Body Contouring Surgery
Getting down to the desired number on the scale is only half the battle for men and women undergoing major weight loss. The more weight you lose, the higher chances you have of being burdened with excess, sagging skin that affects your appearance and causes painful chafing. Many men and women become frustrated following their weight loss because even though the scale reflects their desired number, their bodies still don’t have that lean and toned look they envisioned. Body contouring surgery after major weight loss combines multiple procedures to eliminate excess fat and skin for a sleeker, firmer physique.
How Can Body Contouring Surgery Help?
Body contouring surgery has the ability to completely transform your appearance. It targets multiple problem areas for overall correction. Combining several procedures saves time, helping you achieve your desired appearance faster. Each procedure is customized for the patient in order to highlight their specific body contours and treat their unique problem areas.
Liposuction
- Liposuction is the means of permanently removing fatty tissue
- Small incisions are created in the desired treatment area, usually placed in easily concealed locations
- A cannula is used to evenly remove fat
- Patients choose liposuction when they have excess deposits of fat that they cannot eliminate with diet and exercise
- Liposuction can create better definition and improve the contours of the body
- Learn more about Liposuction.
Tummy Tuck
- Tummy tuck surgery is designed to eliminate excess tissue from the abdomen
- For patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, an extended incision is created along the lower abdomen
- Excess skin is trimmed away, and weak abdominal muscles can be tightened
- Unwanted abdominal tissue is the most common skin accumulation following weight loss
- Removing tissue from the abdomen not only provides relief from painful chafing, but it also slims the waistline to improve the fit of clothing
- Learn more about Tummy Tuck Surgery.
Lower Body Lift
- A lower body lift targets skin accumulations around the abdomen, back, hips, buttocks and outer thighs
- An incision around the circumference of the lower trunk is used to trim away excess tissue and lift the remaining skin
- Remaining tissue is draped for a natural-looking contour
- This procedure slims the lower body and provides a more toned appearance
- The shape of the buttocks and thighs are also improved
- Learn more about Lower Body Lift procedures.
Breast Lift
- A breast lift corrects the appearance of drooping, “deflated” breasts in women following weight loss
- Sagging breasts commonly develop with weight loss due to the loss of fat after prolonged expansion of breast tissue
- The incision pattern on the breasts will depend on the extent of breast sagging
- Excess tissue is trimmed away, and the remaining tissue is lifted
- Implants are often used to increase upper breast fullness
- Improving the appearance of the breasts helps many women gain a more youthful and attractive appearance
- Learn more about Breast Lift surgery.
What do you desire?
Slimmer Stomach Area
The lower body lift and tummy tuck are both designed to improve the appearance of the stomach area. Following weight loss, excess skin on the abdomen can limit the types of clothing you can comfortably and confidently wear. The goal of weight loss is to become healthy and slim down your appearance. This excess tissue may be preventing you from achieving the slimmer abdomen you desire. Eliminating this excess tissue can help you achieve the slimmer abdominal contours you’ve imagined.
Elimination of Stubborn Fat
Many patients find that towards the end of their weight loss, they struggle to lose those last few pounds and shed the final inches of fat. By integrating liposuction as a part of your post-weight loss surgery, you can eliminate that stubborn fat. Ridding your body of this unwanted fat helps improve your body’s contours and creates better definition. Some women also utilize liposuction to enhance their curves along the hips and thighs.
Firmer, Youthful Breasts
For many women, weight loss results in sagging, “deflated” breasts. This is due to a combination of losing a significant amount of fat in the breasts and the prolonged expansion of breast tissue, which results in a loss of skin elasticity. Sagging breasts can significantly age your appearance and leave you feeling unattractive. Breast lift surgery can restore firm breasts and eliminate sagging.
Relief From Painful Skin Irritation
Excess skin that results from massive weight loss is not only unsightly, but it can also be extremely painful. Many patients complain of unbearable skin irritation following their weight loss. In extreme cases, this skin chafing can lead to blisters and sores. By removing the excess skin that causes the irritation, body contouring procedures can relieve you of this pain. Body contouring surgery after weight loss improves your aesthetics, but many patients choose it for the improved quality of life.
Body Contouring Concerns
Recovery
Depending on the extent of your surgery, you may be required to stay overnight in a hospital while we monitor your initial recovery. You will experience bruising, swelling, and redness. Drains will be placed to prevent fluid buildup. Most patients will wear compression garments to minimize swelling and facilitate the healing process. You will need to limit your physical activity for several weeks following your procedure.
The exact length of your recovery will depend on the extent of correction needed. Most patients can return to work within two weeks of their surgery. Resuming your regular exercise routine may take four to six weeks. Depending on your surgery, most major swelling should begin to subside after six to eight weeks. After this time, your final results should become apparent.
Scars
Every patient heals differently, and many factors determine whether you will have visible scarring. Since body contouring surgery after weight loss involves lengthy incisions, it is likely that patients will develop visible scarring. When possible, incisions are placed in easily concealable locations. While the chances are that some scarring may occur, most weight-loss patients feel that the contouring benefits of the procedure outweigh the scar, which will likely fade over time.
Pain
You may experience some mild discomfort in the first few days following your procedure. A numbing medicine will be injected while you’re in the operating room to minimize discomfort during the first four days after your surgery. Pain can also be controlled using a prescribed oral medication and should subside after a few days.
Cost
The exact cost of body contouring surgeries varies depending on surgical, anesthesia, and facility fees as well as the technique used and the extent of correction needed. Dr. Wilson will provide you with your custom quote during your consultation.
Results
Patients who maintain a stable weight following their surgery achieve results that are long lasting. Weight loss or weight gain following your surgery can cause additional fat or skin to form and affect the quality of your results.
Before & After Photos
41 year old female had a lower body lift.
View Photo GalleryBody Contouring Frequently Asked Questions in Huntsville, AL
What type of anesthesia is used for body contouring surgery?
Due to the extensive nature of body contouring surgery after significant weight loss, general anesthesia is used to ensure patient safety and comfort.
Why would I have to stay overnight following my procedure?
Patients who undergo body contouring after major weight loss often require lengthy surgery. Lower body lifts can take between five and seven hours to perform. Patients are kept overnight for monitoring to ensure no complications have developed.
What potential risks are associated with body contouring surgery?
Body contouring surgery is generally a safe and effective procedure. However, like with all surgeries, some risks are present. Blood loss and infection are the most common complications. Although rare, seromas (the buildup of fluid under the skin) can occur, which is why it is important to wear a compression garment if you are advised to do so.
What if I have volume loss in the breasts along with breast sagging?
Breast lifts are only designed to correct sagging. If you have experienced breast volume loss along with breast sagging, you should consider combining a breast augmentation with your breast lift. Breast implants will provide an increase in size, while the breast lift strengthens weak tissue.
Will pregnancy affect my results?
Pregnancy after body contouring surgery can cause changes to your results that cannot be reversed through diet and exercise, meaning you may require additional surgery to restore your results. It is recommended that patients wait until after having children to undergo body contouring procedures. However, due to pain and the impact on quality of life caused by excess skin, some patients cannot wait until they have had their desired number of children.
