Body contouring utilizes a variety of body sculpting techniques to mold areas of the body to achieve the aesthetic target of the client. It is a field of plastic surgery that is rapidly expanding to meet the requirements of people who want to look and feel good about themselves [1,2]. This procedure is often used after major weight loss to improve the appearance of skin and tissues, which lack the elasticity to conform to the change in the body’s size. It is also used to improve loose and sagging skin which occurs during the aging process.
Surgical Body Contouring Procedures
These are procedures that require the use of general or local anesthesia, surgical incisions and recovery time. There are different types of surgical techniques which target different areas of the body. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Arm Lift Surgery (Brachioplasty)
This procedure contours the underside of the arms from the armpit to the elbow [7]. The aim is to make the arm appear more toned by reducing excess sagging skin, localized pocket of fats and tightening the underlying supportive tissue [7].
- Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)
This surgical technique aims to reduce any signs of aging of the face/neck by drawing back the skin and lifting it [7,5]. Any loose skin, excess fat, fold lines, and jowls that develop on the face and neck is reduced [5]. This brings back a youthful appearance but does not change your basic appearance.
- Breast Lift Surgery (Mastopexy)
This surgical technique is aimed at producing firmer and raised breasts giving them a perky appearance [7,10]. This is done by getting rid of any unwanted skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape them. Mastopexy alone does not change the size of an individual’s breast but should be done together with either breast augmentation or breast reduction. In breast augmentation the size of the breasts increases by using breast implants or fat transfer [7,10]. However, breast reduction reduces the size of breast by removing unwanted fat, skin and glandular tissue to remove any discomfort due to large breasts [7,10].
- Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
This surgical technique removes any surplus skin, subcutaneous fat and tightens abdominal wall muscles [7]. This is aimed at producing a flat and toned abdomen which sometimes cannot be achieved by exercise or maintaining your normal weight.
- Lower Body lift
This is a surgical technique that improves the contour of the thighs and buttocks by removing excess skin and fat of the thighs [7]. A thighplasty produces firmer and proportioned youthful looking thighs [7]. This is mostly common after significant weight loss. On the other hand, a gluteoplasty uses implants or fat infiltration, this augments the gluteal region giving it a contoured appearance [4].
- Lipoplasty/ Liposuction
This surgical technique specifically removes surplus of body fat giving the body a slimmer look. It also removes fat in areas that don’t respond well to exercise or diet. This however does not make it a replacement for exercise or dieting. Liposuction can be done in conjunction with lower body lift, abdominoplasty and brachioplasty to give the body a smoother, toned and slimmer sculpted look [4,8].
Benefits
There are many advantages of body contouring. These include:
- Improved body appearance
- Increased self confidence
- Rejuvenated and toned skin
- Youthful appearance
- Loss of stubborn fat that does not respond to exercise
- Improved hygiene, reduced infection and irritation caused by loose skin 6[2].
Risks
All surgical procedures have a degree of risk attached to them that every patient is informed about prior to our team performing surgery. The following risks, though relatively uncommon, may occur and vary from surgery to surgery [5,8]:
- Excessive bleeding or blood clots
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia
- Hematoma (a pocket of blood under the skin) that will need to be drained
- Infection at the surgical site
- Pain or swelling lasting longer than expected
- Loss of sensation
- Asymmetry (both sides do not look the same) e.g breast or face lift
- Scarring
Recovery
After surgery, each patient is given a detailed individualized recovery plan. Usually, the patient is allowed to walk as early as the first day, but strenuous activities are avoided for at least two weeks [5,6]. The patient is prescribed medication to manage pain, encouraged to walk daily to prevent clots and constipation, and to wear compression garments.
It takes approximately up to four weeks to make a full recovery depending on the surgery [5,6]. Scars and bruises will be present for a few weeks and it can take up to six months to fully appreciate the changes [5]. There will be specific instructions for the patient depending on the surgical technique used.
If you believe body contouring is right for you, feel free to schedule a surgical consultation with us today.
References
- Marija B., Irena J. (2016). The History of Body Contouring Surgery. [Accessed on 09/06/2022]. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/66282
- Sarwer B., D, Polonsky M.H. (2016). Body Image and Body Contouring Procedures. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 39. 1039-1047.
- Gabriel A. (2022). Abdominoplasty. [Accessed on 10/06/2022]. Available on the Medscape App
- Cárdenas-Camarena, Lázaro. (2005). Various Surgical Techniques for Improving Body Contour. Aesthetic plastic surgery. 29. 446-55; discussion 456. 10.1007/s00266-005-0037-9.
- Facelift. (2019). [Accessed on 09/06/2022]. Available from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmeticprocedures/facelift/
- Body Contouring. (2022). [Accessed 09/06/2022]. Available from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/body-contouring%3famp=true
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (2022). Body Contouring. [Accessed 09/06/2022]. Available from https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/body-contouring
- Naidu S., N. (2020). The Ultimate Guide to Body Contouring. [Accessed on 09/06/2022]. Available from https://www.google.com/amp/s/slideplayer.com/amp/10702355/
- Salati, Sajad. (2022). Non-invasive body contouring: A review. Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists. 32. 156-167.
- British Association of Aesthetics Plastic Surgeons. (2016). Breast Uplift. [Accessed 09/06/2022]. Available from https://baaps.org.uk/patients/procedure/5/breast_uplift_mastopexy