PLASTIC SURGERY IN KENYA

What it is: Lipo 360 is liposuction done all the way around the midsection: the belly, waist, sides (love handles), and upper and lower back. Instead of treating one spot, the surgeon shapes the whole middle of the body at once, so it looks smooth and balanced from the front, sides and back.

Who it suits: People who are close to their ideal weight but have stubborn fat around the middle that doesn't shift with diet and exercise. Good skin elasticity is important, because the skin needs to shrink back neatly after the fat is removed.

How it is done: A numbing fluid is first injected to reduce bleeding and discomfort. Through a few small cuts, a thin tube (cannula) is used to loosen and suction out the fat. The surgery usually takes two to four hours.

Recovery: You will wear a compression garment for about four to six weeks to control swelling and help the skin settle. Most people return to desk work within one to two weeks and to exercise after about four to six weeks.

Results: A slimmer, more defined waist that is visible within a few weeks and keeps improving for three to six months as swelling goes down. The removed fat cells do not come back, so results last as long as your weight stays stable.

What it is: A BBL makes the buttocks fuller, rounder and more lifted using your own fat instead of implants. It shapes two areas in one procedure: the places the fat is taken from become slimmer, and the buttocks become curvier.

Who it suits: People who want more volume and shape in the buttocks and who have enough spare fat elsewhere, such as the belly, back or thighs, to transfer.

How it is done: Fat is removed by liposuction, then cleaned and prepared. It is carefully injected into the buttocks to build shape where it is needed. For safety, the fat is placed only in the layer just under the skin and never deep into the muscle; this careful technique is the most important part of a safe BBL.

Recovery: You will avoid sitting or lying directly on your buttocks for about two to three weeks or longer, as advised, using a special cushion when you must sit. This protects the new fat while it builds a blood supply. A compression garment is worn for several weeks, and most people return to light work in about two weeks.

Results: Not all of the moved fat survives; usually around 60–80% stays. The final shape appears after about three to six months. The fat that survives is permanent and behaves like normal body fat, so it can grow or shrink with weight changes.

What it is: A tummy tuck removes loose, hanging skin and extra fat from the lower belly and tightens stomach muscles that have been stretched or separated. Liposuction cannot remove skin or repair muscles, which is why a tummy tuck is often needed after big body changes.

Who it suits: Women after pregnancy, and anyone who has lost a lot of weight and is left with loose skin or a belly that bulges even after exercise. It is best done once you have finished having children and your weight is stable.

How it is done: The surgeon makes a cut low across the belly, from hip to hip, removes the extra skin and fat, stitches the stomach muscles together and pulls the remaining skin down to make it smooth and tight. The belly button is usually repositioned so it looks natural. A smaller version, the mini tummy tuck, treats only the area below the belly button.

Recovery: You may walk slightly bent forward for the first week while the skin relaxes. Small drains may be placed for a few days to remove fluid. Most people return to desk work in about two weeks, and heavy lifting and hard exercise wait for about six weeks.

Results: A flatter, firmer stomach and a stronger core. The scar sits low enough to be hidden by underwear or a swimsuit and fades over about a year. Results are long-lasting, although a future pregnancy or large weight gain can stretch the area again.

What it is: Breast augmentation increases the size and fullness of the breasts, or improves their balance when one breast is smaller than the other.

Who it suits: Women who feel their breasts are too small, who have lost volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss, or who have breasts of noticeably different sizes.

How it is done: It is usually done with implants, either silicone gel or salt-water (saline). The implant is placed through a small cut, most often hidden in the fold under the breast, and sits either above or below the chest muscle. For a smaller, more natural increase, your own fat can be used instead (fat transfer).

Recovery: Expect tightness and soreness for the first week or two. A supportive surgical bra is worn for several weeks. Most people return to desk work within about a week and to full exercise after about six weeks.

Results: Fuller, better-shaped breasts. Implants are long-lasting but not lifetime devices; some people need them replaced at some point in the future, so regular check-ups are recommended.

What it is: A breast lift raises and reshapes breasts that have started to sag, giving them a firmer, more youthful position. It also moves the nipple higher and can make a stretched areola (the darker skin around the nipple) smaller.

Who it suits: Women whose breasts have dropped because of pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes or age, and who are happy with their size but not with their shape or position.

How it is done: The surgeon removes extra skin and tightens the remaining tissue. Depending on how much lift is needed, the cut goes around the areola, around the areola and straight down, or also along the fold under the breast.

Recovery: Similar to breast augmentation: soreness for a week or two, a surgical bra for several weeks, a return to desk work after about one to two weeks and exercise after about six weeks.

Results: Higher, perkier breasts. A lift does not add size, so it is often combined with augmentation for women who want both lift and fullness. Future pregnancies or big weight changes can affect the result.

What it is: Breast reduction removes extra breast tissue, fat and skin to make large, heavy breasts smaller, lighter and better shaped.

Who it suits: Women whose large breasts cause back, neck and shoulder pain, deep grooves from bra straps, rashes under the breasts, difficulty exercising, or trouble finding clothes that fit. Because it often treats real physical problems, it is considered both cosmetic and reconstructive.

How it is done: The surgeon removes tissue and reshapes the breast, usually through a cut around the areola, down the front of the breast and along the fold underneath. The nipple is moved to a higher, natural position.

Recovery: Most people return to desk work in about two weeks and to full activity after about six weeks. Many patients notice relief from pain almost straight away.

Results: Smaller, lighter, lifted breasts and, for most people, a big improvement in comfort and daily life. Breastfeeding may be harder after a reduction, so this is worth discussing if you plan to have children.

What it is: Vaginal rejuvenation is a group of treatments that improve the look, feel or function of the vaginal area.

Who it suits: Women who have noticed changes after childbirth, ageing or menopause, such as looseness, dryness, mild bladder leakage when laughing or coughing, discomfort, or labia that cause irritation or self-consciousness.

How it is done: Surgical options include tightening the vaginal canal and surrounding muscles ( vaginoplasty ) and reshaping or reducing the labia ( labiaplasty ). Non-surgical options use laser or radiofrequency energy to gently heat the tissue, which encourages it to tighten and improves moisture; these take less than an hour and usually need a few sessions.

Recovery: After surgery, expect swelling and tenderness for one to two weeks, and avoid sex, tampons and hard exercise for about four to six weeks. Non-surgical treatments have little or no downtime.

Results: Improved tightness, comfort and confidence. Surgical results are long-lasting, while non-surgical results build over a few weeks and may need a top-up session every year or so.

What it is: Hip dips are the natural inward curves on the sides of the body, just below the hip bones. Hip dip filling adds volume to these areas to create a smoother, rounder curve from the waist down to the thighs.

Who it suits: People who would like a smoother, more hourglass-shaped outline. Hip dips are normal and often caused by the shape of the pelvic bones, so filling them softens the curve rather than removing it completely.

How it is done: Most often with your own fat: it is taken by liposuction from areas such as the belly or back, prepared, and injected into the hip dips. Dermal fillers can be used instead for a non-surgical option.

Recovery: With fat transfer, recovery is mostly from the liposuction: some bruising, swelling and a compression garment for a few weeks. With fillers, most people go back to normal activities the same day.

Results: As with a BBL, part of the transferred fat is absorbed by the body, but the fat that survives is permanent. Fillers give an instant result but are temporary, usually lasting about one to two years.