US plastic surgeons perform over 46,000 body contouring procedures annually. And that statistic only counts the number of procedures performed on patients who recently underwent significant weight loss or bariatric surgery.
Did you recently lose weight, have a baby, or experience another major life change? If so, you may have accumulated extra fat or skin, which can take a major toll on your body image, as well as your mental and physical health.
The good news is that body contouring can help people like you. While non-surgical body contouring is not right for everyone, body contouring surgery works for a larger pool of candidates.
But what exactly is body contouring, and how do these procedures improve the aesthetics of your figure? We created this in-depth guide to answer these questions and more, so keep reading to find out!
What Is Body Contouring?
Body contouring refers to surgical and non-surgical procedures that can tighten skin, reduce fat, or both. Surgical body contouring tends to provide better results. Non-invasive body contouring does not work for everyone.
For example, non-surgical body contouring procedures are only meant for people looking to shed a few pounds of stubborn fat. It does not work for people needing to eliminate significant amounts of fat.
Non-surgical body contouring treatments include but are not limited to the following:
- CoolSculpting
- SculpSure
- UltraShape
- Kybella
Surgical body contouring, however, works for almost everyone. Whether you want to lose fat or feel more beautiful after giving birth, there is a surgical body contouring procedure to suit your needs.
Types of Surgical Body Contouring Procedures and How They Work
There are dozens of different types of surgical and non-surgical body contouring treatments. While some may help tighten and lift the skin, others can eliminate stubborn fat cells once and for all.
Which of these procedures is right for your needs? Dr. Deuber relies on the following procedures to help patients like you get the body of their dreams.
Tummy Tucks
Tummy tucks are also known as abdominoplasties. This procedure can target fat, saggy skin, stretch marks, and more. Tummy tucks are great for women who have been pregnant or have lost significant amounts of weight already.
Abdominoplasties can also address the dreaded “pooch.” Many women believe that dieting and exercise can eliminate lower abdominal pooches. But the problem is not just fat; it’s stretched-out skin and muscles, too.
With a tummy tuck, your surgeon will trim away excess layers of abdominal fat and skin. Then, the remaining skin is stretched over the stomach. This creates a tighter, flatter, and smoother look to the abdomen.
However, tummy tucks are not suitable for people who want to lose significant amounts of fat. Instead, this procedure is ideal for women in good health and within 10 pounds of their ideal weight. Smokers are also not good candidates.
If you have a significant amount of fat to lose, you may want to consider liposuction first (more on this procedure below). Then, your surgeon can follow up with a tummy tuck for the toned look you want.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that directly addresses pockets of body fat. Many people get liposuction to the stomach. However, you can also get liposuction for the following areas:
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Hips
- Back
- Arms
- Neck
- Chin
Good candidates for liposuction include people who are within 30% of their ideal weight. For example, say your goal is to weigh 140 pounds. You should weigh 200 pounds or less to achieve your desired results with liposuction.
Here’s how liposuction works. First, your surgeon will make a small incision in the target area. A cannula that connects to a vacuum is then inserted into the cut to suck out excess fat.
Now that you understand what liposuction can do, it is important to know what lipo can’t do. First, this procedure only targets fat, not loose skin. If you want to address loose skin, consider a Mommy Makeover (more on that below).
Secondly, liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It will permanently eliminate fat cells, but if you don’t stay in good health after your procedure, you will regain the fat.
Mommy Makeovers
Having a baby is a magical event in many women’s lives. Yet, the side effects of pregnancy can change your body, sometimes in ways you don’t like. Mommy Makeovers can help reverse those unwanted effects.
Surgeons customize these procedure packages according to each patient’s unique needs. For example, you can combine liposuction for fat reduction and a tummy tuck for a flatter stomach.
Other procedures commonly included in Mommy Makeovers are breast lifts, breast augmentations, breast reductions, and even vaginal rejuvenation (more on this in a moment).
Ideal candidates for Mommy Makeovers include women who are in good health and within 10 pounds of their goal weight. We also recommend waiting until you are done with breastfeeding and having children to get this procedure.
With a Mommy Makeover, you can have all your procedures done on the same day, saving significant recovery time. Plus, the Mommy Makeover body contouring cost is less because you’re bundling all your procedures together.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
Vaginal rejuvenation procedures include labiaplasties and minimally-invasive treatments like FemTouch. The option you should choose depends on your unique goals.
For example, the goal of labiaplasty is to tighten your vagina and reduce the appearance of protruding inner labia. This procedure is ideal for healthy women of all ages, especially women who have:
- Given birth
- Gone through menopause
- Lost a significant amount of weight
But labiaplasties are not the only way to improve the look and feel of your vagina. FemTouch is a non-surgical body contouring procedure that can lift and plump your vaginal tissues. But it will not fix significantly protruding inner lips.
Labiaplasty procedures involve strumming away excess tissue that hangs below your outer vaginal lips. Dr. Mark Deuber in Dallas, Texas uses a specialized labiaplasty technique that reduces scarring and pain from this procedure.
The Benefits of Body Contouring Surgery
There are countless benefits to body contouring. We’ve already discussed how these procedures can tighten and shape your body. Here are five more benefits you can expect when you get your surgeries done with Dr. Deuber.
Better Aesthetics
The number one reason women come in for a consultation is to look and feel more beautiful. Aging, pregnancy, and weight gain or loss can change your body. These unwanted changes may leave you feeling less attractive.
With body contouring surgery, you can get back to the way you felt before. Your body will look tighter, your skin will feel smoother, and you will look more youthful.
Improved Confidence
One of the benefits of looking better is feeling more confident. Women, in particular, face social pressure to look young and fit forever.
You may not be able to turn back the clock. With the help of body contouring procedures, however, you can step into your future feeling beautiful and proud of your physical appearance.
Better Sex
Feeling more confident and beautiful can also impact your sex life. After all, self-esteem can impact how well or poorly you communicate your desires in the bedroom to your partner.
Labiaplasties have a more direct effect on sex life. Vaginal skin laxity can cause pain during sex. Tightening your vaginal skin can make sex more enjoyable.
Customized Results
With a bespoke Mommy Makeover, you and Dr. Deuber can come up with the exact bundle to suit your needs. Patients’ bodies vary with different shapes and sizes. You deserve a body contouring plan that is customized specifically for you.
When you schedule a consultation with Dr. Deuber, he will listen to your concerns and give you a physical exam. Then, he can advise you about the right procedure package to meet your goals.
Fast Recovery
This benefit does not apply to all plastic surgeons. Only Dr. Deuber in Dallas, Texas is trained in quick recovery techniques to help you feel less pain and get back to normal faster after your procedure.
Ask about our fast-track recovery body contouring options when you come in for your initial consultation with Dr. Deuber.
Searching for ‘Body Contouring Near Me’?
Surgical body contouring procedures can help eliminate unwanted fat and tighten skin. Tummy tucks, liposuction, Mommy Makeovers, and vaginal rejuvenation are all excellent options to help you look and feel younger.
Are you searching for a body contouring surgeon in Dallas? Dr. Deuber is a highly skilled board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience. Get in touch with us today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Deuber.