UPPER BUTTOCK SHELF TREATMENT
Any patient with lipedema will tell you that a thigh lift for this rare adipose disorder is so much more than a cosmetic surgery to improve the aesthetics of the thigh.
UPPER BUTTOCK SHELF TREATMENT – SURGICAL BUTTOCKS SKIN TIGHTENING & FAT REMOVAL)
WHAT IS SHELF BUTT (UPB) TREATMENT?
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jaime S. Schwartz at Total Lipedema Care (TLC) in Beverly Hills, CA addresses all types and stages of lipedema with nonsurgical and surgical interventions, which includes upper buttock shelf treatment. With lipedema, you may acquire isolated fat symmetrically on the upper buttock (also known as the buttock shelf) that has a large, abnormal, and disproportionate shape. These very noticeable pockets of fat may cause the buttock to be very sensitive to touch, poor circulation, bruise easily, and may make it too painful to sleep on your back. In advanced stages of lipedema, this type of fat is very resistant to diet, exercise, and nonsurgical treatment. We understand that this can make living with lipedema very difficult mentally and physically.
Having a shelf butt can also be a source of embarrassment as the abnormal shape of your backside will not fit in properly. Your clothes may fit right at the buttock and hips but too large everywhere else. It can be frustrating to not understand why you are gaining weight in targeted spots without the rest of your body following suit. Dr. Schwartz will meet with you during a private, one-on-one consultation at TLC. You may have lipedema, which will influence how you experience your life and will have an impact on your health at any weight. Once properly diagnosed, you may be relieved to know that what you are experiencing with your weight is actually a genetic fat disorder called lipedema that can be managed.
WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
If you suspect that the abnormal fat on your upper buttocks is simply more than just too many calories and not enough calories out, then you should see a medical provider that will listen to your concerns. You may have been dismissed by doctors in the past as simply needing to “lose some weight.” If you have lipedema, though, you have been misdiagnosed. Whether you are very slender or morbidly obese, you can still have lipedema. Men and women (mostly women) with lipedema, which is resistant to diet and exercise, have tried to shed the excess pounds with limited success. While there is no blood test to check if you have lipedema, Dr. Schwartz is very proficient in recognizing it for a clinical diagnosis.
For shelf butt treatment, you will need to exhibit large pockets of fat on the uppermost area of the buttock (perhaps even into the hips). The skin in this area will easily bruise, can be painful, put extra pressure on your joints, and interfere with your ability to walk properly. Treatment for this condition will not cure it. However, Dr. Schwartz can offer nonsurgical and surgical therapies to help you endure this life-long condition. Plus, it may prevent the development of a severe medical condition called lymphedema. We want the best for you and your health.
WHAT IS THE SURGERY TECHNIQUE?
Surgery for the upper buttock shelf consists of therapeutic fat removal with water-assisted liposuction. This type of liposuction is lymphatic sparing and will reduce the fluid buildup in the fat. In an outpatient setting with total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), your procedure will begin with Dr. Schwartz making various incisions on both sides of the buttock to insert a cannula (a special tube used to remove the fat). After the lumpy, hard lipedema fat is loosened with a jet-stream of water, it will be suctioned out. He will equally perform liposuction on both sides. Once this is complete, you will be sutured, bandaged, and dressed in a compression garment.
The compression garment should always be worn as a part of your Schwartz Rapid Recuperation™ strategy and ongoing treatment. Because TIVA medications wear off quickly and are typically out of the body in a few hours, you are less likely to feel nauseous after the procedure. In fact, our IV medication has an anti-nausea effect, resulting in a shorter time in the recovery room and an overall smoother experience.
We will discuss the specific details of your aftercare and recovery period in a pre-operation appointment at Total Lipedema Care. Plus, you will be educated on how to care for your skin after your surgery. Your health is very important to us, and we are here to answer questions and provide medical assistance as it is needed.
WHAT TO EXPECT
If you choose to ignore the signs and symptoms of lipedema, your pain and symptoms will only get worse. You can expect:
- Your quality of life to decline
- To lose mobility or the ability to walk without pain
- Enlarged body parts in more areas than the first noticeable area
- Chronic, painful pressure and swelling
- An increased risk of skin bacterial infections, poor blood circulation (blood flow), and/or the development of lymphedema
Controlling your diet and performing regular exercise may work in the early stages of this genetic disorder. However, you really need to see a doctor that can help you navigate treatment so that it does not progress into a life-threatening condition.