The new trend of body contouring is about getting your body back in shape after weight loss. Losing weight is great, but it does not always leave you with a perfect body. When you lose weight, your skin elasticity changes and saggy skin may appear on the stomach and back areas. Body contouring helps eliminate the loose skin and wrinkles around the problem areas.

Body contouring after weight loss is among the most popular plastic surgery procedures. Common body contouring procedures after weight loss includes a tummy tuck, breast lift/augmentation, and thigh lift/liposuction.

The procedure comes in handy if you have lost significant weight and want to regain shape and tone. It can improve the appearance of aging, injury, or pregnancy scars.

What Is Body Contouring?

Body contouring, also known as body sculpting, is a cosmetic surgery that helps people lose weight by reducing their bodies’ extra fatty deposits and excess skin. It can be surgical, minimally invasive, or non-invasive treatments.

Body contouring aims to improve your figure by removing excess fat deposits and tightening the skin. The type of body contouring you choose depends on your goals, personal preferences, or health condition.

Surgical body contouring involves making incisions in the skin and removing excess fat and skin through those incisions. The goal is to create a slimmer appearance by reducing the size of your waistline, hips, and thighs.

Minimally invasive body contouring uses an endoscope to remove excess fat from under the skin without making an incision. The goal is to create a slimmer appearance by reducing the size of your waistline, hips, and thighs.

Non-invasive body contour procedures involve applying heat or cold to the abdomen or other body parts to stimulate fat loss from those areas.

How Do I Know I am the Right Candidate for Body Contouring?

You know you are the best candidate for body contouring if you have lost significant weight through diet and exercise or surgery such as gastric bypass but still have areas of loose skin or excessive fat deposits that make you feel unhappy with your body. It is ideal if you have reached your desired weight loss goal.

It is good to note that the procedures are not suitable for everyone. Ensure to talk with your doctor before proceeding with the procedure to determine whether or not body contouring would be right for you.

How to Prepare for Body Contouring?

• Know what to expect. Before your procedure, you must understand what happens during and how long it will last. It will help you to mentally prepare for what lies ahead. Therefore, ensure all your questions have been answered accordingly.
• Get your body ready. The best way to do this is by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Avoid salty foods, which can make you lose water weight, and eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to stay hydrated. You should also try to cut out caffeine and alcohol, as these diuretics can cause you to lose water weight.
• Schedule an appointment with a board-certified surgeon who specializes in body contouring. Certified practitioners help you decide the best procedure for your needs and goals. Once your decision is made, they will give you all the necessary information.
• Ensure you have access to all the supplies you will need for recovery. They include bandages, gauze, painkillers, compression garments, ice packs, etc.
• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol at least a day before your surgery
• Wear loose-fitting clothes that are comfortable and easy to remove.
• Do not take aspirin or other blood-thinning medications without consulting your doctor.
• Drink plenty of water

How Long Does It Take to Recover After Body Contouring?

The recovery time for body contouring varies depending on whether the procedure was invasive or non-invasive.

A patient who undergoes a surgical body contouring procedure experiences mild swelling and bruising, but this should subside within two to three weeks. If the patient is awake during surgery, they will likely experience pain after the procedure and may need to take medication for several days.

Non-invasive procedures can take less time to recover since no incision is made. These procedures involve liposuction, laser treatment, ultrasound, and radiofrequency to remove fat cells from stubborn areas. Most non-invasive treatments have no downtime, and patients who undergo these treatments need to rest for a day before resuming normal activities.

Benefits of Body Contouring

Body contouring sculpts your body to fit your desired shape. It can help eliminate unwanted fat, tighten muscles and skin, and improve posture.

• Tighten loose skin. As you age, gravity pulls on your body, making it saggy, especially in the face and neck. Body contouring helps reverse that process by lifting skin, tightening muscles around the face and neck, and giving you a more youthful appearance.
• Reduce excess fat. If you lost weight but have retained fat, body contouring can help you reduce the fat to look more toned and fit.
• Improve self-esteem. Many people suffer from poor self-image as they age and may find they no longer feel comfortable in their skin. Body contouring helps improve some areas of your body that show visible signs of aging, like the eye area, neck, and wrinkles.
• Improved Health. Aesthetic surgery can help improve your overall health and well-being. People who have undergone cosmetic surgery have reported better self-esteem and confidence, leading to better mental health and emotional stability.
• Increase Your Self-Confidence. If you are unhappy with how you look because of excess fat or loose skin in specific areas, a cosmetic procedure could help boost your confidence by improving your physical appearance and self-esteem.

Final Thoughts

Body contouring is one of the most common procedures that patients request after weight loss. This procedure allows patients to sculpt their bodies and figures into what they want.

The best part about body contouring after weight loss is that you can choose from surgical, minimally invasive, and non-invasive procedures. All the procedures are safe and effective. Most non-invasive procedures are ideal for those who have achieved their desired body goal.