It has taken you months or even years of sweat and tears to reach your goal size and weight. You can pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Whether it’s been through diet change, exercise, or weight loss surgery, losing weight is the result of transitioning to a healthier and active life. And although you may be thrilled that you’ve hit your goal size and weight, you’re probably wondering what to do about excess, sagging skin? Well, for many, the solution lies in body contouring.
What is Body Contouring?
Body contouring refers to plastic surgery procedures that aim to remove extra skin and stubborn fat from problem areas all over the body. Body contouring procedures are often performed after men and women lose excessive weight because extreme weight loss affects the elasticity of your skin, not to mention the fact that you’ve lost volume, making it appear baggy and saggy. The ultimate goal of body contouring is to perfect your look and give your body a smooth and appealing contour. Common body contouring procedures include:
- Breast lift
- Arm lift
- Tummy tuck
- Lower body lifts
- Facelifts
- Medial thigh lift
The Ideal Candidate for Body Contouring
Body contouring is not for everybody. Before scheduling a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rex Moulton-Barrett, you should be aware of possible excluding criteria. These include:
- You must be an adult whose weight is stable
- You must be healthy with no medical contraindications for surgery
- You should be a non-smoker
- You have a realistic goal and a positive outlook about plastic surgery
- You are committed to living a healthy lifestyle after surgery
If you’re a good candidate for body contouring, you should educate yourself about the procedure itself. Keep in mind that this is a surgical procedure. And like any other surgical procedure, a good amount of care and recovery time is crucial for its success and quick recovery. You may require one to three weeks of recovery time, so make sure you can manage to take several weeks off for recovery.
Risks of Body Contouring
Every surgery comes with some risk, and body contouring is no exception. During your consultation with Dr. Moulton-Barrett, you will discuss all possible side effects and risks, including:
- Infections
- Wound healing problems
- Blood clots
- Heavy bleeding
- Persistent pain
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Nerve damage
Planning for Body Contouring
Once you’ve made a commitment to undergoing body contouring surgery, you won’t be alone with how best to prepare for the procedure(s). Dr. Moulton-Barrett will guide you through the whole process, personalizing your preparation according to your medical history. You may be required to submit to a few general tests in the weeks before surgery, like blood work, for example.
Final thoughts
If you live in or near Brentwood or Alameda, Dr. Rex Moulton-Barrett is your trusted plastic surgeon for body contouring surgery. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with who specializes in cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, and facelifts, Dr. Moulton-Barrett is a trusted provider of all kinds of plastic surgery procedures like body contouring. Start a conversation about your concerns and desired look by contacting us today.