reshape unsightly, sagging body contours. During the aging process, skin loses some elasticity, causing the mid-section to lose its natural shape and firmness. This procedure is designed to remove loose skin and related fat deposits, thus, providing a more youthful appearance. A body lift can be applied to the lower torso and upper legs including the abdomen, waist, inner/outer thighs, buttocks, and/or hips. Liposuction may also be completed in conjunction with a body lift.
Reasons for Considering a Body Lift
- Reshape mid-body contour.
- Correct sagging skin and fat due to aging or excessive weight loss.
- Remedy weight gain and stretched skin caused by multiple pregnancies.
The Body Lift Procedure
The precise procedure varies with each patient, depending on the body type and desired surgical outcome. Generally speaking, the body lift procedure entails making an incision that follows the upper and/or inner thigh, to the waistline. In more extensive surgeries, the incision goes completely around the waist and lower back. Adjustments to the buttocks and thighs require an incision at the crease of the buttocks. Excess skin is then removed, followed by the underlying fat deposits. Finally, the skin is pulled taught and sutured into the new configuration. The entire procedure can last from 3 to 7 hours. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
The Body Lift Recovery Process
Generally, post-operative instructions require plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. Bandages are applied right after surgery to minimize swelling and provide support. Tubes are often placed to drain excess fluids. The scars resulting from the incisions are permanent but are carefully placed so as to minimize visibility. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery which can be treated with oral medication. Recovery time varies with the extent of the procedure. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions that are given after the surgery.
BodyTite
Dr. Gracia is participating in the Bodytite IRB study for body contouring. The Bodytite device is made by Invasix, a company bringing new technology to us designed to compete with Laser Lipolysis devices such as Smart Lipo and Slim Lipo. The idea is to cause less trauma to the tissues, less bleeding, and bruising to help decrease the recovery time.
What Makes BodyTite Different?
A key difference is the temperature regulation in the device to protect the skin. The device uses radiofrequency energy to heat the skin to help shrink it (contract, tighten) and also melt fat as the fat is aspirated. The idea here is to cause less trauma to the tissues, less bleeding, and bruising to help decrease the recovery time.
How BodyTite Works
RF energy travels from an internal electrode, which is simultaneously aspirating the coagulated tissue, to an external electrode, resulting in coagulation of adipose, vascular and fibrous tissue as well as heating the entire soft-tissue matrix. The coagulated and liquefied tissue is aspirated while heating of the soft tissue matrix and subdermal tissue results in significant body tightening and recontouring. BodyTite provides gentle, outpatient treatment with improved safety and efficacy compared to other liposuction methods. Information courtesy of Invasix.
Buttock Augmentation
Recently gaining more and more popularity in the States, the Buttock Implant procedure has perhaps become more in demand due to the rise in such celebrity derrieres as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez. Many women, and some men, may desire to increase the size of their buttocks for many personal reasons.
What are the Benefits of Buttocks Augmentation?
Some people are just naturally born with a small backside that may seem out of proportion to the rest of their body. Some people may experience a loss in size, shape and tone of the buttock after weight loss or having children. A Buttock Implant alone may be enough for those who simply desire to address the size of the buttock, but for those who also are dealing with sagging, excess skin, a buttock lift in addition to the buttock implant may be the best route to take.
Ideal Buttock Augmentation Candidate
Ideal candidates for this procedure are in good health both physically and mentally, and they should have realistic expectations for the procedure and the procedures potential outcome. Buttock implant may be able to help women who have long been bothered by the naturally small size of their buttock, women whose buttocks is disproportionately small compared to the rest of their body, women who have difficulty finding clothes or swimsuits that fit on bottom, and women whose buttocks have decreased in size and/or firmness after weight loss or having children.
Finding the Right Plastic Surgeon
The most important step in your buttock implant journey is finding the right plastic surgeon for you. You will need to take special precautions to ensure the plastic surgeon is qualified, credited, experienced, and has the aesthetic eye to give you the results you desire with the safety you deserve. There are a number of easy ways to quickly research your potential plastic surgeon’s reputation and accreditations, much of which can be done online.
In addition to checking into their board certifications and other accreditations, training, and experience, you will want to check out their before and after photos of previous patients and read what these patients have to say about their experiences. Most plastic surgeons offer these photo galleries and testimonial pages on their websites, while some may choose to keep their portfolios more private and only make them available for in-office prospective patients to see.
What to Expect During Your Consultation
Once you have narrowed down your list of prospective plastic surgeons, the next step will be to make a consultation appointment with him/her or them (if there are more than one prospective plastic surgeons). Think of this consultation appointment as a job interview. You are interviewing them to see if they are the right plastic surgeon for you and they are interviewing you to see if you are a good fit for the procedure. Be prepared before you go and have a list of questions you wont want to forget to ask. Also, be prepared to answer questions about your medical history, lifestyle and for the plastic surgeon to examine you and possibly take some pictures.
Personalizing Your Buttock Augmentation
Finally, once you have found the right plastic surgeon for you, the two of you will begin to discuss you’re the best plan of action for getting the results you want. There are a lot of decisions to be made in a buttock implant procedure, from implant size to implant placement, type, shape, and texture, but with the right plastic surgeon on your side, these decisions can be made easily and with confidence. It is important to know what you want but to also keep an open mind in order to consider your plastic surgeon’s advice.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a procedure that uses lasers to create a new, smooth skin appearance. The laser “ablates”, or destroys, the outer layers of skin which have been damaged by age, sun, acne, wrinkles, or pigmentation problems or spots. The destruction of the older layers of skin prompts the body to generate a new layer of skin cells that are unaffected by the previous skin condition. Some lasers may be inappropriate for darker skin complexions.
Reasons for Considering Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Reduce or remove facial wrinkles, creases, and lines.
- Improve sun-damaged skin.
- Correct pigmentation problems and spots.
- Effectively treat scars from acne, birthmarks, moles, and tattoos.
- Tighten skin that has lost elasticity due to aging.
How Laser Skin Resurfacing is Performed
First, the face is cleansed of oils in order to prepare for the laser procedure, and a numbing ointment is applied. The laser is then used to ablate various layers of skin in a controlled manner until the appropriate depth of skin is reached. This procedure is commonly performed with a local anesthetic, with or without sedation.
Recovering from Laser Skin Resurfacing
Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. Antibiotic cream and bandages are applied to the affected area immediately following surgery in order to aid with the healing process, to minimize swelling, and to control the risk of infection. The skin will be red and may ooze. Some discomfort should also be expected.
Any pain associated with the surgery can be treated with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions. Recovery time varies with the extent of the resurfacing and the number of procedures completed.
Liposuction
Everyone is born with natural predispositions, be it a skill that comes naturally or sensitivity to the sun. Another area in which we are predisposed is our body types and shapes. Each of our bodies holds on to and stores fat in different places. For some people it is in the mid-section, for others, it is in the arms or thighs, and some fill out in the chest or hips. For wherever this occurs in your body, it may not matter how well you eat or how consistently you work out, you may always have a little extra in that specific spot. For these areas often the best way to decrease those stubborn little fat cells is through liposuction.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a procedure to remove excess fat by sucking it out through a long, skinny tube called a cannula. This process is great for specific trouble areas and is not intended as a weight loss solution.
Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Ideal patients are in good mental and physical form. They should also have realistic expectations for the procedure and its potential results. For patients with a more serious weight problem that are looking for a weight loss solution, diet and exercise, and, in some instances, bariatric surgery are options for a total body fat loss result.
Combining Liposuction with Body Contouring Following Weight Loss
After losing a substantial amount of weight through diet and exercise and/or bariatric surgery, an inpidual may be left with excess, sagging skin, and pockets of stubborn fat. In these instances, once the inpidual has achieved and maintained a healthy weight for several months, Body Contouring procedures such an Arm Lift, Thigh Lift, or Tummy Tuck may be performed to eliminate the excess, sagging skin and may be done in conjunction with a Liposuction procedure.
Choosing a Liposuction Surgeon in Fort Worth
Liposuction can be a wonderful procedure for both men and women of varying ages to achieve the body proportion, balance, and harmony that they desire, as well as increase body confidence. It should still be understood, however, that Liposuction is a serious surgical procedure and as such there are risks to consider.
The most important step in considering a Liposuction procedure is the questions of who will be performing it. Choosing a well educated, trained, certified, and experienced Plastic Surgeon will help to improve your odds of a safe and successful outcome. These days it is easier than ever to research potential plastic surgeons and find out their training background and their accreditation status. Another helpful tool and looking at their previous patients before and after photos and reading patient testimonials.
How Much Does Liposuction Cost in Fort Worth?
The price of liposuction can vary on a number of factors. As an experienced Fort Worth liposuction surgeon, Dr. Walter Gracia will meet with you in his office to discuss all options and pricing.
Tummy Tuck
At our practice in Fort Worth, tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a very popular surgical procedure. In age, our skin begins to sag, and muscles and fat likewise follow suit. The skin sags because it is losing its elasticity, which is what keeps it regenerating and tight. The abdominal muscles may become stretched and separated after pregnancy. Fat, for some people, can make a bee-line for the mid-section, as predetermined by genetics. Both weight loss and pregnancy can leave nasty stretch marks on the abdomen and wreck the elasticity of an otherwise young adult must earlier than would normally occur.
About the Tummy Tuck Procedure
Both men and women of varying ages have been dissatisfied with their mid-section and sought out the results they seek through Abdominoplasty, also known as a Tummy Tuck. The Tummy Tuck is designed to decrease excess, sagging skin in the abdominal region, to correct an extended, protruding abdomen that may be disproportionate the rest of the figure, to tighten abdominal muscles that have become separated, and to eliminate extra, stubborn fatty tissue in the abdomen that has not been responsive to diet and exercise.
Tummy Tuck Candidates
Ideal candidates for this procedure are in good health, both mentally and physically. It is important for potential patients to have realistic expectations for the procedure and the potential outcomes of the procedure. The best way to learn if you are a good candidate for a Tummy Tuck is to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon. As with all surgical procedures, Abdominoplasty carries with some degree of risk and it is important to protect yourself as best you can by choosing a plastic surgeon who is board-certified, trained, experienced, and recommended by fellow doctors and their previous patients.
How to Find a Tummy Tuck Surgeon in Fort Worth
Researching plastic surgeons these days is easier than ever thanks to the internet. Most plastic surgeons have their training, credentials, awards, and bio on their website. Also on their website, you can usually find before and after photos of their previous patients and testimonials from said patients, which is really helpful both to see the consistency and quality of results the plastic surgeon is capable of, but also to hear from the patient on the patient experience during every step of the procedure through to the final outcome.
How Much Does a Tummy Tuck Cost in Fort Worth?
The cost of a tummy tuck can vary on a number of factors. As an experienced tummy tuck Fort Worth surgeon, Dr. Gracia will meet with you in his office to discuss all options and pricing.
During Your Surgery
Abdominoplasty may be performed using a number of various techniques depending on the needs of each inpidual patient. Typically an incision just above the pubic area is made, running horizontally from hip to hip. Your plastic surgeon will try to make the incision in as inconspicuous a position as possible so that any scarring that remains once healed will be easily hidden in the bathing suit lines.
This incision may be all that is needed, however, is there is loose skin above the navel, a second incision may be made around the navel so that skin above can be pulled down and a new naval will then be re-created in its original place.
Personalizing Your Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty may be done in these techniques or others such as a mini-abdominoplasty, an endoscopic abdominoplasty, or it may be performed in conjunction with other body contouring procedures such as Liposuction. There is no one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter procedure for abdominoplasty, it truly depends on the needs of each inpidual patient. It is important to keep this in mind when looking at the before and after photos of previous patients of any plastic surgeon.
What To Expect from Your Tummy Tuck
Each patient comes in with his or her own goals and concerns, which may be different from your own. When talking to your plastic surgeon about the results you desire for yourself, be as specific as possible.
Recovering from a Tummy Tuck
Following the procedure, some swelling, bruising, and discomfort is to be expected and will subside while you heal. Your plastic surgeon may place a surgical drain to help keep swelling down and it will be removed within a week after surgery and your dressings changed. It will be important to the speed of your recovery as well as your safety to follow your doctor’s guidelines during recovery. Since no two patients are exactly alike, it’s important to also listen to your body during recovery and not push yourself too soon. Most patients are able to return to their normal activities a few weeks after the procedure.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
Vaginal rejuvenation is an elective genital cosmetic procedure that is becoming more popular as women in today’s society are starting to seek help for that certain area. Some women are bothered by large or irregular labia, vaginal looseness, or sexual satisfaction. This may occur after childbirth, or age, and some women are even born with large labia. In cases like this, female patients may wish to improve their bodies and/or self-esteem and can consider genital cosmetic surgery.
Labiaplasty
Labiaplasty is a genital cosmetic procedure to surgically correct a large or irregular labia. Large labia can be embarrassing for some women and may even affect her self-esteem, or sexual life. Excess tissue is removed to reduce the size, giving the outer vagina a more acceptable appearance.
Vaginal Tightening
Vaginal tightening is a female genital procedure that is performed to tighten the vaginal tissues. Women commonly experience laxity in the vaginal area after childbirth.
Reasons for Considering Vaginal Rejuvenation
- Vaginal laxity.
- Large or Irregular labia.
- Desire to increase self-esteem.
- Lack of sexual satisfaction.
- General Procedure.
Vaginal rejuvenation can consist of vaginal tightening and/or labiaplasty. Both procedures are performed in-office in most cases and on an out-patient basis. Prior to starting the procedure, the patient has the option of receiving an oral sedative or may proceed with only a local.
Recovery Process
Post-operative instructions will call for rest, limited walking the first few days, and no sexual activity for 6 weeks in order to allow time for healing. There may be some mild swelling, pain or discomfort. A post-op appointment will be scheduled within the next few days so that the doctor can evaluate the patient’s healing and recovery. Normal activities may resume in the next few weeks.
Body Contouring
Men and women who have undergone a dramatic weight loss through either diet and exercise or bariatric surgery, are often left with excess, sagging skin from their bigger frames. After the hard work of getting the weight off and getting physically healthy, it can be very devastating to then not feel like you can show off and enjoy your new figure due to the excess skin. Arms, breasts, mid-section, buttocks, and thighs are the most commonly affected by excess skin.
Body Contouring After Major Weight Loss
Body contouring surgery after major weight loss can remove the excess skin and tighten the remaining to reveal all the success of your hard work. Ideal candidates should be in good physical and mental health, at and maintaining a study, normal weight, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations for the procedure and itís potential outcome.
The Body Contouring Consultation Process
The first step in your body contouring journey is the consultation. During your consultation with your board-certified Plastic Surgeon, you will be asked a number of questions about your medical history, medication, supplement, and drug use. You will be asked about your goals, expectations, and concerns for the procedure. Your health will be evaluated and your Plastic Surgeon will walk you through the procedure and its risks. This is the time to ask as many questions as you can think of in order to make an informed decision. As with all surgical procedures, there are risks that need to be carefully considered.
The Body Contouring Procedure
The body contouring procedure itself has a number of variables, as it is catered to meet each inpidual patientís needs. A body contouring procedure may include any number of the following procedures: Breast Lift, Thigh Lift, Arm Lift, Lower Body Lift of the abdomen, buttocks, and groin area. No matter the areas you opt to get treated, youíll first be put under anesthesia. The incisions will be made- in varying lengths depending on the procedures you are opting for and the amount of work necessary. Your Plastic Surgeon will be mindful to make the incision as inconspicuous as possible so that any scars may be easily hidden by clothing.
Recovering from Body Contouring Surgery
Results will be visible to some extent immediately, though they will be further revealed as you continue to heal and the swelling goes down. Your Plastic Surgeon will give you specific instructions and activity restrictions to follow as you heal. It is important to head the word of your doctor to ensure a safe and speedy recovery. If you experience any chest pain or shortness of breath, seek medical attention immediately. If you continue a healthy diet and lifestyle, you should be able to maintain and enjoy your results for a long time to come.