Body Contouring
What is Body Contouring?
Types of Body Contouring
Why Body Contouring?
What Conditions Are The Body Contouring a Solution to?
Steps to getting your procedure
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost of Procedure
Procedure

Body Contouring

Due to significant weight loss, skin becomes lax and loses its elasticity. Body contouring, also known as body sculpting, helps remove sagging skin and fat pockets from the underlying tissues and regain skin elasticity. Body contouring results in a body that is fine-tuned and well-proportioned. Surgical body contouring consists of various procedures, like arm lift, breast lift, facelift, lower body lift, circumferential body lift (belt procedure), medial thigh lift, and tummy tuck. Non-surgical body contouring consists of lipolysis that uses old, heat, lasers, radio frequency, and other methods. Surgical procedures are risky and have more downtime, but the results are far more noticeable than the non-surgical methods.

What is Body Contouring?

As we age, many unavoidable physical changes occur in our bodies. Pregnancy also plays its part in stretching and sagging of skin, resulting in drooping of underlying tissues, slow metabolic activity, and easy accumulation of fats. Whereas, sometimes, excessive weight loss results in loss of skin elasticity. 

Body contouring following significant weight loss reduces skin laxity and fat while improving the shape of the underlying supportive tissue. The result is a better-proportioned appearance with well-defined contours. 


Types of body contouring procedures 

Body contouring encompasses a range of procedures.


Surgical body contouring

Different types of surgical body contouring procedures are: 

Arm lift: helps correct drooping skin of the upper arms 

Breast lift: helps correct flat and sagging breast tissues 

Facelift: helps fix skin laxity in the lower face, jowls, neck, and cheeks 

Lower body lift: helps reduce skin laxity in the abdomen, buttocks, inner and outer thighs 

Medial thigh lift: reduces sagging of the inner thigh 

Tummy tuck: helps remove loosely hanging flaps of muscles hanging over the abdomen 

Surgical body contouring is often necessary for people with shabby appearance after massive weight loss. Body lifts become the most suitable option when people have excessive fat deposits or liposuction doesn't give satisfactory results. Often, surgeons combine more than one type of body lits to get the target results. They thoroughly analyze your lifestyle, medical record, and desired outcomes before recommending a specific surgical body contouring procedure.


Non-surgical body contouring

Non-surgical body contouring, called lipolysis, also comprises several procedures. Different types of non-surgical body contouring methods include:

Cryolipolysis: cools fat cells to a very low temperature and destroys them 

Injection lipolysis: targets fat cells by injecting deoxycholic acid into the body 

Laser lipolysis: kills fat cells using laser technology 

Radiofrequency lipolysis: targets fat cells using ultrasonic waves

Liposuction: sucks out fat deposits using negative pressure 

Non-surgical lipolysis is a non-invasive method to remove fats. It is worth mentioning that non-surgical body contouring is not a weight loss solution. Ideal candidates are the ones who are close to their desired weight but want to eliminate stubborn fat pockets that won't go by exercise or diet control. 

Non-surgical body contouring procedures have a few additional benefits: they don't need general anesthesia, don't leave scars, have less downtime, and have few to no side effects. After non-surgical body contouring, you can enjoy perfect curves as long as you maintain your ideal weight. 

Types of Body Contouring

  • Which Body Contouring is Right for You?

    It is a common perception that a controlled diet, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle are the secret to a fine-tuned and sculpted body. But the fact is genetics and old age imbalance the equation. Even if you are going well with your daily workout and diet plan, still a few areas of your body would make you feel under confident and portray a negative self-image. People get excess flabby skin and flaps of muscles after significant weight loss.

    A range of body contouring methods is there to design a type of curve that you think is right for you. But choosing one out of many body contouring methods currently available, is confusing and leaves patients wondering which treatment plan is right for them. There are many surgical and non-surgical options providing outstanding results. People close to their ideal weight but have stubborn fat pockets consider liposuction and non-surgical body contouring procedures their ultimate solution.

    However, those with excessive fat reduce it through surgical body contouring. Surgical body contouring is regarded as the gold standard in fat removal techniques and provides the most astonishing results. However, the correct procedure for someone will depend on their anatomy, fat and sagging skin extent, and individual preferences.

  • Cryolipolysis

    Cryolipolysis, or CoolSculpt®, is a minimally invasive fat removal technique that destroys fat cells by cooling them to freezing temperatures.

    The surgeon places a cup-shaped device on the area where fat cells are to be destroyed. That device freeze-cools the fat cells and destroys them, keeping the muscles, skin cells, and never tissues unharmed as they freeze at even lower temperatures.

    Cryolipilysis is ideal for those who want to reduce fat pockets without shaping their bodies. Each session takes 35 to 60 minutes, ideally giving a 25% fat reduction. It takes a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 2 to 3 months to exhibit ideal results, and the results retain as long as you maintain a healthy weight. The procedure causes slight discomfort due to intense cold temperatures.

  • Injection lipolysis

    Injection lipolysis is a fat-removal procedure involving injecting a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid into the patient's body. Deoxycholic acid is otherwise found naturally in human bodies. Deoxycholic acid can destroy fat cells that the body metabolizes later within a month.

    Kybella® is an example of injection lipolysis, focused on treating fullness in the chin. One session of injection lipolysis is almost 30 minutes long, and multiple sessions are required to achieve the targeted results.

    Some swelling and bruising are the common side effects of injection lipolysis. However, you can resume daily life activities immediately after the procedure.

  • Laser lipolysis

    Laser lipolysis is a non-invasive method to get rid of fat cells by heating them through laser energy. The laser energy heats and destroys fat cells. At the same time, the cooling mechanism of the treatment ensures that your skin cells and nerve tissues remain unharmed. The body's lymphatic system eliminates those dead cells within 12 weeks after the procedure.

    SculpSure® and Zerona® are examples of laser lipolysis. It targets fat in the abdomen and flanks. One session of laser lipolysis is approximately 25 minutes long, and multiple sessions are required to achieve the ideal results. Typically, there is no downtime. Perfect results are retained as long as you maintain the ideal weight.

  • Radiofrequency lipolysis

    Radiofrequency lipolysis is the safest way to treat stubborn fat pockets. This method involves ultrasonic radiations that are very gentle on the skin while treating fats.

    The method targets muffin tops, love handles, abdomen, and back fat. The procedure is typically one hour long, and multiple sessions are required to achieve the ideal results. Results retain as long as you maintain the target weight. The procedure is safe and gives very mild to no discomfort, and you can resume your daily activities immediately after the procedure.

    UltraShape®, truSculpt®, and BTL Vanquish ME® are examples of radiofrequency body contouring methods.

  • Lifts and tucks

    Lifts and tucks are intended to eliminate superfluous fat and additional skin. These systems are perfect for those with abundant droop and loss of skin flexibility after weight reduction or having a baby. For example, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast lift (mastopexy), facelift (rhytidectomy), arm lift (brachioplasty), double chin surgery, lower body lifts, and medial thigh lift. Surgery is considered the best fat removal technique since it gives the most amazing and conspicuous outcomes. However, the healing time relies upon the strategy embraced and the level of the method, and it leaves scars that vanish over the long run.

  • Liposuction

    Liposuction is a common cosmetic procedure used to get rid of extra fat by means of suctioning it away with negative pressure. Since 1992, the number of individuals opting for liposuction has increased by 264%. The amount of fat that can be eliminated depends on the region being treated and the amount of fat present. Generally, the outcome is long-term as long as you keep your weight at the optimal level according to your BMI. The best person for liposuction is someone who is at an ideal weight but has stubborn fat accumulations that are not responsive to diet or exercise. This procedure typically involves general anesthesia. The areas that are typically treated with liposuction are the abdomen, upper legs, hips, neck, and chest area.
Body Contouring

Why Body Contouring?

Age, genetics, and sun damage are the elements that influence how the skin will react to harm. For some males and females, their skin does not align with their body shape or size, leading to it becoming lax and heavy. Despite accomplishing their weight-loss target, the extra skin makes them seem overweight and impedes their movement even if they have become physically fit. Body contouring processes help remove the additional skin and provide a number of other advantages. Body contouring should not be confused with weight loss. It is not a strategy to shed weight, but rather it helps shape the body and target areas where weight loss doesn't have an effect, or after substantial weight loss, the body has surplus skin.
Numerous ways of contouring exist, depending on the fat removal amount and the area to be treated. Nonetheless, surgical methods are considered to be the most effective in getting the desired result. A few of the multiple benefits provided by body contouring include enhanced mobility, a more toned and contoured body shape, improved self-confidence and esteem, and a better overall physical appearance. A few of the many benefits offered by body contouring are:

  • More defined, well-shaped body parts
  • Younger, thinner appearance
  • Smoother skin
  • Symptomatic improvement
  • Significantly improved comfort

What Conditions Are The Body Contouring a Solution to?

Stubborn fat can deposit in different parts of your body due to chronic stress, improper eating habits, hormonal changes, or even dieting. Similarly, pregnancy, weight loss, UV sun exposure, smoking, anxiety, and even your genes can cause excess sag of skin on your body; these are the known reasons for fat deposits. Sometimes, fat deposits in the skin in the form of benign lumps and tumors, called lipomas, in more than one area. The cause of such tumors is usually unknown. These harmless fatty deposits are generally due to genetic reasons. People with lipomas and benign fatty tumors have a family history of them. Research also supports that lipomas may develop in areas where an injury has caused a significant impact. Body contouring methods such as liposuction, lipolytic injections, and surgical contouring methods are best known for treating chronic lipomas, fat deposits, and excessively drooping skin. :

  • Treat chronic swelling and lipomas

    Lipomas, also called skin lumps, are benign (noncancerous) growths that gradually grow under the skin. Lipomas are rarely harmful and are fat deposits found commonly between 40 to 60 years of age. Approximately 1 in every 1000 people tend to develop lipomas once in their lifetime. Liposuction is one of the ways to remove lipomas. During liposuction, the fat in the lipoma is sucked or pulled with a small tube (cannula) attached to a suction-producing device. The cannula is inserted through a small incision. The lipoma, which remains after liposuction, can be cleared with the help of a small incision. Injection lipolysis is another method to break down fat cells inside the lipoma. This treatment method shrinks the lipoma but doesn’t completely remove it.

  • Removal of stubborn fat pockets

    Body contouring methods include both surgical and nonsurgical ways to treat stubborn fat pockets. Sometimes, after all the exercise and diet control, fats don't go. In contrast, fat deposits are sometimes found in stubborn areas like upper arms that are not affected by strenuous activity. In that case, body contouring methods like the arm lift, breast lift, facelift, abdominoplasty, tummy tuck, laser treatments, ultrasonic waves, and liposuction play a significant role in removing fat pockets. Results from surgical methods are more pronounced than those from nonsurgical procedures.

  • Removal of excess skin after weight loss

    If a person experiences large amounts of weight loss, there are a number of advantages. However, after this major weight loss, caused by either a lifestyle change or a surgical procedure, the skin and tissues may lose their elasticity. This means that the skin and tissue cannot adjust to the new, smaller body size. Body contouring, which follows significant weight loss, gets rid of surplus drooping skin and fat and also adjusts the shape of the tissue underneath. The result is a more proportional look with more distinct contours.

Steps to getting your procedure

Step 1

Research

Step 2

Matching with a doctor

Step 3

Getting financing

Step 4

Booking a consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

A. Body contouring methods like liposuction, lipolysis, tucks, and lifts help remove or destroy fat cells. The results achieved from surgical procedures are more noticeable. However, once you achieve your desired results, there is no going back. But if you change your dietary habits and lifestyle or gain weight, you can put the fats on again. Aging also plays a significant role in the sagging or drooping of the skin again. Hence, the results of body contouring procedures are permanent, keeping the weight constant.

A. Body contouring or body sculpting is a complex procedure, often combining more than one treatment method. With multiple ways available currently, people are skeptical about the efficacy of the technique and the value for their money. So the short answer is body contouring methods are worth the cost and incisions. Not all treatment methods are made equal. The results from surgical procedures are more noticeable than nonsurgical methods. But nonsurgical methods are typically non-invasive with minimal side effects and no downtime. However, the results mainly depend on the extent of fat removal, the method adopted, and the experience of the surgeon performing the procedure.

A. Body contouring is a personal choice. Therefore, before going through the procedure, it is imperative to consider the risks and potential complications associated. Before the procedure, your surgeon will discuss your medical history, current health conditions, risks and complications, and desired outcomes. They will ask you to fill out a consent form after discussing all possible risk factors. Risks associated with body contouring are: scars, numbness, fluid accumulation, bleeding, blood clots and pulmonary embolism, poor wound, healing, skin loss, infection, and contour irregularity. It is essential to discuss all your concerns with your surgeon.

A. Nothing in the formula of nonsurgical fat removal methods is harmful to breastfeeding. However, CoolSculpting (Cryolipolysis) shouldn't be done while breastfeeding because it involves freezing the cells of the target area, causing them permanent damage, and they eventually die. The dead cells are entirely removed from the body within 2 to 3 months. During this early period, women should avoid inflammatory factors that could eventually reach their breast milk. However, once breastfeeding is over, it is safe to have the procedure done. For surgical fat removal, procedures other than breast lift can be carried out while breastfeeding. However, waiting until your post-pregnancy weight has stabilized is recommended before investing in these treatments. Going for these treatments during breastfeeding days may also hinder your breastfeeding routine. Otherwise, there is no harm.

Cost of Procedure

Because body contouring is a collection of procedures, therefore the cost may vary widely. Also, the charges depend directly on the method chosen, the extent of fat removal, the doctor's experience, and the location of the doctor's office. The price doesn't include operation room charges, preoperative and postoperative medicines, or surgeon's fees. Since body contouring is a cosmetic procedure, insurance plans usually don't cover it. However, if the excess sag in the skin or fat deposits lead to a serious medical concern, insurance companies can consider it.