Dieting and exercise can help you get closer to your perfect body, but sometimes you need a little extra boost. Body contouring includes surgical and non-surgical procedures to get you feeling, and looking, your very best. This is where body contouring can help dramatically improve your appearance, self-confidence, and overall outlook on life.
Body contouring is a surgical, or nonsurgical, procedure that seeks to improve the appearance of skin and tissue by reducing or altering the fat composition in your body. These procedures can remove stubborn pockets of fat, loose skin, or move fat from one area of the body to another.
It is often called body contouring because a plastic surgeon will shape and mold elements of your body to obtain a desired look. It can lead to tighter skin, less excess fat, and a more toned physique.
There are some good reasons why millions of people seek surgical or nonsurgical body contouring every single year. If you’re thinking about making a step towards boosted confidence and physique, here’s everything you need to know about body contouring.
How Does Body Contouring Work?
Body contouring essentially works by eliminating or reducing fat and skin in order to craft a more desirable body. This can be done with invasive surgery procedures or with more non-invasive, non-surgical ones.
The exact procedures differ, but this is what you can expect before your body contouring experience.
The Consultation
First things first, you’ll need to meet with a plastic surgeon to discuss your motivations and goals with a body sculpting procedure before moving forward.
During the consultation, your plastic surgeon will ask you some questions like:
Why do you want to get body contouring done? And on what part of the body?
What previous surgeries have you had?
Do you have any medication allergies, or are you currently taking any medication or supplements?
This is also the time for you to ask questions to your plastic surgeon. Feeling anxious, either due to excitement or nerves, is very normal at every step of this process. If you have any concerns, hesitations, or curiosities, your plastic surgeon is there to help you through them. It’s their job to make sure you’re comfortable before, during, and after the procedure.
Also, your surgeon will use this time to do a general health evaluation to see if there are any risk factors you should know about. They’ll also make measurements of your body and possibly mark your skin with ink to help visualize any incisions, scarring, or other factors.
The Procedures
The scale of the procedure will determine if you need general anesthesia or just local anesthesia in one part of the body. Additionally, some procedures won’t even need to numb you at all.
Surgical procedures that may require anesthesia and larger incisions include:
Mastopexy (Breast Lift): This procedure raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue.
It helps create a more youthful breast contour.
Gluteoplasty (Brazilian Butt Lift): While there are many variations, the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) enhances the volume of the buttocks by collecting fat from one area of the body and injecting it into the buttock region.
It can be used to shape a more voluptuous bottom or help sculpt a more defined, athletic butt.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): This removes excess fat and skin and restores weakened muscles to create a smoother, firmer abdominal profile.
It’s popular for people who have lost a lot of weight but are unable to lose some specific pockets of fat.
Liposuction: Many of the techniques above utilize liposuction to some degree. Essentially, liposuction is a procedure where fat is loosened and removed from the body.
It often coincides with some form of fat grafting that involves placing the removed fat into another area of the body.
Smaller or non-invasive procedures that don’t usually require incisions include:
BOTOX: Botox injections are among the most popular plastic surgery procedures because they are quick, easy, and pretty painless.
These are injections that temporarily relax muscles that cause wrinkles, making them popular for tightening skin on the face and making your skin look more youthful.
Thermi: This is a procedure that is completely non-invasive, as it uses radiofrequency to heat subdermal fat to a point beyond repair. It’s a mild treatment that can reduce stubborn pockets of fat while also helping to contour certain areas.
It’s great for things like sagging arms or thighs.
Juvederm: This is another injectable similar to Botox, however it uses hyaluronic acid to address signs of aging on the face.
There are different kinds, some of which focus on enhancing the lips, while others try to add volume to your cheeks.
You can get any of these procedures done by a trusted plastic surgeon at PH-1 Miami. Interested? Fill out your inquiry form right here.
The Recovery
Surgical procedures like breast lifts and tummy tucks will require a longer recovery period as opposed to Botox or Juvederm. These procedures will require limited movement and appropriate care for the wounds to ensure that they heal properly.
With that in mind, it often takes some time for you to see the results of surgical procedures because of possible swelling and scarring in affected areas. It might take a few weeks for you to really see the results. By comparison, non-invasive procedures are usually noticeable immediately after the procedure is completed.
Who is Body Contouring For?
Before you can go ahead and get some plastic surgery done, you need to be a good candidate. This helps ensure that you remain safe throughout the procedure and that you’re happy with the end result.
Typically, good candidates for body contouring are people who:
Have clear goals and a positive outlook.
You have reasonable expectations.
You’re in good health.
You’re a nonsmoker.
You understand the risks involved with the procedure.
There are some other outstanding factors that may need to be taken into consideration for specific procedures, but if you match this criteria, you may be a good fit!
Is Body Contouring Safe?
Like any medical procedure, body contouring comes with a set of risks. The main risks aren’t actually related to your safety. Moreover, it’s the possibility that the procedure will not turn out how you wanted in the future.
This is because fluctuations in weight or natural signs of aging can have an effect on certain areas. This may require subsequent surgeries to really perfect your appearance. It’s also worth mentioning that many non-invasive procedures are not permanent and will need repeated surgeries.
Botox, for example, only lasts for a few months, so you’ll need to come back.
With all of that said, plastic surgeons are highly experienced medical doctors, and any procedure that you receive from an accredited professional will be FDA approved. Also, a 2018 review of over 26,000 cosmetic surgeries revealed that there were only 203 complications, which is less than one percent.
For non-invasive procedures, this number is even lower. Talk with a plastic surgeon about any concerns that you have if you’re still unsure if body contouring is right for you.
Benefits of Body Contouring
The main benefit of cosmetic surgery is that it can get you closer to finally achieving your best body. It improves your confidence, self-image, and self-esteem, giving you a better outlook on yourself and on life.
On top of that, some procedures even have physical benefits. Breast reductions, for example, can alleviate back pain that’s caused by oversized breasts. And Botox injections can be used to help with hyperhidrosis, chronic migraines, and muscle contractures.
In Conclusion
Body contouring, or body sculpting, refers to a procedure that removes, reduces, and reshapes excess fat and skin to give you a more contoured, pronounced appearance. They’re composed of both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
Surgical body contouring procedures include things like breast lifts, butt lifts, tummy tucks, and liposuction. Non-surgical procedures include Botox and Juvederm injections or Thermi heat therapy.
Body contouring might be right for you if you have a positive outlook and have realistic expectations. Cosmetic surgery is generally very safe, with less than one percent of individuals experiencing complications.
The small risk is worth it when cosmetic surgery can give you such a new lease on life, improving your confidence and boosting your self image. If you’re ready to get started on the path towards your most desirable body, PH-1 Miami is happy to help you get started! Click here to start your inquiry form today.
Sources:
Plastic Surgery Statistics | American Society of Plastic Surgeons
