Significant weight loss offers a lot of health and comfort benefits that allow you to be more active and feel more confident. However, this can also mean experiencing sagging skin in one or more areas. Body contouring surgery is an effective solution to restore definition to your silhouette. There may be also small pockets of stubborn fat you want to get rid of when no amount of exercise has removed them.
From your initial consultation with a plastic surgeon to your full results after recovery, the process may take several months. The good news is that body surgery offers comprehensive enhancement that your provider can tailor to your specific needs.
Meet Surgery Eligibility Criteria
Stabilizing your weight is an important part of your pre-surgery preparation. Surgeons usually recommend that you have done so for about three months before your surgery. This ensures that you meet your nutritional needs and can optimize your body contouring results. If you are still in the process of losing weight, you should wait to pursue the procedure.
If you are a smoker, you should stop using tobacco products for several weeks before surgery to minimize risks and complications during and after the procedure.
Body contouring surgery usually requires up to six weeks of recovery, so check with your employer that you can take the time off. You should also make sure that you have family and friends who can support you in the days or weeks following the surgery.
While these procedures are usually outpatient ones, you need someone to drive you home and take care of daily activities while you rest when leaving the surgery center. Some body contouring procedures require placing a drain to reduce the accumulation of fluid in areas where your surgeon removed excess skin. You may also need to wear compression garments and avoid strenuous activity for a while.
Get an Individualized Treatment Plan
When you first see your plastic surgeon, they perform a thorough assessment of your current situation, including a physical examination and a review of your medical history. They also ask you questions about your lifestyle and your aesthetic goals. They can walk you through the different options that can help you and address any questions or concerns you may have.
One thing to understand is that body contouring surgery will create scars. While your surgeon will place them in the most discreet locations and that they will fade over time, scars are permanent. They can nevertheless be an acceptable trade-off to enjoy a well-defined appearance.
Your initial consultation is also a great opportunity to determine which procedure you should begin with if you want to improve several parts of your body. An experienced plastic surgeon can recommend where to start thanks to their expertise in both form and function. When you prioritize a specific body area, you may decide against pursuing additional procedures afterward or go for ones different from your original idea.
Your plastic surgeon can tailor a treatment plan to meet your needs, which may include a surgery that addresses one or multiple concerns or schedule several procedures to help you achieve your cosmetic goals.
Address Multiple Concerns
Body contouring surgery can create a well-defined silhouette by removing excess skin and persistent fat and reshaping the underlying support tissues. Depending on your needs, plastic surgery can restore definition to a variety of areas.
Common body contouring surgeries include:
- Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty
- Brazilian butt lift
- Arm lift or brachioplasty
- Breast reduction and/or lift
Liposuction can remove stubborn fat from various body areas like the stomach, buttocks, or thighs. If
Body contouring surgery is an outpatient procedure, and you will be under general anesthesia during it. The surgery can take between two to five hours depending on the specific area you surgeon treats.
Enjoy Long-Lasting Results
Body contouring procedures can:
- Reshape and lift sagging breasts
- Remove unsightly excessive skin
- Tighten skin for a more youthful appearance
- Add definition to arms, legs, buttocks, and midsection
Since body contouring usually happens once you have reached your goal weight, you should enjoy long-lasting results for years. By keeping a healthy diet and staying physically active, your stable weight allows you to preserve the defined silhouette the surgery helped you achieve.
Contact West Coast Plastic Surgery Center today at (805) 978-8545 to learn more about our plastic surgery services for body contouring!