Are you considering a body contouring procedure such as liposuction or a thigh lift? Here are the questions you need to ask your plastic surgeon.
Following a substantial amount of weight loss, the skin and tissue of the body often loses its elasticity and cannot conform to the new body size. As a result, patients may be left with excess skin and a lack of satisfaction with their body image.
Surgical body contouring procedures such as liposuction or a neck lift are designed to improve the shape and tone of underlying tissue and remove any excess sagging fat and/or skin.
It can be used for areas of the body including:
- Abdomen
- Legs
- Bingo wings
- Buttocks
- Thighs
- Breasts
Whatever your needs, procedures such as a medial thigh lift and liposuction can help restore more pleasing contours to your body and further improve your figure.
Is Body Contouring Right For Me?
Body contouring procedures are safe and effective procedures which, when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, can recontour the body into a more idealized form.
Good candidates for such surgeries are those that are:
- At a stable weight
- Healthy individuals with no medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
- Non-smokers
- Committed to a healthy lifestyle including proper fitness and nutrition
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what body contouring can achieve
IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING YOUR WEIGHT STABLE AFTER BODY CONTOURING
Before you decide to undergo procedures such as liposuction or a medial thigh lift, you must ensure that your weight is stabilized.
This is because:
- If you continue to lose weight, sagging pockets will return
- If you rapidly gain the weight back, you will cause further stress to your body and skin, resulting visible stretch marks and scars
What to Expect From a Body Contouring Consultation
Whichever plastic surgery you are considering, the success and safety of your body contouring procedure depends on your complete openness and honesty during your consultation.
Be prepared to discuss:
- Why you are considering the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome
- The different body contouring options available
- Your medical history
- Any medical conditions or drug allergies you may have
- Your daily habits including use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
- Any previous surgeries you may have had
Your plastic surgeon may also:
- Discuss your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
- Take detailed measurements of your body
- Take photographs for your medical record
- Discuss your different body contouring options and recommend the best one for your specific needs
- Discuss the likely outcomes of your surgery
- Discuss any risks or potential complications of the surgery
What Body Contouring Options Are Available?
After significant weight loss of bariatric surgery, excess skin and pockets of fat often remain. Body contouring to remove this excess skin and fat can include a number of potential plastic surgery procedures, depending on your needs.
These include:
1. Liposuction
Liposuction is a popular cosmetic procedure used to remove unwanted body fat. It involves sucking out small areas of localized fat that are difficult to lose through exercise and a healthy diet.
It is often carried out on areas of the body where deposits of fat tend to collect including:
- Hips
- Thighs
- Abdomen
- Buttocks
The aim of liposuction is to alter a patient’s body shape and the results are generally very long lasting, as long as the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle. It works BEST for patients WITHIN 30% of their ideal weight.
2. Medial Thigh Lift
A medial thigh lift, or thigh reduction, is a cosmetic surgery procedure done to tighten sagging muscles and remove excess skin in the thigh area, improving the contour of the lower body. It is recommended for patients who cannot achieve their desired body even with fitness and weight loss efforts.
Some of the benefits of a medial thigh lift include:
- Adds to the success of your weight loss and gives you smooth thighs
- Improved self-confidence
- Relieves rashes on the undersurface of thighs
- Removes the cellulite look of thighs
3. Necklift
Over time, natural changes in the body such as weight fluctuations and age may change the elasticity of your skin. A necklift, performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, addresses this concern by removing any excess skin and/or fat, producing a sharper profile and more youthful appearance.
Good candidates for a necklift are those that:
- Have localized fat deposits under their chin
- Have looseness of neck muscles and/or neck skin
- Are non-smokers
- Are in good overall health
Call Today
To find out more about the costs and benefits of our surgical body contouring procedures in Edmonton, contact Dr. Adil Ladak at 780-407-6691.
Dr. Adil Ladak is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Edmonton, Alberta and specializes in a variety of cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures.
