You may have heard of body contouring, but you might not know very much about it. It is a term that is used fairly often and not explained very well. If you want to know some information before coming into the office, keep reading. Here we have answered some of the most common questions about body contouring.
Body contouring is a combination of surgeries that remove excess skin and fat from different areas of the body. This is often performed after significant weight loss or other major physical changes. The surgeries that are used during body contouring help to improve your silhouette and figure. This can help you regain self- confidence and be the last step in your weight loss journey. Some of the procedures can even help to restore the strength and support that has been lost in muscle tissue. Body contouring is made up of different procedures that can be customized to each patient’s desired results. Your doctor will assess the amount of excess skin and fat that you have in different areas of your body to determine which surgeries will be right for you.
What Procedures are Performed During Body Contouring?
There are many surgeries that can be included in your body contouring procedure, depending on your desired results. Common surgeries that are performed include, neck lifts, tummy tucks, thigh lifts, arm lifts, and liposuction. Here is a little more information on each of these procedures that are usually included in body contouring.
A neck lift treats excess skin and fat that is found beneath the chin. This procedure tightens the skin and gives a younger, firmer appearance. A double chin and any fullness under the chin will be reduced or removed. The chin therefore has a more proportional, defined, and natural contour. This can make a big difference to the appearance of the entire face. It can instantly make you look like you have lost weight and take years off of your appearance.
Tummy Tuck
Also known as an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area to give your stomach a flatter and smoother appearance. This procedure also helps to strengthen and restore abdominal muscles that have been weakened and separated. It can also remove skin that has stretch marks. A tummy tuck is able to make your stomach look slimmer, your abdominals firmer, and help your body to look more proportionate.
A thigh lift is able to give your thighs a better shape and definition by removing extra body fat and skin. This results in a better proportionate appearance to your body type and weight. Often the sagging skin on your thighs is not something can be fixed through diet and exercise alone. This is because once skin loses its elasticity, it cannot conform back to your body’s new smaller shape.
An arm lift, just like other body part lifts, gets rid of extra skin, removes pockets of fat, and reshapes the treatment area. During an arm lift, the skin under the arm that hangs from the armpit to the elbow is tightened. This can make a dramatic difference in your appearance, often making patients look more youthful. It also helps to tighten the underlying supportive tissue. Sagging skin under the arm is very hard to correct through diet and exercise. Usually an arm lift is the only way to effectively correct this problem.
Liposuction
Liposuction differs from body lifts, as it only removes pockets of fat. The results of this procedure are slimmed and reshaped treatment areas. This improves the contours of these areas and gives you a more balanced appearance. It can be performed on many different areas of the body, such as thighs, chest, back, ankles, buttocks, abs, and waist. Liposuction can be used in conjunction with body lifts to achieve optimal results.
Why Consider Body Contouring?
Many patients consider body contouring after significant weight loss, whether naturally or through bariatric surgery. This is because after major physical change your skin becomes looser and begins to sag. There are often stubborn fat pockets in certain parts of your body that will not budge, no matter how much you diet or exercise. These can be caused by a number of things, including genetics. If having body contouring after losing a lot of weight, it is important that you have maintained this weight loss for a few months before having the surgery. When your weight begins to fluctuate after surgery your skin may become loose again and cause your results to change.
What is the Recovery Process Like?
Most of the surgeries associated with body contouring are invasive procedures. This means that the recovery process involves a good amount of rest to ensure proper healing. Every patient’s recovery time will depend on which surgeries they undergo and their doctor’s recommendations. The amount of pain and discomfort will also vary, depending on the patient’s pain tolerance. While recovering, be sure to follow your doctors post op instructions for an optimal recovery.
What are the Risks of Body Contouring?
As these are surgeries, there are potential risks and complications. The exact risks are dependent on which procedures you and your doctor decide are best for your desired result. Your doctor will go over each potential complication during your consultation, these may include, bleeding, fluid accumulation, blood clots, anesthesia risks, and deep vein thrombosis.
How Long Can I Expect My Results to Last?
Results following body contouring are usually long lasting as long as weight is maintained. Your body will continue to age normally and will lose elasticity and firmness. This is a natural process that occurs as we become older. Other surgeries and non-invasive treatments may be necessary to achieve your desired results. This can be discussed with your doctor during your initial consultation.
You may have other questions about body contouring. Well don’t worry, we can answer all of your questions during a comprehensive consultation. Give our office a call today!
