Body Surgery Sydney

Contour, skin and lesion surgery for the trunk and limbs.

Body surgery covers operations that change the shape or contour of the trunk and limbs, along with the surgical removal of skin and soft tissue lesions. Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Specialist Plastic Surgeon, performs abdominoplasty, liposuction, chest contouring, removal of lumps and bumps, and skin cancer surgery from her rooms in Paddington, Sydney.

Some of this work is reconstructive, such as removing a skin cancer and repairing the defect, or repairing abdominal muscles separated by pregnancy. Some is cosmetic, such as refining a contour that has not changed with diet and exercise. The assessment is the same in both cases: what is causing the concern, what surgery can change, what it cannot change, and whether the trade-offs of an operation make sense for you.

Surgery is performed at St Luke’s Hospital in Potts Point, East Sydney Private Hospital, Sydney Day Hospital, The Skin Hospital in Darlinghurst and Double Bay Day Hospital, under either local or general anaesthetic depending on the procedure.

Who body surgery may suit

• Loose abdominal skin or separated abdominal muscles after pregnancy or weight loss
• Localised fat deposits that have not responded to sustained diet and exercise
• Enlarged male breast tissue or a chest contour that causes discomfort
• A cyst, lipoma, skin tag or other lesion that is catching, growing, inflamed or changing
• A biopsy-proven skin cancer needing excision, or a defect needing reconstruction after Mohs surgery
• Adults in reasonable general health, at a stable weight, who understand that scars are part of every operation

Body procedures we offer

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty, commonly called a tummy tuck, removes excess abdominal skin and fat and repairs separated abdominal muscles. Mini, full and extended techniques differ in the length of the scar and how much skin is removed. It reshapes the abdomen and is not a substitute for weight loss.

Liposuction

Liposuction removes localised pockets of fat through small cannulas to refine contour in areas such as the flanks, thighs, abdomen or under the chin. It is not a weight loss procedure and it is not a treatment for obesity.

Chest Contouring

Chest contouring reshapes the male chest, including surgery for gynaecomastia, the enlargement of male breast tissue. Depending on whether the excess is glandular tissue, fat or skin, treatment may involve liposuction, direct excision of gland, or removal of skin. Gender affirming chest surgery is covered on its own page.

Lumps and Bumps

Benign skin and soft tissue lesions, including epidermoid cysts, lipomas and skin tags, can be removed under local anaesthetic in most cases. Any lump should be assessed before removal, and tissue is sent for histopathology where clinically indicated.

Skin Cancer Surgery

Australia has among the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma differ in behaviour and are managed accordingly, with excision, confirmation of margins by histopathology, and reconstruction using direct closure, skin grafts or local flaps where needed, including after Mohs surgery.

Recovery

Recovery depends on the procedure, from a single dressing after a small excision to several weeks of restricted activity after abdominoplasty. Individual healing varies and the following are general indications only.

• Minor lesion removal usually means a dressing for a few days and sutures out at around seven to 14 days.
• After liposuction or chest contouring, compression garments are typically worn for several weeks while swelling and bruising settle.
• After abdominoplasty, most patients need around two to four weeks away from work and about six weeks before resuming heavy lifting or core exercise.
• Oedema can take three to six months, sometimes longer, to fully resolve after contouring surgery.
• Scars are permanent and generally continue to fade for 12 to 18 months.

Risks and considerations

Every operation carries risk. Common to most body procedures are bleeding, haematoma, infection, seroma, delayed wound healing, numbness or altered sensation, contour irregularity, asymmetry, unfavourable scarring and the possibility of revision surgery. General anaesthetic carries its own risks, and longer procedures increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, which is why compression stockings, early walking and sometimes blood-thinning injections are used.

Smoking, diabetes, obesity and some medications raise the risk of wound complications, and these are assessed before surgery is offered. Results depend on your tissue quality, your anatomy and how you heal, so outcomes differ between people and no particular result can be promised.

Your consultation with Dr Maryam

A referral, usually from your GP, is required before a consultation for cosmetic surgery in Australia, and a cooling-off period of at least seven days applies between informed consent and surgery, or at least three months for patients under 18. Referrals for medical concerns such as a suspicious lesion follow the usual pathway.

Dr Maryam will examine you, explain which procedure or combination is relevant, and discuss the risks and the alternatives, including non-surgical options and doing nothing, before you make a decision. Fees are quoted after the consultation. Some reconstructive procedures may attract a Medicare item number, while purely cosmetic surgery does not. Rooms are at 2c Heeley Street, Paddington NSW 2021, phone 1300 067 668.