Body Contouring: Defy Nature with Liposuction, Tummy Tucks, & Butt/Thigh/Arm Lifts

Oh to have the body we had at 18! Most of us would love to restore our former selves and get back our bod' but nature won't allow it, without surgical intervention. In these cases, we can turn to body contouring. The most common contouring procedures include liposuction, abdominoplasty, and breast reshaping. Also, thigh, gluteal, and arm tightening procedures are becoming more popular. Most contouring procedures target several areas since pregnancy and weight reduction affect more than one site.

Liposuction is still the world's most common cosmetic surgical procedure. It is best for spot reduction of bulges that don't seem to fit with the rest of your body. This procedure does not tighten the skin so it is good to understand that this is not a treatment for obesity. Your plastic surgeon should thoroughly discuss the procedure with you. Many patients expect more than what liposuction alone deliver. The best areas for liposuction are thighs, abdomen, love handles, and the male chest's "man boobs".

Pregnancy usually makes our breasts hang low, below the fold of the breast, and swing to and fro'. A breast lift,or mastopexy, removes the excess skin and repositions the breast tissue and nipple to its former-pregnancy self. You will no longer fail the pencil test.

Abdominoplasties are more dramatic body contouring procedures. Exercise won't tighten loose belly skin. In an abdominoplasty, loose and stretch-marked skin is removed and the entire area from the rib cage to the groin can be tightened. The belly button is preserved and reshaped but the surrounding skin is tightened.

Perhaps you need a lift to your gluteals, thighs, or arms. After gastric bypass surgery or other bariatric surgery, you most likely will have excess skin over your entire body. This is called skin laxity. Arm tightening or brachioplasty is useful to tailor excessive skin from the back of the arms. There is a trade-off though; an extensive scar. Keep this in mind when deciding if it is worth the trade-off. Gluteal and thigh-lifts are best for treating lax skin but not so hot on fat reduction. This procedure is not as effective in obese patients.

Body contouring procedures are better for ridding the body of excess skin once weight loss is complete. These procedures are performed in stages for safety reasons. Of course, with any surgery, procedures are complex and you should have a detailed consultation and planning with your plastic surgeon.