Body Contouring

Body contouring surgery encompasses a number of different body sculpting techniques used by cosmetic surgeons to reshape almost any area of the body. Through body sculpting surgery, patients can effectively eliminate excess fat and skin that are unresponsive to diet and exercise. Read on to learn more about the different types of body contouring plastic surgery procedures currently available.

Cosmetic body contouring surgery seeks to improve the shape, contours, and proportions of the body through surgery. Body contouring procedures include sculpting procedures such as liposuction of the body as well as augmentation of the buttocks or calves.

With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, including body shaping and contouring, it is important that the prospective patient research and understand different issues like what the procedure can and cannot treat, inherent risks, costs, and other factors. Keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is just that – a surgical procedure whose results cannot simply be erased. While the information contained in this website will provide you with a good introduction to body shaping, when considering this or any other cosmetic procedure, we recommend that you consult a qualified provider with significant experience.

Body Sculpting Techniques
Cosmetic surgeons employ a variety of body sculpting techniques to help their patients achieve lean, toned figures:

Liposuction
Liposuction is the most popular method of body contouring surgery because it allows the surgeon to re-sculpt specific areas of the body. Using only a few tiny incisions, your surgeon can target stubborn fat deposits and permanently remove fat cells from the area. There are many different methods of liposuction available, and you and your surgeon will discuss which technique is right for you. To learn more, visit our liposuction page.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
The “tummy tuck,” or abdominoplasty, is a unique body sculpting surgery that combines removal of excess skin and fat from the midsection with the surgical tightening of the abdominal muscles. Abdominoplasty is typically offered as an individual procedure, but may also be performed during full body lift surgery. Learn more about the tummy tuck procedure here.

Body Lift Procedures
Body lifts allow surgeons to remove excess skin and fat from one or many areas of the body. You can re-sculpt your entire body with a total body lift or lower body lift, or choose one or more less extensive body contouring techniques such as an arm lift, thigh lift, and butt lift. Explore our site to learn more about body lifts.

Body Implant Procedures
Body implants are used in body sculpting techniques to add shape and volume to areas that are disproportionate to the rest of the body. Although exercise is always the best way to attain a lean, toned figure, some body contouring candidates find that they cannot improve the shape of certain body parts through strength training alone. If you have a stubborn area that will not respond to exercise, bicep, calf, pectoral, butt, or breast implants can contribute to a more defined physique.

Common Problems that Affect Body Image
If you are uncomfortable with the appearance of your body, it can be difficult to participate in work, social, and leisure activities with confidence. Many candidates for body contouring surgery find that their cellulite, fat, and excess skin inhibit them from doing many of the things they want to do, such as wearing a bathing suit, playing sports, or simply going out for a night on the town. Studies have shown that cellulite treatment, excess skin removal, and fat removal are all body sculpting techniques that can ease common insecurities.

Sources:
http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body
http://www.cosmeticsurgery.com/research/cosmetic-surgery/Body-Contouring

Body Procedures

Body Procedures also called "Body contouring" or "Body Sculpting" are terms that apply to a number of surgery options that can reshape and improve nearly any part of the body.  Body sculpting or contouring procedures can help improve definition and create a more proportionate body for individuals who are anxious about loose skin, excess fat, or other concerns.

The most common and popular body procedure is liposuction. (Also known as "lipoplasty" or "suction lipectomy ") This procedure sculpts the body by removing undesirable fat from areas around the thighs, knees, buttocks, waist, hips, abdomen, chin, cheeks, neck and upper arms.   Liposuction can help patients achieve dramatic results all over the body. The procedure normally lasts one to two hours and patients are usually able to return to work within two weeks. Liposuction is not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise, but the procedure can eliminate areas of fat that are unresponsive to typical weight-loss methods.

Lower Body Lift is a body procedure that generally targets a person`s thighs and lower abdomen to improve the appearance of the lower body with little scarring. After extreme weight loss or pregnancy, many people are left with excess skin that can be embarrassing and unattractive. During the lower body lift procedure, a plastic surgeon trims away excess skin to reveal a more toned, attractive figure. 

The thighs are a problem area for many men and women because they are so difficult to tone. During the thigh lift procedure, the surgeon removes excess skin and tissue from the upper and inner thighs to produce a thinner, more attractive leg. This body procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Depending on the area of the thigh to be lifted, an incision is made around the thigh in the buttock crease and near the groin, to minimize appearance of scarring.

A Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) performed by an experienced plastic surgeon can help a patient attain a firm, toned midsection by removing excess skin and fat while tightening the abdominal muscles. Women, with stretched abdominal areas due to previous pregnancies, can benefit considerably from Abdominoplasty, although they should have completed their childbearing. Older individuals, whose skin has lost some of its elasticity and are slightly obese, can experience an improvement in their abdominal area. This body procedure generally takes between two and five hours to complete and patients can usually return to work within two to four weeks. The results are dramatic and last for years.

Upper Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) is performed on those individuals with excess hanging skin on the upper arm area.  This is due to aging and dramatic weight loss. If you have drooping skin on your upper arms, consider having an arm lift performed. This body procedure can also be combined with liposuction for optimal results.

A Buttock Lift is a body procedure designed to tighten the skin of the buttock area. The procedure can be performed alone or in combination with other operations, such as a thigh lift and abdominoplasty. The combination of these three operations is often called a body lift. Like the face, the remainder of the body suffers the consequences of time, gravity and in some cases significant weight loss. While some areas are affected more than others, skin wrinkling and loss of tone occur throughout the body. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. An incision is made on the lower back from waist to waist. Fat and excess skin are removed giving a more contoured, tightened look.

Breast augmentation is a body procedure that enlarges small breasts, or re-balances breasts of different size or proportion. Implants add fullness to breasts that have decreased in size or begun to sag due to age or pregnancy. New implant technologies create a more natural look than ever before.

Breast reduction is a body procedure that corrects unusually large or sagging breasts, which often interfere with a woman`s normal function and physical activity. Unusually large breasts can cause chronic back pain, postural problems, deformities of the back and shoulders, and more. Generally viewed as a reconstructive procedure, breast reduction can also aesthetically improve the shape of the breasts and nipple areas.

The breast lift procedure (mastoplexy) is a body procedure that raises and re-contours loose, sagging breasts. Women often elect this surgery after losing a considerable amount of weight, or after losing volume and tone in their breasts after having children.

Source: http://immersivemedical.com/body-procedures.html

Tummy Tuck

Achieving a flatter, tighter abdominal area is a goal for many people, women and men alike. There are a variety of reasons why someone may be dissatisfied with his or her waistline and abdomen, and the "tummy tuck" procedure, or abdominoplasty, might be an appropriate option for achieving a slimmer, more aesthetically appealing abdominal contour. Use this page as a resource to learn more about the abdominoplasty procedure.

What Is a Tummy Tuck?
The term “tummy tuck” refers to a cosmetic surgery procedure more formally known as abdominoplasty, which is designed to help patients sculpt and tone their abdominal areas. During a tummy tuck procedure, the surgeon manually tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall and sutures them into place. He or she then removes any excess skin from the patient’s abdomen to create a firmer, flatter midsection. The abdominoplasty procedure can be customized to each patient’s specific goals and may include liposuction, breast augmentation, or other body lift procedures.

Are You a Good Candidate for Abdominoplasty?
The ideal candidate for an abdominoplasty procedure is someone who has been unable to tone his or her abdominal region, even with the help of a healthy diet and exercise routine. While most people associate cosmetic surgery with women, the male tummy tuck is becoming an increasingly common way for men to flatten the difficult-to-tone stomach area. Abdominoplasty is also a fairly common method of restoring a woman’s figure after pregnancy. As with any plastic surgery procedure, results of tummy tuck surgery can vary, and candidates should discuss their goals with their surgeons in order to establish reasonable expectations. In addition, patients should be committed to maintaining their results with a stable diet and regular exercise after abdominoplasty.

The Tummy Tuck Procedure
To prepare for a tummy tuck procedure, patients should be candid in discussing their medical histories, including any medication they are currently using, with their surgeons. Tummy tuck surgery usually takes between two and six hours to complete. Depending on which tummy tuck procedure is performed, patients will be either totally or partially sedated. During tummy tuck recovery, it is common for patients to experience some side effects and risks. Since each person and each tummy tuck procedure are unique, it is important that patients closely follow the surgeon’s specific instructions for recovery.

Source: http://www.docshop.com/education/cosmetic/body/tumy-tuck