Body contouring is a major cosmetic surgery used to completely reshape and tone the body’s supporting fat, skin and tissues. Contouring procedures are often used to treat skin or areas of the body that appear loose or are unsupported and sagging from their natural position. Examples include upper arms and buttocks that have sagging skin, abdomens with an ‘overhang’, and breasts that appear flattened or hang with downward-pointing nipples. Contouring can restore a normal appearance to the body – especially for patients who have lost skin elasticity due to a major weight loss or weight reduction surgery.

that skin that has been stretched loses its support? Often it is weight gain and subsequent loss that is responsible for sagging or loose skin – not to mention scarring and stretch marks. Body contouring can provide a slim, desirable appearance, but only after weight has stabilized. If weight loss continues after body contouring surgery, additional sagging may develop. On the other hand, rapid weight gain following body contouring can cause additional stretch marks and scarring.

You may be a candidate for body contouring if you are finished losing weight and still have unsupported or sagging body parts. Generally, you must be a non-smoker and relatively healthy to be eligible for body contouring surgery. You’ll need to consult with your surgeon prior to the procedure to ensure that you have realistic expectations of your final outcome.

If body contouring is right for you, you’ll need to undergo a complete medical evaluation and lab testing in advance of your procedure. If you are targeting multiple areas of your body, body contouring will likely be broken up into multiple procedures. You’ll be placed under general anesthesia, and your surgeon will make one or more incisions to remove excess skin and complete the procedure.

You’ll awake with bandages and dressings on your incisions, as well as a temporary fluid drain beneath your skin. Your doctor will provide you with very specific instructions for at-home care, which may include medications. You’ll need to avoid most physical activity in the weeks following your surgery, and you’ll also need to visit your surgeon for follow-up appointments. In order to achieve successful results, you must be committed to a healthy lifestyle complete with exercise and a balanced diet to maintain your results. Keep in mind that body contouring results are visible immediately, but the final results can take a year or more to achieve.

Abdominoplasty – or tummy tuck – is a surgical procedure used to remove excess, unneeded or unwanted skin and fat from the abdomen. Most patients who undergo a tummy tuck achieve smoother, flatter and well-toned abdomens that are unachievable with diet and exercise alone. Many of the patients who select abdominoplasty are of a normal body weight, but have loose or sagging skin caused by genetics, aging, or certain life events like pregnancy or weight fluctuations.

Although a tummy tuck is an excellent solution for excising excess skin, it is no substitute for a nutritious diet and regular exercise. It is also not a solution for stretch-marks located above the belly button. Keep in mind that abdominoplasty results are long-lasting, but may be negated with future pregnancies. If you plan to have one or more children in the future, speak with your doctor about delaying your procedure.

You may be a candidate for a tummy tuck if you are a non-smoker with excess abdominal skin – perhaps due to significant weight loss or pregnancy – and you are currently at a stable weight. You’ll also need a pre-surgical consultation to ensure that you have realistic expectations of your outcome.

You’ll prepare for your abdominoplasty with lab work and pre-operative instructions that may prevent you from taking certain medications leading up to your surgery or eating and drinking on the day of the procedure. Your doctor will administer IV sedation or general anesthesia at the start of the procedure for your comfort. A horizontal incision will be made along your pubic hairline, where the excess fat, skin and tissues are removed. The abdominal muscles are sutured and repaired before the incision is finally closed and sutured shut.

Swelling is normal following a tummy tuck, so your final results will not be visible until several weeks after the procedure. When you awake, you’ll be wearing compression garments to support healing and reduce swelling. You’ll be instructed to avoid certain physical activity in the weeks following your procedure. Your doctor will give you personalized instructions for at-home care and schedule return visits to your surgeon’s office to monitor your progress and remove bandages and stitches.