FAQs

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BodyTite

Not everyone is a good candidate for BodyTite. If you have lost a large amount of weight or have a relatively large amount of excess or wrinkly skin, a tummy tuck or other surgery will typically achieve better results. An ideal candidate for BodyTite has a BMI of 30 or less, and has only a moderate amount of skin laxity. Read about skin tightening candidates.

BodyTite (and its face equivalent FaceTite) can be applied to many different areas of the body such as the face, chin, neck, abdomen, chest, saddle bags, upper arms, back, ankle, love handles, hips, inner and outer thighs and knees.

Yes. BodyTite itself does not take much time, approximately 15 minutes per area depending on its size, plus the time it takes to first apply liposuction. We highly recommend treating multiple areas in a single procedure. Please note that additional areas are discounted at a lower price with each add-on.

Cellulite can have genetic factors and is not easy to remove or reduce. However, what may appear like cellulite – the dimpled, uneven skin often found on buttocks and thighs – could in fact be simply the appearance of cellulite caused by age-advanced skin laxity. In such cases, BodyTite is indeed an excellent treatment option. Dr. Mark Peters of NuBody Concepts Memphis was also awarded First Place in InMode’s Expert Clinician Program for his innovative use of BodyTite for cellulite reduction. Learn more about cellulite reduction using skin tightening.

You will see results immediately after your BodyTite procedure. After the bruising and/or swelling has gone down completely at 2-3 weeks, you will see the biggest difference. As more tissues coagulate over time, your results will continue to improve for up to 6-12 months. View BodyTite results in our before and after gallery.

Not necessarily. BodyTite is best for so-called “gap” patients who don’t quite need a tummy tuck but are plagued by areas of fat and lax skin. For those patients, BodyTite is preferable since it avoids a more invasive procedure that requires a longer recovery and results in a scar. However, some patients with advanced skin laxity, either brought on by aging, weight loss, or childbirth, are better served with a tummy tuck. Compare skin tightening to a tummy tuck.

BodyTite is a minimally-invasive procedures and as such allows patients to return to their regular activities the next day as tolerated. Some swelling and bruising might occur but typically subsides within 5 days. Patients are also advised to wait a week before resuming exercise.  Learn more about recovering after skin tightening.

Yes. This is called FaceTite, which is similar to BodyTite except it uses a thinner wand. Skin tightening on the face is also referred to as a non-surgical facelift. It is particularly effective in achieving a well-defined jawline.

No. BodyTite is not the same as liposuction. Liposuction removes fat, whereas BodyTite contracts tissues and tightens skin. They are actually complementary treatments that are almost always performed together to achieve maximum results. The liposuction is first applied to remove all fat, and then the BodyTite device is passed over the same areas using the same incisions that have already been placed in the skin. Liposuction with skin tightening such as BodyTite almost always achieves better outcomes than liposuction alone. Learn about liposuction vs skin tightening.

Our plastic surgeons recommend wearing the compression garment after any kind of body contouring procedure for up to 6 weeks. Longer is always better, and each additional day counts.

BodyTite and Renuvion are different brand names for the same thing: Radio frequency assisted lipolysis or RFAL. They both tighten skin by applying targeted radio frequency generated heat to deep tissues under the skin. There are some slight differences between these two devices, but they are both equally effective for treating skin laxity in patients. Learn more about BodyTite vs Renuvion.

Breast Implants

Yes. Both saline and silicone implants are FDA-approved. All our implants are manufactured in the United States. Read all about breast implant safety and risks. Also visit our supplier websites for MentorSientra, and Ideal implants.

Additional background on the safety of silicone implants: Silicone implants were introduced in 1962 and became instantly popular. In 1992 the FDA restricted their use to reconstructive surgery which took them off the market for cosmetic surgery. Though no deficiency was evident, this was based on the suspicion in some circles that there might be a link to certain diseases and immunological disorders. No such links were ever established. After extensive and exhaustive research, silicone gel implants were re-approved for general use in 2006. They have only gained in popularity since then. But the temporary restriction has resulted in some lingering doubts with people still asking if they are safe.

At NuBody Concepts we offer both choices. While silicone implants are more common, we do offer saline implants as an alternative. Some of our patients select saline implants because they are a more affordable option and can be inserted through a smaller incision around the areola/nipple. Silicone implants are generally considered to have a nicer shape and feel. We also offer structured implants for those who want the advantages of both. Read about silicione vs saline implants and their pros and cons.

The cost of breast implants varies by plastic surgeon and type of implant. Silicone implants are more expensive than saline implants. It is important to compare total cost, as some surgeons may charge extra fess for facility use and anesthesia in addition to their quoted price. Read all about the cost of breast implants.

It is important to consider all factors when deciding on the size of breast implants, such as your lifestyle, the desired shape of the implants, and the plastic surgeon’s experience with many different body types. Learn more about choosing the right implant size for you.

Gummy bear implants, also known as highly-cohesive gel implants, are a type of silicone implant that has a denser texture that allows the implant to retain its shape over longer time periods. They are a great option for breast reconstruction where lost tissue must be replaced but can also be a good option for cosmetic breast augmentation. Learn more about the pros and cons of gummy bear implants.

Highly-cohesive (aka “gummy bear”) breast implants are often teardrop shaped to better mimic the natural slope of the breast. While this may be a desirable feature, they also come with a textured vs smooth surface so they do not rotate, which has some advantages but also disadvantages. Learn all about breast implant types.

No. Breast implants only require IV sedation and local anesthesia. This has the benefit of a faster recovery, lower cost of the procedure, and less of the risks associated with general anesthesia. Also read about risks and safety of breast augmentation.

Since we don’t use general anesthesia for your breast surgery, your recovery time is reduced from 2 weeks to approximately 3-5 days. However, we advise patients to abstain from strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for a minimum of 2 weeks. Read all about breast augmentation recovery week by week.

For the first 3-5 days your breasts will likely be swollen. You may also experience itching and burning sensations, and/or twinges that come and go. And you will likely feel very sore the day after surgery. All of this is normal and typically only lasts a few days as the swelling will gradually subside. Most patients do not report a lot of pain during their recovery. Learn more about recovery from breast implant surgery.

When a saline implant ruptures, the saline solution empties and is absorbed by the body. This is entirely harmless, but the implant will have to be replaced for aesthetic reasons. This is done with a so-called breast implant exchange surgery.

When a silicone implant ruptures, it retains its shape. However, you will still want to have it replaced to prevent any long-term exposure of the body to any leaked material. Because it is harder to detect silicone rupture, the FDA now requires regular screenings every few years. Please contact our office to set up your screening scan or if you aren’t sure when you need one.

You will need to schedule breast implant removal surgery to remove any unwanted implants.

The x-rays used for mammograms can in fact have trouble going through either saline or silicone implants so that it’s more difficult to get a good image of your breast tissue. However, a good mammogram technician (like at any “Breast Imaging Center of Excellence”) can use techniques that push the implant to the side to get a better picture. In cases where a good screening cannot be performed with a mammogram, there is also the option of an MRI.

Please contact our office if you are due for your FDA-mandated screening of your silicone implant.

As with a mammogram, it is important to inform your cardiologist of your implants before having an electrocardiogram (EKG). While breast implants do not increase the risk of heart attack in any way, they could affect reading accuracy. If you are concerned, you might consider a baseline EKG before undergoing breast surgery.

It is entirely safe to breastfeed with implants. Getting breast implants does not generally affect your ability to breastfeed. The implants are typically placed behind the milk glands or under the chest muscles so that milk supply isn’t affected. In addition, the FDA has conducted studies to measure silicone levels in breast milk and has found no traces of it.

Breast Lift

A breast lift is a surgical procedure to lift sagging breasts into a perkier shape by removing excess tissue and skin. It does not necessarily include the placement of implants, though they can be added in the same procedure.

A breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to increase the volume of the breasts using implants that are filled with saline or silicone. It does not include the lifting of sagging tissue. Learn more about breast lifts vs breast implants.

The best way to find out whether you could benefit from a breast lift, a breast augmentation, or a breast lift combined with breast implants is to discuss your aesthetic goals with a plastic surgeon in a personal consultation.

Sagging breasts are often a consequence of having children, of breastfeeding, or of having lost a substantial amount of weight. This condition is also known as ptosis. If this is true for you and you are in generally good health and a non-smoker, you are a good candidate for a breast lift. Plastic surgeons typically also require a BMI of 35 or below to perform any kind of cosmetic surgery, as the operating risks are elevated for higher BMIs. Read more about breast lift candidates.

Not necessarily. Breast lifts are standalone procedures that change the positioning and appearance of the breasts and don’t require implants. However, a breast lift can be combined with implants if you want to enhance the volume of your breasts in addition to addressing the sagging.

The cost of a breast lift varies between doctors and geographic areas. Please refer to our pricing & specials page for starting prices for all our procedures. When comparing costs, make sure you check if your quote covers all fees and surcharges or if you should expect additional expenses billed later. Learn more about the cost of a breast lift.

Studies have shown that a breast lift can actually decrease your cup size, so it’s important to discuss your goals with your plastic surgeon in your personal consultation. If you want an increased cup size, or even the same cup size as before, you may need to supplement your breast lift with implants. Learn more about breast lifts and cup size.

Absolutely. Many women combine a breast lift with breast implants. This lifts the sagging breasts to make them perkier, and it also adds volume. Again, you may even need implants to maintain volume, since a breast lift typically reduces your cup size. A breast lift with implants works especially well for women after childbirth and pregnancy to restore the breasts to their pre-pregnancy body. A so-called auto-augmentation breast lift uses existing tissue to maintain or restore volume and may allow you to have a breast lift without implants and still enhance volume. Read more about auto-augmentation breast lifts.

All surgeries carry certain risks, but overall a breast lift is a relatively low-risk procedure. The most common side effects you can expect are post-op bleeding, swelling and bruising, a temporary change in nipple sensation, and dull aches and pains. Read more about breast lift risks and safety.

Just like with implants, the incision lines from a breast lift are permanent. However, they will fade and become near invisible over time. Also, a skilled plastic surgeon can “disguise” the incisions by working along the natural folds of the breast as well as the natural edge where the areola meets the lighter skin of the breast.

As with any breast surgery, it is very important to wear a compression bra or garment as recommended by your plastic surgeon for a certain amount of time after your procedure. Most plastic surgeons recommend wearing a compression bra for a minimum of six weeks. It keeps your breasts in place as they heal so that they retain their shape, and it helps speed the recovery process.

Most women are able to return to work or regular daily activities 5-6 days after breast lift surgery. Strenuous activity and heavy lifting should be avoided for 4-6 weeks after the procedure, depending on the specific guidelines recommend by your plastic surgeon. Read more about recovering from breast lift surgery.

Most women rate breast lifts as a “worth it” procedure with a high degree of satisfaction. You can expect the results of your breast lift to be long lasting. However, as with any cosmetic surgery there are no absolutes, since the human body continues to change over time. And along with your body your breasts can change shape due to aging and gravity. They will also change with a future pregnancy, although such changes in volume are temporary. 

A breast lift does not inhibit breastfeeding, as no vital functions are affected by the surgery. However, it would be our recommendation to wait with a breast lift until after childbearing. The breasts change during pregnancy, and then again afterwards as you lose excess weight, and this could negatively impact the improvements you get from a breast lift.

An auto-augmentation breast lift is a breast lift that adds volume without implants. In this case the plastic surgeon uses the excess tissue to reshape the breast and retain the volume. Learn more about auto-augmentation breast lifts.

Breast Reduction

As a cosmetic surgery practice, we do not accept any health insurance for any of our services. However, we offer very attractive financing options to help you budget for your procedure. Learn more about our interest-free payment plans through our medical financing providers.

A breast reduction is designed to be permanent, so it is important to weigh all options before you have the procedure. However, breast volume can and does change during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, so if you are considering having children after your breast reduction, you should be aware that your breast size will temporarily increase again, and then drop back to the size it was after your reduction. Men can also have breast reductions. Learn more about male breast reductions.

A breast reduction is a surgical procedure that requires an investment of both time and money. Most women who undergo a breast reduction are highly satisfied with their procedure. This is also true for men who undergo a male breast reduction. But there are also potential downsides to consider, such as the recovery time and the question of how it might impact breastfeeding in the future. Read more about whether a breast reduction is worth it.

While a breast reduction procedure can be performed at any age, we consider it best to wait until the breasts are fully developed to ensure the best results. We therefore only perform breast reductions on patients who are at least 18 years of age.

Broadly, you can expect to go down one or two cups sizes after your breast reduction. In your consultation with a plastic surgeon, you will have an opportunity to describe your aesthetic goals so that we can help you discuss with you which results you can realistically expect.

This is a valid question, and much writing has been dedicated to the topic. It has also evolved over time. Today’s surgery techniques are designed to preserve lactation functions, so that breastfeeding is likely not affected after a reduction. However, if you are planning to breastfeed, you should discuss this with your plastic surgeon. Learn more about breastfeeding after a breast reduction.

The  impact of a pregnancy on breast or any kind of other plastic surgery is hard to predict, but most women remain satisfied with their breast reduction results after childbirth. You can expect your breasts to increase in volume during pregnancy, but they will go back down in size after you’ve given birth. Most women lose volume after childbirth and breastfeeding. This is something to consider when planning the size of your breasts after reduction – if you go too low, you might become smaller than expected after childbirth.

A breast reduction does not require general anesthesia and is typically performed under IV sedation and a local anesthetic. You are able to go home the same day after your procedure, which typically lasts 2-3 hours. Most women are able to return to work or their regular activities 4-5 days after the surgery. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should are avoided for up to 4 weeks depending on your surgeon’s instructions. You will be sent home with a compression or surgical bra that should be worn 24 hours a day for up to 6 weeks. Learn all about breast reduction recovery.

Cellulite

It’s not always easy to identify true cellulite – the lumpy, dimpled skin that affects mostly women on their thighs, hips, and buttocks. It is sometimes compared to the dimpled surface of an orange peel. If you think you have cellulite and would like to explore options for reduction, it is best to contact a plastic surgeon for an evaluation. NuBody Concepts offers cellulite reduction treatments in Nashville and Memphis, TN.

Cellulite often has genetic causes that determine our body type as well as skin texture and structure. Our skin is connected to the underlying tissues with fibrous bands, called septa. Over time – and sometimes accelerated by weight gain – these septa may pull the skin too tightly, resulting in dimples on the skin’s surface. Hormonal factors can also affect the development of cellulite. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help in reducing cellulite.

How to best treat your cellulite depends on its causes. Aveli is a promising new treatment that allows a surgeon to precisely target and release selected septa to smooth out an area of skin. This is an exciting new option for women affected by genetic cellulite.

A cellulite-like appearance of the skin can also be caused by skin laxity issues brought on by aging or weight loss. In that case, a skin tightening procedure such as Renuvion or BodyTite that directly targets and contracts the tissues under the skin may achieve the best results. Learn about skin tightening to treat the appearance of cellulite.

For most women, the biggest areas of complaint about cellulite are the upper thighs and buttocks. This is typically where you can see the biggest improvement in a reduction of the dimpled skin associated with cellulite. However, skin tightening treatments are not limited to the thighs and buttocks. If you have lax skin anywhere on your body, our plastic surgeon can treat and tighten it. View our before and after gallery for cellulite reduction.

Depending on which treatment your surgeon recommends, results can typically be seen 3-5 days after the procedure once the swelling has gone down. The best results can usually be achieved about 6 weeks after the procedure, but for some skin tightening treatments such as BodyTite and Renuvion results will continue to improve for up to 12 months.

It depends on how your surgeon has customized the procedure, such as how many depressions you are having treated and whether you are adding in liposuction, but in general you can expect 1-2 hours from start to finish. Non-invasive skin tightening treatments are shorter in duration but usually require a minimum of 3 treatments every 4-6 weeks for full effect.

For minimally-invasive procedures (Avéli, BodyTite, Renuvion) you should plan for about 3-5 days of recovery – again, depending on your procedure and surgeon post-op instructions. Patients can typically resume regular activities the next day as tolerated, but are advised to wait a week before resuming strenuous exercise. For non-invasive treatments (Exilis, Morpheus, ThermiSmooth) there will be no notable recovery period.

Cellulite is not an easy problem for plastic surgeons to tackle. The outcome often depends on your skin elasticity and amount of subcutaneous fat. Any treatment provides a reset point for your skin, meaning your skin looks younger and fresher after your procedure, but from then on the natural aging process continues. New weight gain could also speed up the emergence of new areas of dimpled skin as the newly building fat pushed up and strains the septa. But generally speaking, you do not need any repeat procedures after your treatment is complete.

Eyelid Surgery

A blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia and IV sedation that tightens and lifts the upper eyelids (upper blepharoplasty) or the skin underneath the eyes (lower blepharoplasty). A double blepharoplasty covers both of these in one surgical procedure.

Yes, absolutely. Many patients combine both upper and lower eyelid surgery to take advantage of one single recovery period. It depends on your situation whether upper, lower, or both lids need to be lifted. You can also combine eyelid surgery with other facial procedures, such as a brow lift. Read more about eyelid surgery types.

Eyelid surgery is one of the least painful cosmetic procedures you can have. You are sedated during the procedure and recover swiftly with minimal discomfort, typically in just a few days. Learn more about eyelid surgery recovery.

No. Our plastic surgeons perform all procedures under local anesthesia combined with IV sedation. This ensures your comfort, and considerably speeds up your recovery.

Your physical recovery from eyelid surgery is typically swift, with most patients able to return to regular activities within 1-2 days. It is not accompanied by much physical discomfort. What we like to call the social recovery is longer, however. As with any facial procedure, you’re going to be a little wary of showing a bruised and/or swollen face to the public, and unfortunately bruising and swelling are very commonplace occurrences after any surgical procedure. You can minimize bruising and swelling by following your surgeon’s post-op instructions. Read about a patient’s account of her eyelid surgery recovery.

Your eyelids will look puffy after surgery, and the incisions will likely look red. That is to be expected and will resolve within a few days. However, the way bruising and swelling works, your face underneath the eyes will show bruising as well, starting on the second day and continuing for 10-14 days. It’s harder to cover up your entire face, so most people wait until those 10-14 days are over before going out in public or back to work. This is personal for each patient depending how you feel about people knowing that you had surgery. View our day-by-day photo gallery of a typical eyelid surgery recovery.

Not typically. Bandages aren’t necessary for your recovery. Most likely your surgeon will place the stitches and leave the eyes uncovered to promote healing. You are encouraged to simply leave your eyes alone for a few days to allow any swelling to go down.

You should not sleep on your side or stomach while recovering from eyelid surgery. It is recommended that you sleep on your back while keeping your head slightly elevated for the first week post-op.

You will see the results immediately after surgery, especially if you had sagging eyelids that your surgeon has removed and tightened. Once all bruising and swelling has subsided, typically at the 14-day mark, you will really begin to see your newly-refreshed and younger looking eyes. The incision lines should have flattened out by then but can remain slightly pink for up to six months or more. It is important to keep your eyes out of direct sunlight for up to a year to avoid any discolorations.

When plastic surgeons speak of a facelift, this typically refers to the lower face and does not include the eyes. Eye lifts and brow lifts are distinct procedures that can be performed separately or together with a facelift, and are typically priced as as standalone surgeries.

Most elective surgeries, such as eye lifts, are not covered by insurance. If you have a functional impairment, your insurance may cover it. Make sure you check with them beforehand, since NuBody Concepts cannot process any health insurance on your behalf.

Facelift

A classic facelift requires surgical incisions and sutures – the most invasive form of a cosmetic procedure. However, new technologies like radio frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL) allow non-surgical facelifts via skin contraction. In reality, most facelifts performed by our plastic surgeons are a combination of both surgical and non-surgical techniques. Every patient is unique, and after a personal consultation we make sure to put together a procedure plan that best fits your needs. Our goal is to ensure that you achieve the desired results while keeping your recovery time to a minimum. The less invasive the procedure, the faster your recovery. By using local anesthesia and IV sedation only as needed we help you avoid a longer recovery.

A surgical facelift at NuBody Concepts starts at $9,800 (vs. a non-surgical facelift using skin tightening, which is less expensive). This is an all-inclusive cost with no hidden fees such as anesthesia or surgeon costs added on later. Your individual price quote will depend on the combination of techniques best suited to achieve the outcome you desire, as determined in a personal consultation with the plastic surgeon. Read all about how to break down the cost of a facelift.

As mentioned above, skin tightening using RFAL is a less-invasive alternative to a surgical facelift and can achieve results close to surgery. However, there are even less-invasive alternatives to a facelift for patients who are seeking facial rejuvenation, such as the injection of wrinkle reducers or dermal fillers. Read all about the full range of rejuvenation options for face and neck.

A mini facelift is a less invasive technique that allows your surgeon to  tighten your deep facial tissues through smaller incisions. It is often advised for younger patients with only mild symptoms of sagging. Older patients with more advanced signs of aging around the mid-face and neck typically benefit the most from a standard or full facelift. Read all about facelift (and neck lift) types.

Yes. FaceTite is the brand-name of inMode’s RAFL skin tightening technology when applied to the face. Another similar technology is Renuvion. Both methods achieve skin contraction via the application of targeted bursts of radio frequency energy. They are particularly effective on the neck and lower face. Read all about FaceTite and Renuvion skin tightening.

Typically, a facelift is defined as a procedure that lifts the lower face and/or neck. Other procedures such as eyelid surgery (to tighten the skin of the lower or upper eyelids), brow lifts (to raise and/or arch the eyebrows or eliminate a hooded upper eyelid) and forehead lifts (to tighten the skin and help raise the brows) can easily be combined with a facelift to give your face an overall more youthful appearance. But they are not automatically part of what we call a facelift and are priced separately. Read this 3-part series about eyelid surgery combined with a brow lift.

No. As needed, our surgeons perform all procedures under local anesthesia combined with IV sedation to ensure your comfort throughout. This eliminates the potential risks associated with general anesthesia and also considerably speeds up your recovery. Also read about PRO-NOX patient-controlled pain management as an add-on to minimally-invasive procedures.

After a facelift procedure it is common to experience some bruising and swelling, meaning results will not be visible immediately. Your results will continue to improve for 1-3 weeks after your surgery. On average, patients need 3-7 days before going back to work and/or resuming mild exercise, depending on the invasiveness of the procedure. Strenuous exercise can be resumed after 2 weeks or as advised by your surgeon. If you had stitches placed as a part of your facelift, the incisions – though discreetly placed – will take longer to heal and fade, but can typically be covered with makeup. In short, you will need about 3-7 days before resuming normal and public life. Read our 7 tips for your facelift recovery.

The most dramatic results from a facelift can typically be seen in the neck and jawline. If you have sagging jowls with a lot of excess skin around your jawline, you can expect to see the biggest difference in your side view with a slimmer neck and a gently curved linear jawline. View our Facelift before and after gallery.

Since a facelift turns back the clock to give you a younger appearance, you could argue that the results of a facelift are permanent. Ten years after your facelift, you will likely still look younger than you would have without a facelift. However, you might no longer be satisfied with your look ten years down the road and might opt for another facelift at that time. How effective your facelift is and how fast you age afterwards also depends on other factors such as genetics, skin elasticity, the state of your skin before the facelift, and sun exposure – just to name a few.

As your skin ages, you will initially be able to stave off the effects with a combination of non-invasive treatments – an injectable to erase fine lines and wrinkles, fillers like Juvederm to replace lost volume, and lasers or microneedling to improve skin tone and texture. But once your skin and muscles begin to droop, most easily seen in your jowls, it may be time for a facelift. This can occur at any age from 40-70. In general, facelifts are more effective when performed earlier rather than later, when your skin quality is still good, and when fillers alone can no longer make up for lost volume. Find out whether you are a good candidate for a facelift.

Fat Transfer

To transfer fat from one area of the body to another, a plastic surgeon first removes the fat from the designated area using liposuction. Instead of being discarded, the harvested fat is collected and kept viable in a sterile closed-circuit system. When the liposuction is complete, the surgeon injects the fat into the recipient area as a filler, to enhance volume or smooth out irregularities. Fat transfer can typically be added on to a liposuction procedure if the area yields enough fat for transfer.

The best donor area for fat transfer is typically the abdomen, for two reasons: it typically contains more fat than other areas and thus yields the most usable material, and slimming down the midsection also typically has the most visible impact from a body contouring standpoint. Back, bra rolls, and inner & outer thighs are other areas patients like to target for fat removal. The most common recipient area for fat transfer is typically the breast, also called a fat transfer breast augmentation.

 

A fat transfer breast augmentation can be a good alternative to implants if you have the right expectations. The size increase will be minimal, while implants can achieve a much bigger volume increase. However, fat transfer can be a good option to improve asymmetries and other irregularities, as it allows for greater precision. It can also be used in combination with breast implants. Some patients prefer the idea of a natural filler like their own fat over implants, but given that implants have an excellent safety record, we still recommend implants if they are expected to better achieve the desired results. Learn more about fat transfer to breast.

At NuBody Concepts, a fat transfer breast augmentation is priced by adding $2,000 to the cost of any liposuction procedure. The cost of your liposuction depends on the number of areas treated. Read more about the cost of liposuction by number of areas.

It’s possible to use fat as a natural filler for the hands or face, but there are often better options available to plump up or smooth out skin. We encourage patients to discuss all options with their plastic surgeon. Note: NuBody Concepts does not offer fat transfer to the buttocks, also known as Brazilian Butt Lift.

Fat transfer, like liposuction, has an excellent safety record with one notable exception: Fat transfer to the buttocks aka Brazilian Butt Lift. The most reputable plastic surgery group in the United States, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, has issued an urgent warning about the risks associated with Brazilian Butt Lifts. Please note that it is not the source of the filler, i.e. the fat, that is at issue. It is specifically the area of injection, i.e. the buttocks, that due to the high amount of blood vessels is not safe for injection of any substance, be it fat or an artificial filler.

The body’s fat is an excellent natural filler because it lasts a lifetime (unlike artificial fillers which have to be repeated every 6-9 months). However, not all fat cells “take” during a fat transfer procedure, meaning you may not achieve the desired volume after one treatment. The transferred fat cells are considered to be well established at around 6 months, so this would be the ideal time to have a second treatment if needed. Please also note that the body continues to age, meaning you may lose more volume over time, which would also warrant a future treatment.

Feminine Rejuvenation

Vaginal rejuvenation treatments like ThermiVa, Votiva, or Exilis Femme are non-invasive and non-surgical. They use heat applied externally to the skin to strengthen the vaginal wall – without surgery or stitches. It requires no downtime or recovery period.

No. Vaginal Rejuvenation simply applies controlled heat externally. It is applied with a thin wand to the vaginal canal without any discomfort.

You can resume regular activities immediately after a vaginal rejuvenation treatment, so there is really no recovery time. However, depending on which treatment you receive, there may be restrictions on sexual intercourse and hot tub use ranging from 3-7 days.

There are no side effects from undergoing a ThermiVa, Exilis Femme, or Votiva treatment. These technologies use targeted amounts of heat, radio frequency, or ultrasound energy in short, infrequent bursts. It leaves no scarring and can’t damage the surrounding tissue. It is a pain-free procedure, meaning you will not need any sedation or anesthesia and will not experience any downtime.

For best results, we recommend patients come in for three sessions of vaginal rejuvenation, but most women see an improvement after the very first treatment. After the initial three sessions, it is recommended that women come in for a yearly maintenance treatment for long term results. If you have a baby or experience another life change that affects the results, we recommend you schedule an extra visit.

Vaginal rejuvenation helps increase natural lubrication and nerve sensitivity, which can lead to greater sexual satisfaction, including better orgasms. Other benefits include tighter and more defined labia and vulva, and a reduction or even elimination of mild to moderate incontinence.

A labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to repair the labia minora and/or labia majora (inner and outer lips of the female genitalia), whereas vaginal rejuvenation is a non-surgical treatment that Is solely based on the use of radio frequency or ultrasound generated heat to strengthen and rejuvenate the vagina.

Gastric Balloon

The ORBERA® balloon takes up space in your stomach during the 6-month program. This reduces your feelings of hunger and allows you to learn better eating habits. We will follow up with you monthly and help work on your diet. These new habits typically enable you to keep off the weight after removal of the balloon. Read about how gastric balloons work.

Your BMI should be between 30-40 for Orbera to be safe and effective. Some candidates with BMIs of 41-42 may also qualify, but please call us first for a pre-screening. Learn about gastric balloon candidates.

You can expect weight loss anywhere from 30-50 lbs with the Orbera gastric balloon. Some patients are able to lose even more. The biggest drop in weight typically happens at 1-2 months after placement. The rest of the 6-month period is dedicated to learning improved eating habits to ensure that your weight loss is permanent. Learn more about your expected weight loss with Orbera.

Studies have shown that patients maintain their weight loss through dieting post-removal of the balloon. Most patients adapt to the new, healthier lifestyle they have learned during the six months of eating habit and portion “training.” Read what to expect from your Orbera weight-loss balloon recovery.

It happens only rarely, but the balloon could indeed rupture. This means that the saline solution it is filled with would leak into the stomach, which is harmless. However, you would no longer feel full after eating, as the balloon would no longer do its job, and your doctor would have to remove the deflated balloon.

Gastric balloons are FDA-approved and have been around for over 20 years. The placement and removal does not involve surgery and can be done in a brief, minimally-invasive procedure under IV sedation. Should a balloon rupture (an extremely rare event), it wouldn’t be harmful in any form. Learn more about gastric balloon safety.

Initially, the placement of the balloon can cause nausea. This is a very normal reaction, and in most patients it passes quickly. Our surgeon typically prescribes medication to counteract any nausea that might occur. Read about side effects from gastric balloon placement.

The average person loses about 3x more weight with Orbera than with diet and exercise alone. By taking up space in your stomach, the balloon also takes away your feeling of constant hunger. This teaches you to adapt to smaller portion sizes, without the hunger pangs. Most patients experience drastic weight loss in just 1-2 months after placement of the balloon. This early success makes it more comfortable to exercise, which again helps with additional weight loss. Read about the effectiveness of weight-loss balloons vs diet alone.

Gastric bypass surgery is an invasive surgery typically performed under general anesthesia. It has a more difficult recovery and leaves scars.

A gastric balloon is placed endoscopically in a 20-minute procedure that does not require any surgical incisions. The removal after 6 months is performed the same way. It does not result in any scars.

No. Liposuction is not a weight-loss program. It is meant for people who are already relatively close to their target weight and want to remove pockets of fat that have proved resistant to diet and exercise. However, the Orbera gastric balloon is a great first step to get to your target weight, which would then allow you to slim down remaining problem areas with liposuction. Read about using Orbera as preparation for body contouring with liposuction.

Injectables & Fillers

What we call injectable is the medication botulinum toxin to freeze your facial muscles to keep you from frowning, thereby eliminating your wrinkles. It works best on the upper part of your face, especially the forehead and around the eyes.

A filler, also called facial filler or dermal filler, is also injected, but it is a substance that expands to fill out an area. It works best to fill deep creases such as the nasolabial folds (the lines left and right of the mouth), to plump up the lips, and to alleviate bags under the eyes. 

No. Both are temporary solutions. A round of injectables will result in a smoother look for approximately 4-6 months, while fillers will last up to 9 months.

The effects of injectable to reduce wrinkles begin to show within 3-5 days and will become most noticeable between 1-2 weeks. The exact timing varies from patient to patient and depends on your age, skin condition, and skin type.

Dermal fillers on the other hand work instantly so that you will see the result immediately after the injection. It does take up to 4 weeks for the filler to fully integrate into the tissue, depending on the type of filler used.

Studies indeed have shown that starting BOTOX injections as early as in your 20s and 30s may slow down the future forming of permanent wrinkles.

But should you start BOTOX on your 20th birthday? Not necessarily. Throughout your twenties, your skin has enough volume and elasticity that it can withstand the activity of your underlying muscles. It makes sense to wait until the skin begins to lose volume and thickness, between 30 and 40 years old. You’ll save money by only starting with Botox when you really need it and have the means to see a professional board-certified plastic surgeon on a regular basis.

Especially when treating an area as sensitive as your face, it is important to select a professional medical practice with years of experience in cosmetic surgery. At NuBody Concepts, all injectables are administered by an experienced plastic surgeon or a certified nurse injector. Learn more about our surgeons and nurse injectors.

Botulinum toxin has been FDA-approved and widely used for a long time, and is very safe. As with any medical procedure, there may be some side effects. Some patients experience temporary redness and swelling at the injection site, but this is rare. An inexperienced injector may overdo the dose which can result in arched eyebrows or similar effects. This is why it is important to receive injections from an experienced plastic surgeon or injector nurse.

We carry Juvederm (including Volbella, Vollure, and Voluma) as well as Versa fillers. This may depend on provider preference so please make sure you ask if you’re looking for a specific filler.

You can also use your own fat as a natural filler by removing it from your waistline with liposuction

There are pros and cons to using an artificial dermal filler vs using natural fat as a facial filler. Learn all about natural fat transfer vs facial fillers.

No. If administered inexpertly, BOTOX can leave you with a stiff, “plastic” appearance. This is often exaggerated for entertainment value in TV shows and movies. But most cosmetic surgeons are very skilled in administering an injectable strategically to maintain a natural look that leaves you able to smile or show fear and excitement as you normally would. Learn more about common BOTOX myths.

Liposuction

Everyone may have slightly different goals for their liposuction procedure. After many years and thousands of procedures performed, we have put together a list of top reasons why you should consider liposuction.

Liposuction is one of the most effective ways to remove fat less-invasively than surgery (i.e. tummy tuck). There are many different types of liposuction technologies as well as branded terms to thoroughly confuse you. Our plastic surgeon will customize the procedure for you to achieve the best outcomes – typically by combining tumescent liposuction with RFAL skin tightening. Learn all about which type of liposuction you should get.

While liposuction is an excellent way to remove belly fat, it works better in some candidates than in others. It depends on your skin elasticity, the amount of fat and excess skin, your goals for your results, and your recovery. Read more about best belly fat removal methods.

We offer radio frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL) to supplement your liposuction procedure for additional skin tightening results. Also known as BodyTite and Renuvion, this procedure uses radio frequency energy to contract tissues and thus tighten the skin. It is an add-on to our liposuction that can achieve up to 35%- 45% contraction. Read all about radio frequency assisted liposuction.

Lipo 360 refers to the area a patient would like to have treated. If you’d like to have your entire abdomen treated from front to back and all the way around, you’re basically wanting to have Lipo 360. Some cosmetic surgery practices offer this at a special price point, while others charge per area on a decreasing scale, with the option of combining any areas desired. Learn all about Lipo 360.

No. “Airsculpt” is just another name for liposuction. It is a marketing term to make the procedure seem less invasive than liposuction. But this is not the case. A cannula is used to get under the skin for AirSculpt the same way as during other forms of liposuction and a certain amount of bruising and swelling is unavoidable. AirSculpt also claims success with skin contraction, but plastic surgeons generally do not see these claims borne out. Read more about Radio Frequency Assisted Lipolysis (RFAL), the skin tightening technology we use at NuBody Concepts to enhance liposuction results.

No. Similar to the term “Lipo 360,” TriSculpt is a marketing term and not a technology in and of itself. It was trademarked by a provider for their combination of local anesthesia, power-assisted liposuction, and micro laser liposuction in one procedure. Another name often used for laser liposuction is SmartLipo. At NuBody Concepts, we prefer to combine liposuction with much more advanced RFAL technologies like BodyTite and Renuvion for results vastly superior to the now outdated laser liposuction.

Yes. This is called fat transfer. At NuBody Concepts we use it to transfer fat to the breast to better contour and shape them and to smooth out irregularities. Fat transfer is an add-on to liposuction that is billed separately. Please view our pricing page for the pricing of add-ons.

Good liposuction candidates are near their target weight but have pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. They are in generally good health and have a BMI of 30 or under. This list of question and answers will help you determine if you’re a good candidate for liposuction.

Liposuction is not a weight loss program. The goal is to remove fat cells, not to lose weight, and candidates should be within 30 lbs of their target weight. Liposuction results are best measured in a waistline or pant size reduction. If you are interested in weight loss, learn about the Orbera Gastric Balloon.

CoolSculpting freezes the fat cells so that your body can subsequently flush them out naturally. It’s a non-invasive procedure that requires several repeat treatments to be effective. Liposuction, by contrast, is a one-time procedure that eliminates the fat all at once. Compared to fat removal with CoolSculpting, liposuction achieves much more visible results. Learn all about Liposuction vs CoolSculpting.

Liposuction requires the insertion of a tiny cannula under your skin, through which a water/saline solution is flushed through the tissue to break down the fat cells. To insert this cannula, your plastic surgeon makes several incisions in your skin. These incisions are very small and generally do not require sutures (though some surgeons may place a stitch as needed). They typically do not leave any permanent scars.

The movement of the cannula under your skin can cause slight discomfort. Depending on your needs and preference, pain relief can be provided anywhere from light to heavy sedation, or no sedation at all. We also offer the patient-administered PRO-NOX pain management system as an optional add-on to liposuction procedures.

We generally advise patients to wait 1-2 weeks before resuming strenuous exercise. However, you’ll be able to return to your day-to-day activities as tolerated 1-2 days after the procedure. Learn all about liposuction recovery.

Bruising and swelling are typical side effect of liposuction. How much of it you experience in the days after your procedure depends on your body. Our customized procedure typically causes only minor bruising and swelling, because the use of water instead of physical force keeps any disruption of tissue to a minimum. Learn all about the side effects and risks of liposuction.

Surprisingly, many patients find this easier than it seems. While the promise of a slimmer figure is often not enough motivation to try to achieve it with diet and exercise, the reality of a slimmer figure that you can admire every day is a powerful motivator. Nevertheless, we have some tips for you. Read our tips on how to keep the weight off after liposuction.

No. Your liposuction at NuBody Concepts is done while you are awake and comfortable. Any discomfort will be alleviated with local anesthesia and IV sedation as needed. Your recovery is typically fast, allowing you to resume most day to day activities after 24 hours.

Yes. Liposuction does not interfere with your future ability to have children. Also, the fat that is removed with liposuction will not come back to the treated area(s) even if you become pregnant.

Anyone with a BMI under 40 is considered a good candidate for cosmetic surgery, provided they are in good general health, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations. If your BMI is under 30, you can expect good outcomes from liposuction or liposuction combined with skin tightening. Learn more about using your BMI to guide you towards the right cosmetic surgery.

There are two key differences:

a) Men and women often have different types of fat. Men tend to more often have so-called visceral fat, which lies under the muscle and cannot be removed with liposuction. Which type of fat you have is easily determined by the plastic surgeon in your personal consultation.

b) Liposuction is an excellent procedure for male breast reductions, especially when radio frequency assisted liposuction is added on. You may not need a surgical reduction with a longer recovery if your fat can be removed and your skin tightened with liposuction. Again, what works best for you is easily determined in a personal consultation.

Male Breast Reduction

Enlarged male breasts can be caused by weight gain. Losing weight with overall with diet and exercise will also reduce the volume of breast tissue. For candidates who have tried diet and exercise, a male breast reduction is one option to reduce enlarged male breasts further. There are several minimally-invasive options, and for stubborn breast tissue a procedure using surgical excision of tissue might be necessary. Learn about the types of male breast reductions.

A male breast reduction is designed to be permanent, especially if you have excess tissue and skin surgically removed. If your procedure is done by liposuction, the fat cells are also permanently removed, but it is not a guarantee against new fat cells accumulating if you don’t maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. 

For patients under the age of 18 who suffer from severe gynecomastia, some insurance plans may cover male breast reduction surgery. In patients over the age of 18, male breast reduction is considered a purely cosmetic procedure that is not covered by insurance.

As a cosmetic surgery practice, we do not accept any health insurance for any of our services. However, we offer very attractive financing options to help you budget for your procedure. Learn more about our interest-free payment plans through our medical financing providers.

If you are affected physically and psychologically by your enlarged male breasts, are in relatively good health, and have realistic expectations for the procedure’s results, you are a candidate for a male breast reduction. A personal consultation with a plastic surgeon will help you determine the scope of your procedure.

There are two ways you can have enlarged male breasts reduced: Either by surgery, or by liposuction (which can be enhanced by adding skin tightening with Renuvion or BodyTite). Often, liposuction is sufficient and no surgery is needed, avoiding the scars and recovery time associated with it. Liposuction is a minimally-invasive procedure with patients able to return to regular activities the next day as tolerated. If you have a lot of excess skin due to aging or recent weight loss, a surgical removal may be necessary. Read more about how male breasts can be reduced without surgery.

Neither liposuction nor skin tightening procedures leave permanent scars. They only require very small incisions for a wand to be inserted under the skin, and those typically heal within a few weeks without leaving any marks. Surgical excision does require sutures – however, they are typically very small for male breast reductions. In addition, the stitches are typically well hidden around the areola so that they become near invisible over time.

Most male breast reductions can be achieved with a minimally-invasive procedure such as liposuction or RFAL skin tightening. It is given under local anesthesia so that the patient is fully awake but doesn’t feel the discomfort from the wand being moved under his skin. Should you need glandular excision in addition to the fat removal, your surgeon may opt for IV sedation in addition to the local anesthesia. In either case you won’t feel any discomfort during the procedure.

Depending on your body type and which type of breast reduction you need, you may be back to normal within 1-2 days after the procedure. Liposuction patients typically return back to regular activities as tolerated the next day. Surgical patients require 3-5 days of recovery and are advised to wait 2 weeks before resuming strenuous exercise or heavy lifting. Learn more about recovering from a male breast reduction.

Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover often includes a tummy tuck, but it is more than a tummy tuck alone. We only speak of a mommy makeover if both abdomen and breasts receive a cosmetic procedure. Also, you could have a mommy makeover where the abdomen does not receive a tummy tuck but rather liposuction or skin tightening (or both).

Typically, we combine a tummy tuck with breast implants or a breast lift for our mommy makeovers. If you want to increase volume in your breasts, you can benefit from combining implants and a breast lift. There are several other options depending on your comfort level with the invasiveness of the procedure. Instead of a tummy tuck, you might achieve similar results with liposuction and radio frequency assisted skin tightening. Another area often affected by pregnancy and childbirth is the vaginal wall. You might opt to include a feminine rejuvenation treatment to strengthen vaginal laxity and even reverse minor incontinence. Read more about the components of a mommy makeover.

If you experience a loss of volume or excessive sagging in the breasts or have loose skin, stretch marks, or stubborn fat resistant to diet and exercise around your abdomen, you can benefit from a mommy makeover. Women who are healthy, have a BMI of 35 or lower, don’t smoke, and have realistic expectations about the expected results are generally good candidates. But each plastic surgeon will have his or her own guidelines and the best way to find out whether you qualify for a mommy makeover is to schedule a personal consultation. Learn all about mommy makeover candidates.

No. Even though a mommy makeover is a longer and more extensive procedure, it does not need to be performed under general anesthesia. At NuBody Concepts we perform all surgeries as outpatient procedures under IV sedation (the same as you are given for a colonoscopy or wisdom teeth removal), keeping you sedated just long enough for the surgeon to perform the surgery. For more comprehensive mommy makeovers it is advisable to perform the procedure one after the other.  Also read mommy makeover risk and safety.

Most mommy makeovers involve plastic surgery, such as the placement of breast implants or the tightening of your abdominal muscles with a tummy tuck. You will see the most immediate and stunning results with a surgical procedure. However, there are many different less invasive methods that can help you achieve some of the same goals, especially if you only have moderate sagging of the abdominal skin. We have seen the best non-surgical mommy makeover results by combining liposuction with skin tightening using Renuvion or BodyTite. Learn more about how to have a tummy tuck without surgery.

Our cosmetic surgery team always strives to keep your recovery time to a minimum so that you can resume your daily activities as soon as possible. After liposuction or fat transfer, patients typically recover within just 1-2 days. For a Mommy Makeover involving surgery, most of our patients are back to work or their normal routines after 3-5 days. If your Mommy Makeover involves tightening of the abdominal muscles as well as the skin, your recovery time may be longer than that. We do recommend that you abstain from heavy lifting and exercise for a minimum of two weeks after your surgery. Learn all about recovering from a mommy makeover.

Yes. It is possible to have both a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation and go through pregnancy afterward. While some women prefer to wait with tummy tuck surgery until they are done with childbirth to make sure the results don’t change again, there is no reason you can’t have a tummy tuck at any time. If you have questions or concerns about childbirth and plastic surgery, it is best to schedule a consultation with our plastic surgeon. Learn more about having children after a tummy tuck.

Renuvion

Ever since we’ve started offering Renuvion to our patients in combination with liposuction, we have seen the most impressive skin tightening results we’ve ever been able to achieve short of surgery. If you have moderately loose and sagging skin, Renuvion is an excellent investment that gives you results close to a tummy tuck, arm lift, or thigh lift (and even facelift), without the downtime or the scars. Learn what to expect from Renuvion.

If you experience moderate sagging or a crepe-like appearance of the skin that is mainly caused by age-related skin laxity, you are a good candidate for Renuvion. Candidates should also have a BMI of 30 or below, be non-smokers, and be in generally good health. Candidates with BMIs of 30-38 may qualify but are likely to see better results with a tummy tuck. Read about skin tightening candidates.

Renuvion is great for any area from the neck to the knees – neck/chin, male breasts, abdomen, flanks, bra rolls, back, arms, thighs. You can have multiple areas treated in one visit. Most popular areas are abdomen, back/flanks, arms, and neck.

That depends greatly on the number of areas you are having treated. You can expect 2-3 hours overall. Renuvion itself does not take much time, approximately 5-15 minutes per area depending on size. The “tumescing” (applying anesthesia under the skin) and liposuction (recommended in most cases) take up most of the time of a Renuvion procedure.

You will see results immediately after your Renuvion procedure. You may experience some bruising and/or swelling for the first week due to the combined liposuction. At 2-3 weeks, you will see the biggest difference. As more tissues coagulate over time, your results will continue to improve for up to 6-9 months. View Renuvion results in our before and after gallery.

In clinical studies Renuvion has shown to achieve up to 60% skin contraction. A surgical removal (excision) of skin will always be more effective in eliminating all of the unwanted fat and skin, with immediate results. However, many patients hesitate to undergo surgery with its longer recovery and scars – especially on your upper arms or thighs where they cannot be entirely hidden. Renuvion is an excellent non-surgical skin tightening alternative to tummy tucks, arm lifts, and thigh lifts. It is ideal for patients who won’t see enough results with liposuction due to decreased skin laxity, but who don’t want surgery. With Renuvion, you will still see a big immediate difference and continuing improvements for 6-9 months. Compare skin tightening to a tummy tuck.

As with other minimally-invasive procedures, your physical recovery after Renuvion will take about 1-2 days. Patients can typically resume regular activities the next day as tolerated and are advised to wait a week before resuming exercise. It will take several weeks for the small incisions for the insertion of the wand are healed and begin to fade, so that you may want to give it some time before wearing a bikini. Learn more about recovering after skin tightening.

Renuvion is the ideal procedure for a non-surgical facelift. Particularly on the neck and jowls, Renuvion can very effectively change your appearance to give you back a well-defined jawline. Other areas of the face, like the eyes, still require more traditional types of surgeries to be lifted, or you may find that dermal fillers such as Juvederm can be effective there too. But as a saggy neck is often one of the main signs (and complaints) of middle age, a Renuvion treatment will take years off your appearance.

Technically it is a form of liposuction, with the official name of Radio-Frequency Assisted Lipolysis (RFAL). The official term is “tissue coagulation.” However, unlike liposuction, Renuvion does not use physical force to break up and remove fat. It uses targeted bursts of heat energy combined with helium plasma to damage or “coagulate” fatty tissue in underlying cells. This process contracts the skin. It is most effective when used in conjunction with liposuction for maximum fat removal and skin tightening.

Yes. The two use a very similar technology to tighten skin, applying targeted heat powered by radio frequency to tissues under the skin. Both are used as non-surgical alternatives to procedures such as tummy tuck, thigh lift, or arm lift. BodyTite has been around slightly longer, and Renuvion uses helium plasma for even faster heating of the probe, which BodyTite does not. Otherwise they are very similar. Learn more about Renuvion vs BodyTite.

Skin Tightening

There are many different types of skin tightening, but what we are talking about here is the minimally-invasive procedure known as radio frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL). It is usually applied by a thin hand-held probe that can send targeted energy to heat up the deeper layers of the skin and contract tissues, which gives the skin a higher look over time. It also stimulates collagen and elastin production to fu other improve skin tone and texture. Watch our plastic surgeon explain how skin tightening works.

RFAL skin tightening can be extremely effective in the right candidates. Dr. Peters of NuBody Concepts Memphis calls this the “gap patient.” Someone who has identified areas of fat and moderately sagging skin they would like to improve, but for whom a tummy tuck or thigh lift would be an overkill in terms of invasiveness. Such patients are typically close to their target weight with a BMI of 30 or below, and have only moderately sagging skin. Learn about skin tightening candidates.

Yes, but this requires some explanation. Skin tightening is often referred to as a non-surgical tummy tuck. While this is not entirely true (skin tightening is applied under the skin and therefore is technically considered surgery as well), it is a good way to differentiate it from more invasive surgery.

A surgical removal of excess skin, like a tummy tuck, will always be more effective in eliminating all of the unwanted fat and skin, with immediate results. However, many patients hesitate to undergo surgery due to its longer recovery and resulting scars. And not all patients need it. For such patients, skin tightening is an excellent less-invasive alternative to tummy tucks and arm, thigh, and neck lifts. One slight difference: While tummy tuck results are immediate (once the swelling has gone down), skin tightening takes longer for final results to set in, sometimes improving skin tone for up to12 months. However, you’ll see a difference right after your procedure – just not as drastic as from a tummy tuck. Learn more about skin tightening vs tummy tuck.

You can use skin tightening to treat any area with saggy skin: stomach, flanks, back, bra rolls, arms, chest, and inner & outer thighs. Multiple areas can be treated in one visit. You can also treat the neck using the same device but an even thinner probe. This is a great alternative to a facelift. Learn more about non-surgical facelifts using skin tightening.

Results can be seen immediately after your skin tightening procedure. You may experience some bruising and/or swelling for the first week due to the combined liposuction. At your 6-week follow-up you will see the biggest difference. As more tissues coagulate over time, your results will continue to improve for 6-12 months. View our skin tightening before and after gallery to see results.

It depends on how your surgeon has customized the procedure. We have found that radio frequency lipolysis is best paired with traditional or power-assisted liposuction to loosen and remove fat cells before contracting the skin. You can have multiple areas treated. Your procedure can last anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on how many areas you are having treated.

Our skin tightening treatments with BodyTite and Renuvion follow the same regimen as liposuction. The area to be treated is first “tumesced,” meaning a thin probe is passed back and forth under the skin to administer the anesthetic. After the anesthetic has taken effect, you won’t feel any discomfort from the procedure, but you will be fully awake throughout.

For larger patients or multiple areas, additional IV sedation may be advisable. We also offer the patient-administered PRO-NOX pain management system with all our skin tightening and liposuction procedures.

It is important to know that all anesthesia carries a certain risk; however, anesthesia complications after skin tightening and liposuction are rare. The most common side effect you can expect from skin tightening is a certain amount of bruising and swelling after your procedure. This typically subsides after a few days, but the severity and duration varies from patient to patient. Cold compresses, elevation, and Ibuprofen can be used to alleviate any discomfort. Learn about other risks and side effects of skin tightening.

As with other minimally-invasive procedures, your recovery will take about 1-5 days. Patients can typically resume regular activities the next day as tolerated and are advised to wait a week before resuming strenuous exercise. Some bruising and swelling can be expected and will subside after 5 days. Learn about skin tightening recovery.

Broadly, it is a type of liposuction, with the official name of Radio Frequency Assisted Lipolysis, or RFAL for short. However, it uses neither physical force nor water liposuction to break up and remove fat. It uses heat energy to damage or “coagulate” fatty tissue in underlying cells to contracts the skin and stimulate the production of new collagen. It is most effective when used in conjunction with liposuction for maximum fat removal and skin tightening. Learn about liposuction vs skin tightening.

BodyTite and Renuvion are two similar and equally effective technologies that coagulate tissues to tighten skin. They both use radio frequency assisted lipolysis to apply targeted heat to the affected areas. They are both applied with thin wands under the skin. One difference is that Renuvion uses helium plasma, which enables it to heat tissues to 85 degrees Celsius in under a second. BodyTite operates at a slightly lower temperature and may therefore take slightly longer to complete. As both treatments are typically combined with liposuction for an overall 1-2 hour procedure, this time difference is not very significant. Learn more about how BodyTite compares to Renuvion.

Skin Tightening – Face

Yes. You can have a so-called nonsurgical facelift using either non-invasive or minimally-invasive techniques to rejuvenate your face by improving the appearance of your facial skin. Depending on the method, these results can be temporary or long-lasting. Learn more about non-surgical facelift types.

Depending on how you define it, a non-surgical facelift can take on many different forms. You could opt for an injectable or dermal filler, which is an effective but temporary fix, needing repeat treatments every 3-9 months. Slightly longer-lasting results can be achieved with a non-invasive radio frequency or ultrasound treatment such as Exilis or Ultherapy to promote collagen production and tighten the skin. The next step up in terms of results and longevity (but one step below invasive surgery) is a minimally-invasive skin tightening procedure using radio frequency assisted lipolysis (RFAL) such as FaceTite or Renuvion. RFAL skin tightening is what we refer to as a non-surgical facelift in this section. Learn everything about facial rejuvenation options.

 

The biggest benefit of a non-surgical facelift is that you can achieve surgical-like results without the surgery. This means no large incisions, much reduced post-op swelling or any kind of discomfort, and a much faster recovery. And the results will look entirely natural. View non-surgical facelift results.

A surgical procedure will always yield better results than a non-surgical one, but technologies like FaceTite and Renuvion are the best procedures in the market today that can give you results close to surgery – without the scars and downtime. Both methods provide dramatic improvements in skin laxity on the face and neck. In the past, this could only be addressed with a surgical facelift to remove the excess skin. Using radio-frequency energy, also referred to as Radio Frequency Assisted Lipolysis (RFAL), FaceTite and Renuvion can melt fat and tighten the skin to get surgery-like results. Learn more about the pros and cons of RFAL skin tightening vs surgery.

 

 

FaceTite and Renuvion utilize the same technology (radio frequency assisted lipolysis) to coagulate tissues and tighten skin. The targeted heat is applied to the affected areas using thin wands inserted under the skin. The difference is that Renuvion supplements the RF energy with helium plasma, allowing it to heat tissues to 85 degrees Celsius in less than a second. FaceTite heats tissues to a slightly lower temperature resulting in a slightly longer procedure. However, this difference should not concern you and is mainly a matter of surgeon preference. Read more about the differences between BodyTite/FaceTite and Renuvion.

Renuvion and FaceTite both apply radio frequency energy to tissues under the skin to contract them and thus reduce sagging. They are combined with liposuction to first remove fat tissues before the skin is tightened. Ultherapy applies ultrasound technology externally to the surface of the skin to contour the face or neck. Unlike FaceTite or Renuvion, Ultherapy requires several repeat treatments to experience your desired results.

Any areas on the face and neck where there is saggy skin can be treated. Double chin and jowls are popular areas, but any area with deep lines and loose skin can benefit from it. many patients see a dramatic improvement in the definition of their jawline from RFAL skin tightening.  (Areas other than the face can be treated as well. Read more about minimally-invasive skin tightening.)

As a minimally-invasive procedure, a non-surgical facelift using RFAL skin tightening is administered under local anesthesia. However, some patients can further decrease their anxiety and discomfort by adding PRO-NOX Pain Management to their procedure. PRO-NOX is a patient-administered anxiety relief option using laughing gas that patients can add to all our minimally-invasive procedures. Learn more about PRO-NOX pain management.

FaceTite and Renuvion are minimally-invasive procedures. Patients can go home after the procedure and resume regular activities within 1-2 days because there is no wound healing as is typical for surgery. As with any facial procedure, the “social recovery” varies from patient to patient depending on swelling and bruising, so it’s best to allow for up to a week of limited activity.

Yes. A non-surgical facelift with a minimally-invasive procedure like RFAL skin tightening lets you resume daily activities and recover faster than surgery. Learn more about non-surgical facelift vs facelift surgery recovery.

Results can be seen immediately after either one of these non-surgical facelift procedures. But what’s different from facelift surgery is that your results will continue to improve over time as your skin produces more collagen and renews itself. You will see your best results after 6 weeks, but they will continue to improve over 6-9 months (Renuvion) or up to 12 months (FaceTite).

Both FaceTite and Renuvion are FDA-approved to last for at least one year. However, some patients have experienced satisfying skin tightening effects for up to five years – compared to the eight to ten years of longevity resulting from a surgical facelift. This does not mean that within one to five years you will return to your pre-procedure appearance, it just means that you may experience a gradual reduction in overall tissue tightness similar to the natural aging process. Having a good skin care regimen, wearing sunscreen daily, and not smoking may help improve the longevity of your results.

Skincare

All of these treatments resurface the skin and stimulate collagen to promote new skin growth. But the techniques are different. Microdermabrasion is like an abrasive sanding of the skin surface. Microneedling reaches the skin under the surface by means of tiny needles. Both are great treatments for sensitive skin as well as darker skin tones that don’t respond that well to laser treatments, but laser treatments can achieve good results for certain skin issues. Chemical peels achieve similar results as the above treatments, but the process is chemical rather than physical, via the application of a liquid to the skin. Dermaplaning is a more manual form of resurfacing using a fine blade to peel away the outer layer of the skin. Which of these treatments works best is a matter best decided by you and your aesthetician once she has seen and evaluated your skin. Click here to learn more about what to expect from your skin treatment at NuBody Concepts.

Yes. Certain laser treatments don’t work well on darker skin tones, but this is where microdermabrasion and microneedling can step in to give you great results without the worry of hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, or other forms of burning.

Our Dermasweep microdermabrasion system is particularly well suited for sensitive skin, including rosacea-prone skin, blemish-prone skin and the area around the eyes, yet it is also strong enough for fine lines, wrinkles, tone and texture.

After your skin treatment, our aesthetician typically applies product to your skin. The removal of the outer layer of skin allows for these products to penetrate deeper for immediate rejuvenation, and we offer this as part of your treatment. In addition, we offer products to purchase for at home use from Alastin and PCA to continue your skin’s improvement with daily use.

The DOT laser skin resurfacing technology is the gold standard for sun overexposure and other signs of aging. It is fast, promotes the formation of new tissue as you heal, and your downtime is minimal. It can be used on the face as well as the neck, décolleté, and hands.

Yes. Our aestheticians are very skilled at scar removal by combining various skin treatments, and sometimes work minor miracles to remove scars you have carried with you for years, maybe even since puberty. Scar revision also works well to treat any kind of surgical scars, even if they are not recent.

Yes. Our aesthetician can work on areas like double chin, neck, arms, belly, or thighs. Anything you can think of can be treated with the non-invasive skin tightening options listed on this page. If you want more dramatic results, you may want to look into more powerful yet still non-surgical options such as BodyTite and FaceTite.

Tummy Tuck

During tummy tuck surgery (also called abdominoplasty) a plastic surgeon remove excess skin and fat from your abdomen to give it a flat, and tight, appearance. If necessary, the plastic surgeon also repairs the underlying abdominal muscles in case they are weakened or spread apart. There are several different types of tummy tucks depending on your body type and goals. Learn more about tummy tuck types.

Compared to other cosmetic surgery procedures, tummy tucks are among the most highest priced. They are more complex and lengthy to perform than liposuction or a breast augmentation, and are followed by a longer recovery. Asking if a tummy tuck is worth it is a valid question.

Patients on RealSelf rate the tummy tuck as 95% “worth it,” which is a very high score. Hardly any other procedure gives you such immediate and drastic results as a tummy tuck, and most patients absolutely love their results. Learn more about the cost of a tummy tuck.

As a cosmetic surgery practice, we do not accept any health insurance for any of our services. However, we offer very attractive financing options to help you budget for your procedure. Learn more about our interest-free payment plans through our medical financing providers.

A tummy tuck is intended for anyone who would like to achieve a flat abdomen with tight skin. This includes people who have successfully lost weight with diet and exercise but are left with a protruding belly or loose, drooping skin, and women whose abdominal wall, muscles, and skin are stretched or sagging postpartum. It is often the best option for older patients who have lost skin elasticity and typically can’t achieve good results with less-invasive fat removal and skin tightening procedures.

An ideal tummy tuck candidate is in good general health, medically cleared for surgery, a non-smoker. Patients who have had gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery should maintain a certain weight before surgery is recommended. Obese patients are advised to get closer to their target weight before undergoing any cosmetic surgery. The ideal BMI range for a tummy tuck is 30-40. Read about tummy tuck candidates.

Broadly, a BMI of 40 is the cutoff for cosmetic surgery. Candidates with BMIs above 40 typically have higher risks of complications, even if you’re otherwise in good health. If your BMI is between 30 and 40, you are considered a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Below 30 you might get similar results from a less-invasive procedure. Learn all about using your BMI as a guide to pick the right cosmetic surgery.

Most plastic surgeons require a patient to be 18 before performing surgery, but otherwise there is no age limit for a tummy tuck. For women, it may be a good idea to wait with a tummy tuck until after having children, although it is not a requirement. It may just save them from unsatisfactory results due to changes brought on by pregnancy. Another good time to have a tummy tuck is after substantial weight loss, often leaving a patient with excess folds of skin that hasn’t shrunk back.

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure where surgical incisions are made to remove fat and skin from the abdomen. It requires sutures, prolonged healing, and results in a scar – though your surgeon will expertly conceal it under the bikini line.

Liposuction is minimally-invasive and removes fat cells from under the skin via suction. It does not remove sagging or stretched out skin – although radio frequency assisted lipolysis when combined with traditional liposuction has been shown to achieve good skin contraction. Liposuction has a faster recovery and does not result in any scars.

If you have a lot of excess skin that has nowhere to go even if you remove the fat underneath, you will see much better results with a tummy tuck. However, by combining skin tightening with liposuction, patients with only moderately sagging skin may see fairly good results without needing a tummy tuck. Learn about tummy tuck vs liposuction for the best belly fat removal.

Yes. In fact, they are natural complements of each other, and combining them into one procedure when done right may reduce trauma and discomfort. Such a procedure is also called a lipoabdominoplasty. Read all about liposuction vs tummy tuck.

A tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure. It is simply designed to remove excess skin and some underlying fat from your abdomen. If you are interested in weight loss, please learn about the Orbera Weight-Loss Balloon program.

Having a tummy tuck includes the removal of fat in addition to the (surgical) removal of excess skin. This fat will be permanently gone and does not somehow “grow back” but this doesn’t mean you are home free. You could produce new fat cells by putting on new weight, so it is important to maintain a good diet and exercise program after a tummy tuck to preserve the results. View our tips on how to maintain good tummy tuck results for more information.

Both standard and mini tummy tucks begin with an incision in the pubic region below the bikini line — a short one for a mini tummy tuck, and a slightly longer one for a standard tummy tuck. A standard tuck can remove much more extra skin and also addresses loose muscles from either pregnancy or significant weight gain followed by weight loss. Learn more about standard tuck vs mini tuck and other tummy tuck types.

A tummy tuck does result in a scar, typically kept low in your pelvic area. A horizontal incision is made right below your bikini line, ensuring that it remains well hidden even when wearing a swimsuit. As with all surgeries, a tummy tuck scar will continue to improve over the course of 6-12 months. Additional skincare for scar revision is also an option.

The incision and resulting scar from a mini tummy tuck will be shorter than that from a standard or full tummy tuck. Women after pregnancy typically need a full tummy tuck to have their underlying muscle repaired. This may results in a scar spanning the entire width of the abdomen from side to side, or in larger candidates even slightly around the sides toward the back. However, in all cases the plastic surgeon places the incision so it is under the bikini line and thus hidden from view. View tummy tuck scars in our tummy tuck before and after gallery.

Yes. With the advent of radio frequency assisted lipolysis in recent years, good skin contraction results have become possible without surgery. Minimally-invasive procedure such as BodyTite and Renuvion have shown to achieve 35% to 60% skin contraction, giving eligible patients an excellent alternative to surgery. Learn more about a surgical vs a non-surgical tummy tuck.

With our combination of IV sedation with local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia, we are able to significantly reduce your recovery time to 3-5 days. However, we recommend a minimum of 2 weeks before resuming moderate-to-strenuous exercise or heavy lifting to allow for proper healing. It is important to follow the post-op instructions of your plastic surgeon. Read more about tummy tuck recovery.

Yes. It is possible to have a tummy tuck and go through pregnancy afterward. While some women prefer to wait with tummy tuck surgery until they are done with childbirth, there is no reason you can’t have a tummy tuck at any time. Read about having children after a tummy tuck.

Patients seeking a tummy tuck often also need to have their belly button restored to its youthful look. It might have sagged and need to be repositioned and/or reworked into an aesthetically pleasing shape. All this is part of tummy tuck surgery. Most plastic surgeons agree that belly button reconstruction is an important, if not the most important, part of a tummy tuck. Some people also refer to this as “designer belly button surgery.” Learn more about belly button reconstruction.

Tummy tucks achieve results as close to permanent as you can get in plastic surgery. However, no surgery can stop the aging process. As our skin ages, it loses elasticity, which leads to wrinkles and sagging. You will continue to age but from an earlier, younger looking point.

For a tummy tuck, this means that your abdominal skin will be nice and taut after your surgery. As you age, you will likely see renewed sagging, but if you maintain a healthy diet and commit to regular exercise, you can maintain your results very nicely. And even as your skin continues to age, that nice flat stomach you get after your tummy tuck should last you for many years, if not the rest of your life.

Weight-Loss Injections

Weight-loss injections consist of weekly injections of a drug called semaglutide (more popularly known and Ozempic or Wegovy). Developed as a diabetes drug, it essentially slows down the emptying of the stomach. This sends a signal of “fullness” to the brain, which in turn suppresses feelings of hunger. Semaglutide also helps to control blood sugar levels, which leads to higher levels of energy and can improve overall health.

As a weight-loss injections patient, you will first have a consultation to discuss your goals and asses whether you’re a candidate. It is possible that you may qualify for our Orbera weight-loss balloon program as an alternative to injections, and we’d discuss the advantages of each approach. At your initial visit we will also take your labs. If your labs come back within normal limits, you will return a week later for your first injection and be given a month’s supplies for administering your weekly shot. We will continue to see and monitor you on a monthly basis until completion (typically at 6 months).

Your initial injection will be administered at our office by a nurse. We will instruct you how to administer follow-up injections at home until the next office visit.

Semaglutide is administered on a staggered schedule, with the dosage increasing every month for four months until the full dosage is reached. You will continue to receive/inject weekly shots, but the dosage will be increased after months 1, 2, and 3. We will prepare your injections for you so that you know exactly how much to administer every week.

Semaglutide is a long-acting medication and it will take time to show its full effect. It takes about 2 weeks to have an effect on the body. Many patients start seeing an effect within the first month. You can definitely expect to see results after 8 weeks, with results continuing to improve over the treatment period.

Every patient is different and there are no guarantees, but many studies have been conducted to estimate the weight loss that can be achieved with semaglutide. One widely quoted study resulted in a 15% weight loss in a group of nearly 2,000 adults who participated, and most other findings seem to settle on the 15% number. It is important to note that these studies include lifestyle intervention – meaning dietary advice as well as exercise. This is an essential component. Without learning to adopt a healthier lifestyle and portion control, it is very difficult to achieve permanent weight loss.

The main – and intended – effect of semaglutide is a loss of appetite. Some other possible side effects – especially during the first few months while the dosage is gradually increased – are dizziness, constipation, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, and diarrhea. Typically these subside after a few weeks of using the medication. Observing the diet recommended by your provider (see below) will help keep any undesired side effects to a minimum.

Patients should stick to a diet of fairly bland and light foods and eat slowly, in smaller portions. Aim for vegetables and food high in protein while trying to limit calories. Drink water, unsweetened tea, or any kind of clear unsweetened beverage. Things to avoid: fast food, fatty, greasy, or fried food, foods high in sugar. Your doctor or dietician will advise a reduced caloric intake combined with increased physical activity for best results.

Rebound weight gains can and do happen after a patient ends a semaglutide regimen. Once the drug is no longer in your system, it no longer suppresses your appetite. The goal is to use the period while on the drug to learn better eating habits and portion control. Weight-loss injections can also be used to lower your weight sufficiently to be a candidate for the Orbera weight-loss balloon program, which has achieved excellent long-term results for our patients.

Surgery

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The Dos and Don’ts Before and After Liposuction

Are you frustrated with stubborn fat that won’t go away despite your best efforts? Have you been considering liposuction surgery but feel overwhelmed by the large amount of information surrounding the procedure? You’re not alone. At NuBody Concepts, we understand the challenges of achieving your desired body shape through cosmetic procedures. That’s why we offer a range of treatments at our premier Tennessee-based surgery center and MedSpa. Our Memphis and Nashville locations provide personalized solutions to help you reach your aesthetic goals.

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