BODY

  • Dr. Diana Forbes is the only plastic surgeon in Western Canada who performs a minimally invasive, nearly scar-less, drain-less rectus diastasis repair through a small incision in the belly button. The internal core is tightened without the need for a traditional, long abdominal incision. This procedure can be done endoscopically. This is a specialized procedure for women and men who do not have loose abdominal skin, but are still bothered by the abdominal muscle separation and the “dome” appearance of the tummy. This procedure is not the same as a “mini” tummy tuck, the endoscopic tummy tuck has the smallest scar of less than 3 cm. Only a small percentage of patients with rectus diastasis are candidates for the scar-less technique. Please set up a consultation with Dr. Forbes if you think you might be a candidate.

    Anesthesia: General anesthetic

    Time required: 1-3 hours depending on the patient’s anatomy.

    Recovery period: Mobility is not affected after surgery. Any workout or strength training can begin after the 6 week mark. Core training can begin after 3 months. Patients will need to wear a compression garment full time in the recovery period.

    Dr. Forbes’ Preference: This procedure is a 2-surgeon operation. I always work with a general surgeon (Dr. Jason Forbes) who operates the endoscope while I focus on the surgical repair of the abdominal muscles. This set-up allows me to keep the scars to a minimum (less than 3 cm).

    Cost: The cost of an endoscopically assisted tummy tuck or rectus diastasis repair with Dr. Diana Forbes is $17000+ (additional liposuction is often required).

  • A Tummy Tuck, or "Abdominoplasty", is a surgical procedure that 1) removes the excess folds or loose skin from the central to lower abdomen 2) tightens the internal core / repairs the muscle separation (rectus diastasis repair). The result is a stronger core with a more contoured abdominal profile.

    Do you do drainless tummy tucks?

    Yes, some patients are great candidates for drainless tummy tucks. Progressive tension sutures are used to eliminate the need for drains.

    Will a tummy tuck affect my future pregnancies?

    Having this surgery will not influence your fertility or the ability for women to carry a child, however future pregnancies or significant weight gain or weight loss after surgery will affect the postoperative results.

    Can liposuction be done at the same time as a tummy tuck?

    Yes, I combine liposuction for better abdominal contouring.

    Anesthesia: General anesthetic

    Time required: Approximately 3 hrs with liposuction.

    Recovery period: Any workout or strength training can begin after the 6 week mark. Core training can begin after 3 months. Patients will need to wear a compression garment full time in the recovery period.

    Technique: A curved lower incision is designed in a place where it's easily hidden by underwear or swimwear, the skin is lifted up towards the chest and the excess skin removed. Abdominal muscle separation is repaired with strong stitches and reinforced. A new belly button is created and delicately reshaped.

    Dr. Forbes' preferences: In nearly every tummy tuck patient, I will use liposuction for 2 main reasons: 1) decrease the fat tissue in areas around the waistline and 2) increase definition to the tummy. I also perform internal abdominal wall tightening at the same time as the tummy tuck surgery. I am very particular about the shape, size and contour of the new belly button. The shape and size is different between females and males and I take this into consideration when planning the surgery.

    Cost: The cost of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty with Dr. Diana Forbes is $15000+.

  • Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes localized fat deposits to sculpt and reshape the body's contours. It can be very useful to treat fatty tissue under the chin, around the waist and hips.

    Anesthesia: General anesthetic

    Time required: Highly variable depending on the size of the area and severity of the condition.

    Recovery period: Back to regular, non strenuous activity in 1 week.

    Dr. Forbes' preferences: I always use the S.A.F.E. technique with tumescence for liposuction for improved contour, minimizing bleeding and discomfort. Liposuction can be combined with a skin tightening procedure to maximize the aesthetic outcomes.

    Cost: The cost of liposuction with Dr. Diana Forbes is highly variable, starting at $6500+.

  • A Mommy Makeover is a term used to describe a combination of procedures used to restore changes that have occurred as a result of pregnancy. I personally prefer the term " Body Restoration" because it is really about restoring the appearance of the body that she once had before pregnancy. The customized combination of procedures includes a tummy tuck with either a breast augmentation or breast lift.

    Can a tummy tuck and breast lift be done at the same time?

    Potentially. Safety is always the priority. Combining too many surgeries together will increase the risk of complications. I assess every patient as an individual so we can develop a personalized plan together to maximize efficiency and recovery while not compromising safety.

    Anesthesia: General anesthetic

    Time required: 4+ hours

    Recovery period: Most people can return to non strenuous work

    Technique: Refer to the desired procedure description.

    Dr. Forbes' preferences: Refer to the desired procedure description.

    Cost: The cost of post pregnancy body restoration / mommy makeover with Dr. Forbes is highly variable depending on which procedures are combined and the degree of restoration required. Typically this is a combination of the cost of tummy tuck which is $15000+ in addition to the cost of a breast procedure.

  • Male Breast Reduction, or "Gynecomastia" surgery, is a procedure that removes excess breast tissue in men so as to achieve a flatter, more masculine chest contour. Usually men who seek gynecomastia surgery are bothered by the puffiness or thickened breast glands under the nipples.

    Anesthesia: General anesthesic

    Time required: 1-2+ hours

    Recovery period: Garment wearing for 6 weeks full time

    Dr. Forbes' preferences: I prefer an incision in the areola (colored part of the nipple) to remove the glandular tissue. I almost always do this procedure with liposuction to improve the overall contour of the chest.

    Cost: The cost of a Male Breast Reduction / Gynecomastia Correction with Dr. Diana Forbes is approximately $11,000.

  • Perineal Rejuvenation: Labiaplasty, clitoral hood reduction, labia majora augmentation and fat grafting

    Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the inner labia (labia minora) either to correct enlarged labia minora or correct asymmetry. A clitoral hood reduction is used to address the excess skin. A labia majora augmentation means either a reduction of the size of the labia majora surgically or volumizing it with fat grafting.

    Will labiaplasty change sexual arousal or sensation?

    Labiaplasty will not decrease clitoral sensation or decrease the response to sexual stimulation. In fact, most women report that their body confidence and sexual well-being improve after perineal rejuvenation.

    Anesthesia: IV sedation or general anesthetic

    Time required: Variable 1+ hrs

    Recovery period: Back to non strenuous work within 3-5 days

    Technique:

    There are two techniques:

    • Wedge excision or trim excision. I use the trim excision exclusively and I’ve added personal modifications to create an aesthetic outcome. Labia majora reduction and clitoral hood reduction can be done at the same time to address asymmetry or excess skin.

    Dr. Forbes' preferences: This is a procedure with a very high patient satisfaction. I use my specialized “imprinting” technique for labia minora reduction to ensure precision and symmetry. I never completely amputate the inner labia and I always create a gentle transition from the clitoral complex down to the delicate inner skin flaps. I use fat grafting to the labia minora or majora in some patients to add volume for additional rejuvenation. My patients are given a special combination of medications and a curated care package to use after surgery to speed up healing, minimize discomfort, bruising and swelling.

    Cost: The cost of Labiaplasty / Perineal rejuvenation with clitoral hood reduction with Dr. Diana Forbes is $6250+

  • There is a surgical way of addressing hyperactive sweat glands. Many patients with this issue would have already tried Botox or other medications. Although effective, Botox provides temporary relief. For sweating in the axilla, there is a surgical, more permanent solution which is physically removing the sweat glands from underneath the skin. Usually after one treatment, patients can notice a significant improvement.