Body Contouring and Its Advantages
Body contouring, also known as body sculpting procedures, are those that aim to reshape an area of the body, specifically to get rid of excess fat or skin due to massive weight loss and aging. Patients who undergo body contouring procedures report younger appearances, smoother skin, symptomatic improvement, and more defined body parts. Non-surgical and surgical options are available for patients and they are listed below.
Procedures You Might Consider
Non-surgical procedures:
Cryolipolysis - commonly known as “fat freezing”, this non-surgical treatment uses cold temperature to reduce localized fat deposits that do not respond to diets and exercise.
RF lipolysis - this treatment uses ultrasound technology to contour the body
Injection lipolysis - this is a procedure wherein a fat-dissolving drug is injected to the patient; it encourages the body to remove the dissolved fat cells naturally through the lymphatic system
Ultrasound cavitation - also known as ultrasonic cavitation, this technique breaks down fat cells by applying pressure on them through ultrasonic vibrations.
Red light therapy - referred to as low-level or infrared light therapy, this treatment uses low irradiance laser that emits wavelengths of different lights to target fat that sits below the surface of the skin
Surgical procedures:
Panniculectomy - done for abdominal contouring, this surgery removes stretched out, excess fat and skin hanging from a patient’s abdomen; it is usually performed after they undergo massive weight loss
Circumferential body lift - this is a surgical procedure wherein incisions are made around the entire circumference of the body to remove excess fat and skin
Breast rejuvenation - this surgical procedure lifts the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding around them so that they may be reshaped
Abdominoplasty - this procedure is also known as “tummy tuck”; it removes excess abdominal skin and fat as well as tightens the muscle of abdominal wall
Breast lift - also known as mastopexy, this procedure involves the removal the breasts’ excess skin as well as the reshaping of the breasts’ surrounding tissue in order to provide them a new contour
Buttock lift - this procedure removes excess skin and fat from the buttocks and is commonly done with a tummy tuck to improve the appearance of the lower body
What You Can Expect After Treatment
Recovery after surgery can take several weeks. Some surgical patients may get a surgical drain or a thin tube into them to drain bodily fluid and prevent swelling in the treated area. Moving around will be advised to avoid blood clots but overactivity will be strictly prohibited. Discomfort is a part of the healing process and medication will most likely be given to address them. If no additional concerns arise, the patient may get back to normal activity within six weeks or less.
Find out more about what treatment is appropriate and best for your concerns. You can find specific surgical information here if you’re interested to know more about a specific treatment.