Lipedema Abdominoplasty in Beverly Hills, CA
Tummy Tuck for Lipedema – Lymphatic Sparing Tummy Tuck
WHAT IS A LIPEDEMA TUMMY TUCK?
When you have lipedema (painful fat syndrome), the elasticity of your skin naturally declines, especially with rapid fluctuations in weight. The abdomen is specifically susceptible to loose, hanging skin for this reason.
Our award-winning plastic surgeon, Dr. Jaime S. Schwartz, offers reconstructive surgery of the abdominal skin for men and women at Total Lipedema Care (TLC) in Beverly Hills, CA.
It is no secret that lipedema throughout the abdomen can be frustrating. The fluid-filled fat makes the skin easy to bruise, pulls with heavy fibrous tissue, and continually damages the skin.
Challenges Caused by Abdominal Lipedema:
- Enlargement of the upper abdomen
- Persistent fatty tissues that cause infection and mobility issues
- Textural changes to the skin
- Pain and discomfort
Lipedema fat cannot be lost with conventional diet and exercise — it is only through surgical intervention that this type of fat can be eliminated.
When performed as a medical necessity, our team at TLC will assist in providing the necessary documentation for your insurance company’s request for coverage. This surgery allows patients the chance to experience life without the overhanging skin on the abdomen that results from advanced lipedema.
To discover more about how a tummy tuck can be a life-improving surgery, please call or fill out our online request form to get the process started.
BENEFITS OF A LIPEDEMA TUMMY TUCK
A tummy tuck specifically for lipedema provides profound benefits that go far beyond aesthetics. This medically necessary procedure is designed to alleviate symptoms, improve your health, and restore your quality of life.
Key benefits of a lymphatic-sparing abdominoplasty include:
- Improved Health and Hygiene – By removing the overhanging skin (pannus), you eliminate the environment where chronic rashes, fungal infections, and painful sores develop. This significantly reduces the risk of serious skin complications.
- Increased Mobility and Comfort – The removal of heavy, painful tissue makes everyday movements like walking, bending, and exercising much easier. It reduces chafing and the physical strain on your back and core.
- Relief from Pain and Discomfort – Lipedema tissue can be heavy and tender. An abdominoplasty helps relieve the constant pulling sensation and pain associated with a large, fibrous pannus.
- Enhanced Confidence and Well-being – Addressing the physical challenges of abdominal lipedema can lead to a significant boost in self-esteem, a more positive body image, and greater freedom in clothing choices.
- Opportunity for Combined Procedures – For many patients, lipedema affects more than just the abdomen. A significant advantage of this surgery is the ability to combine it with other body contouring procedures like lymphatic-sparing liposuction on the arms or thighs during the same surgical session.
This comprehensive approach allows for more holistic results with the convenience of a single recovery period.
AM I CANDIDATE?
A comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis of lipedema are both needed to be a candidate for an abdominoplasty for lipedema.
Insurance companies may require an extensive list of documentation and qualifications for the surgery to be covered.
Women and the small percentage of men who meet the clinical criteria of lipedema will greatly benefit from this procedure. Hanging skin after weight loss can cause serious health complications for patients with lipedema, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.
Medical Reasons for a Lipedema Tummy Tuck:
- Painful areas that hurt with clothes and compression garments
- Hard to find proper fitting compression due to the disproportionate size
- Unable to lose weight in this area
- Open wounds or sores
- Chronic rashes
- Thin skin with frequent tears
- Bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics (which can lead to more complex problems like sepsis)
Important Note: A tummy tuck for lipedema is not a weight loss procedure. It addresses the byproduct of lipedema—loose skin and unyielding lipedema fat—with liposuction and skin tightening.
A Safer Approach to Anesthesia
If you are a patient that cannot undergo surgery with general anesthesia, don’t count yourself out. Dr. Schwartz uses his Schwartz Rapid Recuperation™ protocol, which involves total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).
- No general anesthesia gas will be put into your body.
- An IV with sedation is used, which swiftly leaves the body once it is removed after surgery.
HOW DOES A LIPEDEMA TUMMY TUCK PROCEDURE WORK?
Tummy tuck surgery for lipedema is performed in an outpatient setting using our Schwartz Rapid Recuperation™ protocols and TIVA anesthesia. You will gently fall asleep after the IV is placed in your arm.
Dr. Schwartz will follow a detailed treatment plan based on your specific needs. The surgical process includes:
- Incision Planning – Your incision shape and size will be selected based on the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed. Dr. Schwartz makes incisions in less visible areas so they can be easily concealed by a swimsuit or underwear.
- Fat & Skin Removal – The procedure involves the removal of loose skin and fat tissue using the thinnest incisions possible to limit scarring. Fat is removed with lymphatic-sparing, water-assisted liposuction.
- Muscle Repair (If Needed) – Abdominoplasty performed for medical reasons may not include tightening the underlying abdominal muscles unless it is deemed medically necessary to repair damage.
- Closing the Incision – After all the excess skin is excised, the remaining skin will be pulled tight and sutured.
- Dressing – You will be bandaged and dressed in a compression garment to aid recovery.
After your surgery, it’s important to follow your scar care instructions so your incisions heal flat and blend into your natural skin.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING RECOVERY?
After your tummy tuck surgery, you will be monitored and then released wearing a compression garment to minimize swelling.
Your Recovery Timeline
- Immediately After Surgery – Walking and standing will be slow-going at first. You should plan to rest for several days.
- The First Few Days – Thanks to the Schwartz Rapid Recuperation™ standards, you should be up and walking much quicker than if you had a general anesthetic. Many of our TLC patients are standing and moving around well enough to go out and about the next day. Keeping your body moving is essential.
- Within Two Weeks – You should be able to resume most normal, non-strenuous activities.
- Around 6 Weeks – Exercise can typically be resumed at a later date, commonly closer to the two-month mark or whenever you are cleared by Dr. Schwartz.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?
Contact our clinic to schedule a personalized consultation. Dr. Schwartz will review your medical history and will work together with you to develop a treatment plan.
Our clinic is conveniently located off Wilshire and La Cienega in Beverly Hills.