Summer is nearly over, which means that you will be going from shorts and cover-ups to fluffy sweaters and jeans. Fall may be a good time to consider having surgery to give you the perfect stomach, arms, legs or rear. Body contouring procedures, like a tummy tuck, breast lift or butt lift, can give you your ideal body shape and tone. Body contouring can also help reduce the risk of skin rash or infection that can form in the folds of excess skin from weight loss. However, undergoing any cosmetic procedure merits careful planning and time. If you’ve been waiting for your perfect figure, body contouring may be an option for you.
When is body contouring a good option?
Body-shaping surgeries are perfect for removing fat or loose skin, tightening skin and help to reshape the body. You might consider surgery after losing a lot of weight to take care of the extra skin, or for the body shape, you desire. Discussing the goals that you have for your body with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon can help you discover what procedures you need to get the results you want.
What Are the Body Contouring Options?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is ideal for removing excess fat as well as skin from your abdomen. The muscle repositioning also helps some people tighten stretched abdominal muscles. If you’ve already lost the weight and want to tighten the skin in a focused area, a reconstructive surgery known as a panniculectomy removes hanging skin and tissue only.
If you want to remove fat from the buttocks, hips or thighs, liposuction is the most recommended procedure. Liposuction can remove excess fat in adjacent areas so there’s proportion. However, it doesn’t take care of excess skin in the buttocks or thighs. A buttock lift will remove both fat and skin, but a thigh or arm lift focuses primarily on tightening the tissue and skin in the outer and inner areas.
There are also procedures, like the “Mommy Makeover,” that are body lifts to remove overall excess skin, fat and may improve cellulite. This procedure helps reshape the upper or lower body. It usually requires several surgeries performed over time.
How do I know if I’m a good candidate?
If you have reached your goal weight and are committed to keeping it off, then you are considered a good candidate. Patients with excess skin but minimal excess fat benefit the most.
How long will it take to recover?
While surgery can improve your aesthetic appearance, every patient varies in results and healing time. Speaking to your doctor can help you prepare for what to expect. In general, a full recovery can take several months. The first four weeks following the procedure will be the most difficult. It’s important to follow the instructions given by your surgeon for the best results.
Prepare with Care
While you’re understandably focused on how you want to look, a cosmetic surgeon can help you understand what it takes to get you there. Your goals, lifestyle, and general health all factor in. Not everyone is a good candidate for surgery. Getting the most complete picture of the risks and benefits can help you and your doctor decide which types of body contouring procedures are best for you. And if you have a procedure done in the fall, imagine how great you will look next summer!
Are you ready to have the body of your dreams? Dr. Louis Iorio and his fantastic staff can give you the ultimate body-sculpting experience with a body contouring procedure. Double board-certified and fellowship trained, Dr. Louis Iorio stands by his commitment to offer superior plastic and cosmetic treatments to his clients. He practices at the state-of-the-art Surgical Institute, located in Neptune, N.J., where surgical suites are equipped to handle a wide range of services and provide the highest quality of care to patients. For more information, call 732-780-9191 for Colts Neck; or 732-458-7400 for the Brick office.