Whether surgical or non-surgical, body contouring procedures help remove excess skin and fat after dramatic weight loss. These body contouring treatments reduce and smooth out your body’s shape by getting rid of stubborn fat, sagging skin, and rough, uneven contours.
It’s a powerful treatment for perfecting your figure following significant weight loss, childbirth, or the natural aging process. First and foremost, it’s important to know that body contouring is not a substitute for weight loss.
It is not a solution to weight loss. Body contouring can strengthen the body’s proportions and treat stubborn localized fat deposits. It shouldn’t, nor can it, supplant a healthy lifestyle or the need for regular exercise and balanced nutrition.
Knowing the pros and cons of body contouring will help you make the right choice. Here’s a closer look at what body contouring can—and can’t—do.
Things Body Contouring Can Do
Here are things body contouring can do to transform your physique and reveal your true self. It’s intended to be a more focused solution to more specific concerns, especially following dramatic weight loss or as part of a more deliberate cosmetic strategy.
Enhancing Body Shape Post-Weight Loss
Though weight loss may be attained through diet and exercise, medications, or bariatric surgery, the side effects can persist as excess skin and stubborn fat.
Body contouring procedures, such as tummy tucks or arm lifts, can remove this skin, creating smoother contours that complement your new weight.
Taking this step can make a world of difference to confidence and comfort in everyday life.
Reducing Excess Fat
Body contouring succeeds where weight loss fails by removing localized fat deposits that are difficult to lose through conventional methods. Procedures including BodyTite or liposuction can treat the abdomen, thighs, arms, and back for excellent results.
No one wants to take the invasive route unless there is no other option.
Improving Muscle Tone and Skin Tightness
State-of-the-art technology such as BTL Emsculpt and Sciton Skintyte is designed to build muscle and tighten skin. These treatments are especially ideal for areas such as the abdomen and glutes, giving the body a more contoured and rejuvenated look.
Providing Non-Invasive Options
For those who prefer non-surgical alternatives, options like CoolSculpting or radiofrequency treatments offer comparable fat reduction with little to no downtime required. Results are typically visible within three weeks, with the possibility of maintenance sessions required in the future.
Supporting Staged Procedures
If there’s more than one area that needs attention, body contouring can be done in stages so you can heal between treatments. This flexibility makes for a safer and more manageable process.
Things Body Contouring Can’t Do
Through body contouring, you can easily smooth, shape, and redefine your body, helping you achieve a natural-looking appearance.
Just as equally important is understanding what it can’t do. When you know what body contouring can and can’t do, you’ll be able to set more realistic expectations and enjoy optimal results.
It Can’t Guarantee a Flat Abdomen
Even though body contouring is effective for fat loss or skin tightening, a flat tummy usually means having a tummy tuck. This surgery resolves diastasis recti or excess abdominal skin, which non-surgical techniques can’t fix.
It Can’t Completely Eliminate Fat Cells
Body contouring treatments, whether surgical (liposuction, abdominoplasty) or non-invasive (CoolSculpting, Emsculpt), work by removing or shrinking existing fat cells.
Caring for your body is essential to maintaining results. Body contouring is not a fix-all solution.
It Can’t Replace Healthy Habits
Body contouring is not a weight loss solution. It is ideal for people at or near their target weight who just require assistance in stubborn areas.
To maintain the results in the long term, you will need to eat a nutritious diet and incorporate regular physical activity.
It Can’t Permanently Erase Cellulite
Some procedures can lessen the appearance of cellulite, but no procedure can get rid of it entirely. What’s more, results are not uniform, and maintenance treatments are usually required to continue progress.
It Can’t Deliver Permanent Results
For non-invasive options such as laser treatments or radiofrequency, expect results to last 1-3 years. Factors like aging, fluctuations in weight, or lifestyle habits can impact how long results last.
It Can’t Ensure Uniform Results
The results differ, depending on each patient’s age, skin elasticity, and general health. Fewer than 1% of patients have significant complications, but variations between individuals make for no promises.
Who is the ideal candidate for body contouring?
Body contouring is a highly tailored technique used to treat extra skin, stubborn fat, or places that are resistant to typical weight control methods.
A thorough consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the first step in determining if it is correct for you. This consultation takes into account your overall health, medical history, and cosmetic goals to develop a personalized approach.
Stable Weight and Overall Health
Those who have maintained their goal weight for a minimum of six months to a year are usually the ideal candidates.
Waiting 18 months following bariatric surgery helps patients to stabilize their weight before beginning body sculpting. This increased stability reduces the likelihood of problems and improves long-term outcomes.
Having strong general health is critical, as recuperation can be difficult at times. You should not have any comorbidities, such as uncontrolled diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Addressing Excess Skin and Health Concerns
Body contouring is especially beneficial for individuals with a lot of hanging skin. Excessive skin after major weight loss can pose numerous problems in your daily life. It might result in rashes and infections.
Eliminating this superfluous skin not only makes movement more pleasant, but it also boosts confidence. According to research, more than 60% of patients feel better about themselves after surgery.
Be a New You with Body Contour
Body contouring provides a completely safe, noninvasive method to smooth out your overall shape and enhance your body’s natural lines.
Book an appointment at the Sadeghi Center for Plastic Surgery if you’re considering body contouring.