Body Contouring - What You Need to Know

What is body contouring?

Body contouring is commonly performed after weight loss in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. Body contouring addresses excess skin and subcutaneous tissue that commonly results after significant weight loss. Areas treated by body contouring include arms, chest or breasts, abdomen, trunk, buttocks, and thighs. These areas can be particularly problematic for patients who have done the up-front work of losing a large amount of weight and now have problems finding appropriate fitting clothing, suffer from recurrent rashes in skin folds, and have difficulty doing activities such as exercise or hobbies. “Body contouring is traditionally thought of after mass weight loss or bariatric surgery,” says Dr. Bianca Molina.

What are the benefits of body contouring?

Body contouring allows patients to achieve the last step in their weight loss journey. This is the final step in achieving the body they have worked so hard to get to. After body contouring surgery, patients are finally able to wear appropriately fitting clothing, and do activities like exercise and hobbies without excess skin getting in the way. Body contouring may also help in resolving recurrent rashes in skin folds.

Who is a good candidate for body contouring?

Good candidates for body contouring are patients who are at their goal weight, with weight stability for 6 months, who have excess skin and subcutaneous tissue that would benefit from removal. Medical optimization is key to achieving a successful surgical outcome.

What areas of the body can it be done for?

Areas treated by body contouring include arms, chest or breasts, abdomen, trunk, buttocks, and thighs. Additionally, many patients report loose, deflated, or sagging skin in their face after significant weight loss, which causes them to look much older than their actual age. This can be treated by traditional facial rejuvenation procedures such as face lift and neck lift. These patients also benefit from adding volume back into the face with fat grafting or filler, which we know contributes to a youthful appearance.

 How long after pregnancy or weight loss surgery do you have to wait to have a body contouring procedure?

“I recommend waiting 6 months after achieving your goal weight and weight stabilization before undergoing body contouring,” says Dr. Molina. “After pregnancy, it is recommended to wait 6 months after giving birth prior to undergoing any cosmetic abdominal surgery such as a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty to allow for the abdominal wall to stabilize and recovery after pregnancy and birth.”

What is recovery like? How long is recovery?

Recovery after body contouring surgery generally takes 4-6 weeks. Surgeries are typically done as same-day procedures, where patients go home from the recovery room following surgery. Patients can expect to be moving around at home after surgery, and walking is expected and encouraged to prevent complications such as blood clots in the legs or lungs, pneumonia, or other medical issues. It is important to limit strenuous exercise, weightlifting, or other aggressive activities during the initial postoperative period to allow for healing. A high protein diet and nutritional supplementation is encouraged to promote healing, especially in the bariatric patient who may have nutritional deficiencies because of weight loss surgery.

Our team of surgeons also offer patients a procedure called a “Mommy Makeover” which can include a breast lift or augmentation, breast reduction, tummy tuck and/or liposuction. This procedure is done when a woman has completed all of her pregnancies and her body has not been able to return to its pre-pregnancy state.