Body Contouring

Body contouring is the act of modifying a specific body region with cosmetic surgery. Whether you're considering liposuction or a tummy tuck, it is important to have a grasp of the costs, risks and physical implications of cosmetic surgery.

Body Contouring - Info
Body contouring is a form of cosmetic surgery performed by a qualified professional in order to repair or to improve upon specific areas of the body. A patient interested in body contouring may be interested in having a tummy tuck, a thigh lift, an arm lift, liposuction, a breast lift, breast reduction or, in some instances, all of the latter mentioned procedures. Patients embark on body contouring procedures in an effort to improve or augment their appearance, or in order to rectify birth defects of bodily defects that are the result of an injury.

Body contouring procedures are a serious matter and should never be entered into lightly. A lot of things need to be considered when one is considering body contouring procedures, including risks, costs, and the benefits of such procedures. By no means whatsoever is a body contouring procedure for everyone. In the past, body contouring procedures were last resorts: they are performed after a patient has lost a dramatic amount of weight and they are now faced with the problem of excess skin or they are surgical procedures that address body issues that arise from defects that cannot be repaired any other way. Currently however, more and more people are getting body contouring to augment their appearance and to improve their self-esteem.

Body contouring procedures are not typically performed on the extremely young. The reason that body contouring is more often performed on adults is because the body of young individuals, like teens, is still in the development process. Further, the patient must be adult enough to understand all that body contouring procedures encompass: the risks as well as the benefits. Also, patients must understand that body contouring procedures are not a magic potion: they create no instant cure for social problems and they do not constitute a life changing solution.

Types of Body Contouring
There are several different procedures that fall under the definition of body contouring. Each body contouring procedure has different risks and benefits associated with the procedure in question. Further, depending on the work necessary, each body contouring procedure will often vary in terms of cost.

Liposuction is one of the most popular forms of body contouring. First, liposuction can be performed as a singular procedure. Often times however, liposuction is used in conjunction with other body contouring procedures. Liposuction is used to rid the body of fat by using a machine that works much like a vacuum. In some instances the fat cells are turned to liquid with the use of a special tool called a ULA, or an ultrasound assisted lipoplasty. The liquid is then “vacuumed” from the body. Liposuction body contouring, on average, takes around two hours to complete, is conducted while the patient is put under with general anesthesia or is given a local anesthetic, and can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Arm Lifts are another form of body contouring in which the shape of the upper arms is reconstructed. The medical name for an arm lift is referred to as a brachioplasty and it is a body contouring procedure performed to eliminate excess skin and fat in the region of the upper arm and arm pit area. The skin is lifted and excess skin is removed. The area, including the muscle is then tightened to give the arm a firmer appearance. Thigh lifts are a similar body contouring procedure in which excess skin is removed from the area of the thighs and buttocks. In turn, the region is tightened, leaving behind a more attractive, solid thigh area. Both arm lifts and thigh lifts vary in terms of the length of surgery: the more work required, the longer the surgery will take. A professional surgeon can advise a patient precisely how long their specified procedure may take.

More Body Contouring Procedures
Breast Lifts are common body contouring procedures performed on women. A breast lift is often performed on women who have lost a dramatic amount of weight or on older women that have noticed the natural signs of aging affecting their breasts. As a woman ages, the breasts tend to lower a bit, thanks to gravity. A body contouring procedure like a breast lift can reverse the affects of aging. It should be noted hat a body contouring procedure like a breast lift is different than a breast augmentation where implants are used. Usually, a breast lift requires that the surgeon remove excess skin and tighten the area, resulting in a firmer appearance of the breasts.

A breast lift can take approximately three hours to perform and is a procedure that can be performed on an outpatient basis. The procedure is usually performed with the patient under general anesthesia, and, in most cases, the surgeon can perform the procedure on an outpatient basis. While a breast lift improves the appearance of the breast, the procedure may have to be repeated in the future as the effects vary from one patient to the next.

A tummy tuck is also a body contouring procedure. Excess skin is removed from the area of the abdomen. The remaining skin is then stretched, a new naval is created and the area is sutured. Depending on the work necessary, the surgery can take three to five hours time. The procedure results in a smoother abdomen, and the removal of unsightly stretch marks. Further, clothes fit the patient better and the patient feels more confident about how they look in scant attire or unclothed.

A less common body contouring procedure is that of male breast reduction. Some males develop breasts naturally, and they become very self-conscious. The patient can have the extra tissue removed so they can feel more confident about their appearance. In as little as an hour, the patient can have the procedure performed and be on their way to looking and feeling fantastic.

Body Contouring Candidates
People that have lost a considerable amount of weight are prime candidates for body contouring procedures. Losing the weight is half the battle: often times the body still holds the signs of one’s prior weight: unsightly stretch marks, excess skin, and poorly contoured body areas are the result of being overweight. Such signs can be remedied through body contouring. It should be noted however, that patients should lose all the weight they intend to lose and they should have kept it off for an extended period of time before enduring body contouring procedures. Six months to a year is a good period of time for people to wait before having a procedure performed.

Individuals looking for bodily improvements, not miracles are good candidates for body contouring. Body contouring procedures are not miraculous; while the procedure will certainly make the individual feel better about how they look: the appearance is not one hundred percent perfect. Scars will be present in some instances and the procedure is not something that every one may notice or appreciate. Remember, body contouring procedures should be done for the patient and the patient alone, not in an effort to please someone else.

Healthy individuals that are not happy with their bodily appearance are good candidates for body contouring procedures. This includes adults that are of the age of consent. The term “healthy” is indeed two-fold: the patient should be both physically and mentally healthy before they endure a procedure. Physical health will ensure that the patient recovers with the utmost efficiency. Meanwhile, the patient must be psychologically healthy: individuals that have mentally skewed perceptions of their body should not have body contouring procedures performed. Individuals with Anorexia or Bulimia, or even Body Dysmorphia are not considered good candidates for body contouring.

Risks
Every surgical procedure is associated with some risk and it is important that a potential patient realize such risks. Along with the variable side effects, there are more risks that can become serious if the issues are not addressed. By knowing the signs and symptoms associated with such risks, the patient can reduce the possibility of such problems arising. The surgeon should fully advise the patient of all risks and what can or cannot be done about them.

In general, most body contouring procedures have common side effects. Bruising, swelling, the temporary loss of sensation, tenderness, discomfort, burning, and natural draining are the common side effects shared by most body contouring procedures. For the most part, the latter mentioned side effects are not something that should cause the patient an amazing amount of concern. However, prolonged suffering of the symptoms should be reported. Prolonged discomfort could be an indication of infection or improper healing.

Since body contouring requires that the surgeon make an incision in the body, the risk of infection is always present. Some surgeons will automatically prescribe an antibiotic as a precautionary measure, while others may not. The patient will need to discuss the risk of infection thoroughly with the surgeon.

Scarring is a definite in most body contouring procedures. While scarring will certainly diminish, it will in no way completely disappear. Some scars may be mild, while others may be quite extensive. Further, if the area of the incision does not heal properly, the area can wind up compromised—in other words, the scars can turn out worse than normal. If this happens, then another procedure may be needed to repair the scar tissue.

Recovery
The various body contouring procedures have different expected rates of recovery. Recovery time is affected by the patient’s ability to heal, the patient’s willingness to follow doctor’s orders, the extent of the body contouring endured, and the health status of the patient. Everyone heals at their own rate, but there are average times expected for proper recovery from body contouring.

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure in which the patient can heal relatively quickly. Patients having liposuction body contouring can expect to return to work in two to three weeks. To return to a full state of health, patients may take as long as six months. Meanwhile, recovery from breast lift body contouring can happen in a short time span: the patient can return to work in 10 to 14 days. Scars may take a while to diminish, from six months to eighteen months, depending on the patient.

Tummy tucks are a little more extensive and they are a body contouring procedure that requires at least 14 to 21 days postoperative recovery time. The patient can then return to work, but scars can take a total of two years to fade. Meanwhile, arm lifts and thigh lift recovery times require a similar recovery period. Finally, the male breast reduction holds a short lived recovery period of 5 to 7 days total. The patient can feel the full effect of recovery in roughly three months time.

Patients can ensure quicker healing if they take all medications as prescribed and they do not over do anything immediately after body contouring. While the patient should have a good attitude toward returning to normal functioning, such function is not something that can be forced, particularly after a surgical procedure. The patient will need to give themselves time to heal: giving their body the patience it deserves.

Costs
The cost of body contouring is not only variable according to the surgeon selected, the amount of work needed will define how much the procedure will cost. Some body contouring can be done for 2000 dollars, some far more. Plus, if a patient chooses more than one procedure, the costs can accumulate quickly. What’s more, if the procedure is deemed cosmetic and not necessary by insurance companies, it will not be covered by medical insurance.

Some patients pay for everything up front in cash. Meanwhile some patients opt to finance body contouring procedures. Personal loans and second mortgages are common ways that people pay for body contouring. Meanwhile, some surgeons offer financing options to their potential patients to help cover costs of body contouring.

The cost of body contouring is a major factor for patients to consider and is yet another reason not to take body contouring options lightly. The cost of loans can cause the patient to be in debt for years after a procedure. The patient will therefore need to assess their finances and budget accordingly. Meanwhile, birth defects or injuries that are at risk of harming the patient if they endured for the long term, may be covered by medical insurance. The patient will need to contact their health insurance provider to see what, if anything at all is covered.

Surgeons
People should seek out a highly qualified surgeon when they are considering body contouring. It is recommended that potential patients consider surgeons with at least 5 years of surgical experience before they have a procedure performed. Patients can find qualified surgeons by reviewing the surgeons listed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Potential surgeons should be friendly, open, honest and informative. The candidate for body contouring should not leave the initial consultation with any pending, unanswered questions or a feeling of uncertainty about the procedure that is under consideration. The surgeon should be willing to offer an honest assessment of the potential patient, a treatment plan, a clear instruction on all office policies, and information about dangers, consequences, and costs.

Candidates for body contouring should not be afraid to ask the surgeon anything. Potential patients have the right to know what kind of experience the surgeon has, if they are certified, and if the surgeon has any references. A surgeon should be willing to freely provide the information requested: if not, the patient would do better to seek out a surgeon more willing to communicate openly with the patient.

Potential patients should steer clear from the surgeon that promises miraculous results. A good surgeon will be honest about expectations and realistic about everything. Further, the patient should be equally realistic in terms of what they expect.

Questions to Ask
There are common questions that every patient should pose during the initial consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. Patients should ask how much the surgery will cost, if insurance will cover any of the procedure, if the hospital charges additional fees on top of the surgery, and whether the surgeon is a member of special medical organizations. Other questions that should be asked include the end result of surgery, what will happen during surgery, and how long it will take to recover.

A patient should also ask about follow up visits. How many visits will be required in total? Do follow up visits cost more are is it included in the cost of the procedure? Further, if the patient has any questions about follow up instructions, it is a good idea to ask for clarification. A patient should find out when the doctor thinks they can return to work and regular activities, as well. Most questions will be answered during the initial consultation and the preoperative visit: both visits are scheduled to assess the patient and to address issues and concerns. A patient left with any questions whatsoever after such visits should not undergo body contouring until all questions have been asked and appropriately answered.


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