Body Contouring - Weight Loss Surgery

Body Contouring Checklist

If you’re considering the possibilities available to you involving body contouring, you probably already understand that research and overall knowledge is important. Below is a checklist regarding several aspects of body contouring, and if you have specific questions, please contact a cosmetic surgeon to schedule a consultation.

Background of Body Contouring
The background of body contouring dates back to the onset of the prevalence of most bariatric or gastric procedures, as the removal of a massive amount of fat can leave large deposits of skin that can not retract to fit your new frame.

Best Candidates for Body Contouring
The best candidates for body contouring are those patients who, either through surgery or some other means, have experienced massive weight loss that has left them with loose and hanging skin on any part of their body. The best candidates will also be generally healthy and have proper expectations in regards to the possible results.

Uncertainty and Risk of Body Contouring
Although body contouring is an extremely safe procedure, there is uncertainty and risk involved, as is the case with any procedure. These risks include bleeding and infections under the incisions and sometimes the formation of blood clots under the areas that were affected by the surgery.

Planning for Body Contouring Surgery
Planning for surgery is a process that involves you and your doctor. Generally, planning for surgery includes establishing guidelines for diet, fluid and vitamin intake and vitamin ingestion prior to the procedure in order to ensure the most positive results.

Preparing for Surgery
Preparing for surgery involves all the “little” things that are often overlooked without the help of your doctor. Steps that aid in preparing for surgery include locating your prescriptions prior to surgery and making sure that you have a support network in place to help you recover quickly.

Where Surgery is Performed
The question of where surgery is performed is answered in a standard manner. Body contouring can take several hours, which means that you’ll need to be prepared to report to the hospital for the procedure. This is only a precautionary measure, however, and should not be taken to mean that body contouring is a dangerous procedure.

How Body Contouring Surgery is Performed
The question of how surgery is performed can be answered in varying ways, but one common theme is that basically, the doctor will scope the areas that contain excess skin and remove it surgically. The variations are based on where the excess skin is located.

Anesthesia for Body Contouring
Given the relative complexity and invasiveness of body contouring, general anesthesia is usually the preferred choice of doctors and patients. General anesthesia means that the patient will not be awake at all during the procedure.

After Body Contouring Surgery
The post-op period of body contouring generally proceeds in stages. You will experience some pain and discomfort immediately after your surgery, but within six weeks or at most eight weeks you should be back to your normal routine.

Body Contouring Candidacy

If you’re wondering whether or not you’re a good candidate for body contouring, you’ll need to take the first step of simply gaining knowledge in regards to the surgery itself. Generally speaking, three common questions prospective patients have include, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for body contouring?”, “How will I be evaluated for body contouring?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of body contouring surgery?” Each of these questions is answered below, but for more specific information, you should contact a cosmetic surgeon for individualized answers.

How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for body contouring?

The best candidates for this procedure are those who have undergone massive weight loss in a relatively short amount of time, either because of a surgical procedure or as a result of another strategy. The best candidates will also generally be in good medical health and not have any serious psychological issues that could affect the overall recovery process in a negative way.

How will I be evaluated for body contouring?

Your evaluation for body contouring will be thorough. Your doctor will take a long look at your overall medical history and analyze your current state of health in general. He or she will also want to know how you managed to lose an enormous amount of weight and what your plans are to keep the weight off for the long-term. You will also be examined in certain instances for any psychological problems that could hinder your overall recovery from the procedure.

Will my insurance help offset the costs of body contouring surgery?

This is a difficult question to answer in a uniform manner. Generally speaking, insurance companies are likely to cover any procedure that’s considered medically necessary. However, carriers will not provide coverage for aesthetic, cosmetic or elective procedures. Body contouring, depending on the specifics of your situation, could be considered one or the other, so your best bet is to contact a cosmetic surgeon to determine whether he or she feels that your situation is medically necessary or not. After you’ve completed this step, you’ll need to get in touch with your insurance company to get an answer on coverage. Regardless of the answer you receive, you’ll need to get your communications from them in writing to alleviate any potential confusion subsequent to your procedure.

Overall, three of the most common questions regarding candidacy for body contouring include, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for body contouring?”, “How will I be evaluated for body contouring?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of body contouring surgery?” If you’re looking for answers to these questions that pertain directly to your situation, contact a cosmetic surgeon today for a full and complete consultation.

Body Contouring Specifics

If you’re conducting research on body contouring, a central component of your information gathering must include the specifics of the procedure. Generally, patients tend to have three common questions regarding the specifics of this surgery, and they are, “Where are incisions placed for a body contouring procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common body contouring method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with body contouring?” General answers to each of these questions are provided below, but for more detailed information as it relates to your situation, you should contact a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation.

Where are incisions placed for a body contouring procedure?

The incisions for body contouring can be placed almost anywhere on the body, but they’ll always be placed near the area where excess skin will be removed. These incisions are generally small in nature, as very little needs to be done under the skin for most procedures. However, the only way to remove the excess skin is to basically “cut away” the extra tissue, so you will have incision marks for a time where the extra skin was once located.

What are some variations to the common body contouring method?

There are several methods that have been introduced that could be considered variations from the “classic” body contouring technique, and they include fluid injection, ultrasonic technology and other methods that are designed to minimize the pain and cutting usually involved with removing excess skin. Every variation that applies to you will be discussed in detail before being used, and all of them are considered extremely safe.

What are some of the risks associated with body contouring?

As is the case with any medical procedure, there are risks and uncertainties to keep in mind as you move towards your big day. However, these risks are extremely rare in a statistical sense, and most are managed with medication. Common complications that can arise include pain and bleeding from the cut area, infections that arise in those same areas, and sometimes blood clots can form, but again, these are rare in number.

Overall, three of the most common questions asked in regards to body contouring are, “Where are incisions placed for a body contouring procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common body contouring method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with body contouring?” General answers are provided above, but no two situations are identical. This means that your best bet in regards to making a solid, educated decision is by seeking out the advice of an experienced cosmetic surgeon. Contact a cosmetic surgeon today for a complete consultation.

Body Contouring Preparation and Recovery

Two of the most important aspects of any medical procedure are preparation and recovery from that procedure. Patients always have questions in regards to these components of surgery, and examples of these common questions include, “What steps should I take to prepare for surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” Answers to each of these questions are provided below.

Frequently Asked Body Contouring Surgery Questions

What steps should I take to prepare for surgery?
There are several preparatory steps that should be taken prior to body contouring, and these steps will be provided by your doctor. Generally, these steps include gathering your prescription medication prior to surgery, making sure that you have enough time for recovery, arranging for any logistical details that arise and assuring yourself that you’ll have a support group in place to help you move through the recovery process.

What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?
The day of your surgery will include a wide range of emotions, including anxiety, excitement, fear and happiness. These are all extremely normal feelings, and the day itself will create the existence of all of them, and sometimes several of them at once. The surgery itself will take several hours, but if you’re under general anesthesia, you will not remember any of it. Overall, the day will move quickly.

How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?
In general, you will feel some soreness and pain after the surgery, as you have just had a portion of your skin removed, so this is a normal reaction. You will most likely feel good about having the excess skin removed, but it will take time for the scarring to dissipate.

When can I pursue my normal activities again?
Generally speaking, you should be up and around within a few days, but your movements will be somewhat limited for a period of time. Most doctors recommend a return to work in a few weeks, but you should wait at least eight weeks before you get back into any active exercise routine. Overall, it could take up to a year for the scarring to disappear.

How long can I expect results to last?
Body contouring is a solution, but not an independent solution. Although this process will successfully remove excess skin, it’s up to you to make sure that you maintain your weight loss so that there’s never a need for excess skin removal again in the future. Assuming you stay with your weight loss plan, the results of this procedure should be permanent.

Overall, examples of common questions asked by patients in regards to body contouring are, “What steps should I take to prepare for surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” Each of these questions is answered above, but given that no two situations are exactly alike, you should seek help from an experienced cosmetic surgeon for individualized answers and feedback.

If you’d like to know more about how body contouring can change your life, contact a weight loss surgeon today for a consultation.