3 Best Body Contouring Options After Weight Loss
Significant weight loss is an achievement to be proud of, whether you lost the pounds through diet and exercise or bariatric surgery. However, following a 100-pound weight loss, you may notice some excess skin left behind. While body contouring procedures are not alternatives for weight loss, they can eliminate pockets of stubborn fat, smooth and tighten loose or wrinkled skin, and sculpt portions of your body into a desirable shape.
Top Body Contouring Procedures After Weight Loss
Here are some of the most popular body contouring procedures to consider after weight loss:
1. Liposuction in Scottsdale, AZ
If you have been struggling with excess pockets of fat tissue despite losing a significant amount of weight, your plastic surgeon in Phoenix may suggest liposuction as a targeted solution for fat removal.
Surgeons commonly perform liposuction while the patient is under local anesthesia. They use a vacuum and a small tube called a cannula to remove fat deposits from areas that do not respond to diet and exercise. The abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, buttocks, neck, chin, and upper arms are some of the common treatment sites for liposuction. The procedure also involves shaping and sculpting the body’s contours for a more harmonious and fit physique.
Types of Liposuction
The three most popular types of liposuction procedures include:
- Tumescent liposuction. This is the most common form of liposuction. A plastic surgeon injects a sterile solution — a combination of salt water to aid fat removal, an anesthetic called lidocaine to minimize pain, and a drug known as epinephrine to constrict the blood vessels — into the treatment site. The fluid mixture allows the affected area to swell and stiffen. The surgeon then creates small cuts into the skin and inserts a cannula beneath the skin. The cannula is connected to a vacuum that suctions fluids and fat tissue from the body, and an intravenous (IV) line will help replenish the patient’s body fluids.
- Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL). Surgeons often perform ultrasound-assisted liposuction in conjunction with traditional liposuction. During UAL, the doctor inserts a metal rod that emits ultrasonic energy under the skin. This ruptures the walls of fat cells and breaks down the fat for quicker removal. A leading generation of UAL referred to as VASER-assisted liposuction uses a state-of-the-art device that may improve skin contouring and lower the chance of skin injuries.
- Power-assisted liposuction (PAL). This procedure uses a cannula that moves in a rapid, vibrating back-and-forth motion. The vibration allows a surgeon to pull and remove tough fat easier and faster. PAL may cause less postoperative pain and swelling compared to other liposuction techniques. A Scottsdale plastic surgeon may choose this procedure if large volumes of fat require removal or if the patient underwent a previous liposuction procedure. Learn more about power-assisted liposuction here.
2. Tummy Tuck in Scottsdale, AZ
A tummy tuck, also called an abdominoplasty, is one of the most common surgical procedures for people who lost weight but are struggling with lingering pockets of fat around their problem areas. Tummy tucks are so popular that in 2020, despite the ongoing pandemic, nearly 100,000 people had the procedure, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Tummy tucks shape the waistline and make the stomach appear firm and slender by removing fat deposits and excess skin from the middle and lower abdominal sections and tightening wall muscles.
Types of Tummy Tucks
The different types of tummy tuck procedures to consider include:
- Full tummy tuck. This standard process focuses on the midsection between the sternum and the belly button.
- Extended tummy tuck. This tummy tuck procedure is more complex. It involves reaching beyond the stomach to the hips and sides of the lower back.
- Mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck focuses on the lower abdominal region to remove excess skin and connective tissue, often as a result of aging.
- Reverse tummy tuck. This surgical procedure addresses loose and sagging skin on the upper abdomen.
2. Body Lift in Scottsdale, AZ
A surgical lift procedure elevates, reshapes, and tightens loose skin and tissue in certain areas of the body. These procedures are most beneficial to patients with sagging or wrinkly skin due to dramatic weight loss, aging, stress, genetics, and other factors.
Types of Body Lifts
For weight loss patients, some of the most common lift procedures include:
- Face Lift
- Chin Lift
- Neck Lift
- Arm Lift
- Breast Lift
- Thigh Lift
- Butt Lift
Each procedure entails targeted incisions in the problem area, removing loose skin and excess tissue, as well as closing and sculpting the target area for a tighter, more defined contour.
Ideal Candidate for Body Contouring
The best candidate for body contouring in Scottsdale, AZ has reached his or her goal weight and is dedicated to maintaining weight loss. Men and women struggling with loose, excess skin in certain areas but having minimal excess fat will benefit the most from liposuction, tummy tuck, and other body contouring procedures. The right candidate also has realistic expectations for his or her results. Remember, though plastic surgery can improve your appearance, every patient heals differently and will see varying results. Speak with your plastic surgeon about the results you should expect and ensure you are on the same page before going under the knife.
Body Contouring Recovery Facts
The recovery time following body contouring varies depending on the type of surgery performed.
Expect to feel sore and see bruises during the first four weeks after surgery. The use of surgical garments and drains may also be necessary. To optimize your surgical results, ensure to follow your discharge and aftercare instructions carefully. Most people can return to light work within a week, but a full recovery will take several months.
Customize Your Body Contouring Procedure
Depending on your specific needs and aesthetic goals, your doctor may use multiple techniques to help you achieve your desired outcome. These techniques may include combining different body contouring procedures, such as liposuction and surgical fat grafting to reallocate fat from an undesirable area of the body to your posterior for a more attractive, hourglass silhouette.
Achieve the Look and Feel You’ve Always Wanted
When diet and exercise fail to yield your desired outcomes, trust Guerra Plastic Surgery Center to help you look and feel your best. Dr. Aldo Guerra and his team specialize in a wide range of cosmetic surgeries and procedures to help patients acquire the bodies of their dreams. Contact Dr. Guerra at 480–970–2580 or schedule an online consultation today.