Prospective plastic surgery patients tend to understand the value of the procedures they consider. Even when a surgical technique may be more complex, it is understood that the complexity of that procedure achieves the most profound cosmetic effects. This understanding is helpful for many patients but doesn’t always negate the desire for more conservative approaches. Generally, liposuction is considered pretty conservative. A tummy tuck, not so much. Where does this leave the person who has loose abdominal skin who also would love to avoid a tummy tuck? We may have a solution.
ThermiTight as a Complement to Liposuction
Radiofrequency skin tightening has become quite popular in the past several years. This technology stimulates deep tissue remodeling without the risks that were associated with CO2 laser skin resurfacing. That original form of laser resurfacing was primarily designed for dramatic facial rejuvenation. However, it obliterated multiple layers of tissue, leaving the patient with significant risks of infection and scarring if they were not strict about their post-treatment care. Today, the vast majority of nonsurgical skin rejuvenation treatments involve radiofrequency rather than laser. One of the benefits of this technology as opposed to a laser is that treatment can be performed on multiple different areas of the body, including the abdomen.
A slim, toned midsection may not be impossible to achieve without an abdominoplasty. Careful patient selection is necessary, but many people can achieve satisfying aesthetic improvements when skin tightening is combined with liposuction. The liposuction procedure is minimally-invasive and can often be performed with only a local anesthetic. The procedure breaks up fatty tissue and then suctions the dislodged fat cells through a narrow cannula. The result is a slimmer contour, but if tissue laxity exists, the contour may not be as smooth as one would like. ThermiTight may be the key to this. After performing liposuction, Dr. Ong may utilize the Thermi RF platform to deliver radiofrequency energy into the dermis. This is the layer of skin where the collagen matrix exists and where new collagen is produced. The ThermiTight probe delivers controlled RF energy that heats deep tissue to 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, stimulating both collagen remodeling and proliferation for prolonged aesthetic improvement. In addition to utilizing this combination of liposuction and ThermiTight in the abdominal area, doctors can perform it on the buttocks to give a slight lift to the backside.
The use of liposuction and RF skin tightening may not be ideal for every patient. Selection is done very carefully. If too much laxity has developed or if the abdominal muscles have separated (diastasis recti), a tummy tuck is still the best option for optimal results. However, for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity and some stubborn fat, a more innovative approach may be appropriate.
The Ong Institute operates on three tenets: Be Healthier, Feel Better, Look Better. If you’re ready to be any of these or all of these, contact us at (480) 771-7771 and schedule a visit to our Scottsdale office.
