Body Contouring

Body Contouring

Body contouring is a generalised term relating to shaping or reshaping of the body as well as improving appearance. This generalised term is also known as body sculpting. Body contouring can be achieved by both surgical procedures and non-surgical procedures. Each body contouring treatment is designed to someway improve or enhance the body.

A body contouring treatment can relate to:

• Removal of excess skin
• Remove of excess fat 
• Reshaping of areas 
• Defining areas
• Boosting self confidence
• Addressing changes after pregnancy
• Addresses changes after weight loss surgery

When determining who is a good candidate for body contouring it is important to consider both surgical and non-surgical options but generally a candidate should have:

• Stable weight
• Realistic expectations
• Good health
• Non-smoker
• Healthy lifestyle

Surgical body contouring treatments

A surgical treatment for body contouring generally is in relation to removal of either excess skin or remove excess fat through small incisions around the problem area.

Some of the most common examples of surgical body contouring treatments are

1. Tummy tuck

Also known as an abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to reshape and tighten the abdomen. It is often the go to procedure for people that have significant changes in the abdomen such as post pregnancy (where abdominal muscles and skin can stretch and not respond to diet and or exercise and significant weight loss. Tummy tucks can be either a full or mini where full addresses the entire abdomen and mini focuses below the belly button.

2. Liposuction

Is a popular cosmetic procedure designed to remove excess fat deposits from specific areas of the body. It uses a suction technique to remove fat from areas such as abdomen, buttocks, arms etc. Liposuctions are not designed as a weight loss solution but to contour the body by removing local fat deposits.  The procedure involves small incisions around the area to be treated and a cannula is inserted to loosen and such out the excess fat. There are more than one liposuction techniques and these included

Tumescent liposuction: The most common technique, involving injecting a solution to reduce bleeding and pain.   

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL): Uses ultrasound energy to liquefy fat.  An example of this would be VASER (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance). This is the most well-known name associated with ultrasound-assisted liposuction. VASER is a specific technology that utilizes ultrasound to emulsify fat before removal

Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL): Uses laser energy to melt fat.  

When discussing laser-assisted liposuction, it's important to recognize that several technologies and brand names exist such as:

• Smart Lipo – utilises laser energy to liquefy fat and stimulate collagen for skin tightening. 
• Cool Lipo – Another laser liposuction system using laser energy to melt fat cells
• Lipo Lite- laser based system for laser assisted liposuction
• Erchonia – This uses laser but low-level laser such as 
  • Zerona
  • Verju
  • Emerald

These are non-thermal lasers used for body contouring and fat reduction and non-invasive. 

Power-assisted liposuction (PAL): uses a cannula that vibrates to help break up the fat.   

3. Breast lifts

Breast lift and breast augmentation are two separate procedures. 

Breast lift is to raise a sagging breast and improve shape. The procedure removes excess skin and tightening surrounding skin to create an uplifted breast. It can also be used to reposition nipples and alter areola size. 

Breast augmentation is used to increase breast size and fullness and involves either silicone implants or fat transfer. It can also be used for breast asymmetry and sagging breast.

It's common for women to have a breast lift and breast augmentation performed simultaneously to address both sagging and volume loss.   

4. Breast reductions

5. Arm lifts

6. Thigh lifts 

7. Body lifts

8. Liposculpture 

Liposculpture is a surgical procedure to both remove fat and contour the body. It is similar to liposuction but is more controlled and detailed creating a more aesthetically pleasing profile. Finer cannulas are used to achieve a more precise result. It targets stubborn fat that is difficult to remove with diet and exercise. In some cases fat can be removed and then transferred to other areas of the body to enhance, shape and contour. The common areas are such as 

9. Buttock lifts

Buttock augmentation is a cosmetic procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks. You can either use silicone implants which are placed within the buttock muscle to add volume or fat transfer. Fat is removed from other areas of the body (abdomen, thighs, etc.) via liposuction, then purified and injected into the buttocks.

Silicone implants create a measured increase in volume and significant shape but can be associated with more risk and a less natural feel. They may also need replacing in the future and will cause a scar.

Fat transfer creates a more natural look and feel and also helps contour where the fat has been removed from so potentially treating 2 problem areas at the same time. There is of course risk as results vary depending on amount of fat and the risk of liposuction and fat injection. 

10. Calf enhancements

11. Buttock enhancements 

Other areas are abdomen, neck and chin and love handles.

Benefits of surgical body contouring

The benefits of surgical body contouring can relate not only to physical benefits but also to psychological and emotional benefits.

Physical benefits include:

• Removal of excess skin which can cause discomfort, irritation, hygiene issues and risk of skin infections
• Improve body shape by creating more tones and defined appearance and helps refine specific areas
• Increase comfort and mobility by removing excess skin or fat 
• Enhance muscle definition by eliminating excess fat or excess skin

Psychological and Emotional Benefits include:

• Boosting self esteem
• Improving self confidence
• Improved clothing fit
• Increased motivation

Compared to non-surgical body contouring surgical body contouring also offers long lasting results 

Considerations of surgical body contouring

Before starting with any surgical body contouring procedure these things should be considered 

1. Good health to reduce the risk or complications.
2. Pre-existing medical conditions should be considered as this will increase the risk with surgery. 
3. It is also advised that weight is stable as this can affect the results of treatments. 
4. Smoking is always associated with increased risk as well so it is advised to have ceased smoking prior to surgery.
5. Medications can increase risk so should be considered prior to surgery
6. Expectations should be managed and be kept realistic 
7. Scarring can occur so needs to be thought about and considered 
8. The surgeon carrying out the procedure should be thoroughly researched
9. The procedure selection should be the most appropriate for your condition and your goals
10. Recovery time should be considered with reference to the type of procedure
11. Pain and discomfort levels can vary from person to person and procedure
12. Risks and complications can also be an important factor look into
13. Costs are more expensive than non-surgical procures

Be aware of lifestyle changes to maintain your body as well as the emotional aspects of surgery. 

Non-Surgical Body Contouring:

A non-surgical body contouring treatment generally relates to fat reduction or skin tightening but without the need of surgery or incisions.

Some of the most common non-surgical body contouring treatments are 

• Cryolipolysis or fat freezing
• Laser treatments
• Radiofrequency treatments
• Electromagnetic muscle stimulation or (EMsculpt)

Benefits of Non-surgical body contouring

• Minimal downtime after procedures
• Non-invasive
• No anaesthesia
• Reduced risks during treatments
• Reduced risk post treatment
• Less costly 

Considerations of non-surgical body contouring

• Results can vary from person to person
• Results can vary with technologies used as different technologies target different concerns
• Results can vary from clinician performing treatments
• Multiple sessions generally needed with a gradual improvement and not an immediate transformation. As well as consideration of the time between treatments
• Not a weight loss solution
• Results will have limitations and non-surgical treatments are best for mild to moderate skin laxity and fat deposits
• A person should be near their desired weight to ensure optimal results
• Certain medical conditions can contraindicate so be sure to advise of current medical history 
• Discomfort and side effects are generally minimal but it is important to understand the risks and possible side effects to occur such as swelling, pain and bruising. 
• There is generally little or no downtime to consider post treatments
• It is important to follow post treatment advice like avoiding certain activity and maintain good hydration 
• Whilst non-surgical body contouring is cheaper than surgical there will be multiple sessions needed so it is important to know the treatment plan before committing. 
• To maintain results, it is critical to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise as well as maintain hydration. 

Body contouring for men and women

Body contouring procedures often differ between men and women. This due to difference in 

• anatomy
• fat distribution and desired aesthetic outcomes. 
• Women tend to store fat on their hips, thighs, buttocks and lower abdomen where hormones (oestrogen) play a significant role in fat distribution. 
• Women often seek a smoother, contoured silhouette with curves
• Men tend to store fat in the abdomen and as well as love handles where hormones (testosterone) plays a significant role in fat distribution. 
• Men prioritise a more defined and muscular appearance.
• Both men and women utilise procedures such as liposuction and muscle enhancement procedures such as Emsculpt.
• Women would use fat transfer to areas such as breast and buttocks where men would choose areas such as chest and calves.

Body contouring for over 50’s 

Both men and women desire body contouring treatments after the age of 50. Though generally this is more common in women. 

Non-surgical options include 

• Cryolipolysis or CoolSculpting (a famous brand) to freeze fat cells to be eliminated by the body
• Radiofrequency to tighten skin and stimulate collagen production.
• Ultrasound to liquify fat cells and tighten skin

Surgical Options include

• Liposuction to remove fat deposits
• Tummy tuck to remove excess abdominal skin and tighten abdominal muscles.
• Body lift to address excess skin and sagging in different areas
• Breast lift and augmentation

Cost of body contouring procedures

The cost of body contouring will differ greater for a number of reasons

1. Surgical or non-surgical 
2. Extent of the treatment area, the larger the area the more the cost
3. Location of clinic
4. Person doing the procedure
5. Post operative care and medications

Surgical procedures

A surgical procedure like a liposuction would start around £3000 and increase with areas

A tummy tuck is an extensive procedure and would generally cost £5000-£100000

A body lift is the most extensive procedure and the most expensive costing upwards of £12000

Non-Surgical procedures

A treatment like cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting) would cost between £300 and £1000 per session and depends on the area treated and expected outcome to dictate the number of sessions

Radiofrequency would cost between £350 and £500 per session and the area treated depends on the area treated and expected outcome to dictate the number of sessions 

Recovery time post body contouring  

Recovery time varies from the procedure and whether it is surgical or non-surgical.

A surgical body contouring treatment

Would be split in the initial recovery period in the first few weeks and the continued healing and recovery.

The initial recovery would generally involve significant bruising and soreness as well as discomfort managed by pain medication. Compression garments are also used to reduce the swelling and aid healing. Activities would be kept to a minimum and drains may need to be used to remove excess fluid. 

Continued healing would be weeks to months where swelling and bruising ease and scars begin to heal with a gradual return to normal activity. 

Recovery does depend on the extent of the surgery and the individual. 

A non-surgical body contouring recovery 

These have little or no downtimes with an immediate return to normal activities or at most a couple of days. Some mild soreness or swelling is possible but subsides very quickly. 

Non-invasive body contouring at home

The key here is to be realistic. Some methods may offer improvement but are not going to be dramatic improvements. 

At home devices could be things like

• Radiofrequency to heat the skin and stimulate collagen 
• EMS (electric muscle stimulation to stimulate muscle contraction and help tone and strengthen
• Ultrasound to target fat cells
• Massage devices to improve circulation and improve lymphatic drainage

Lifestyle changes can also play an important role such as:

• Healthy diet
• Regular exercise
• Hydration
• Dry brushing

It is important to remember a few key facts for body contouring

1. Body contouring reshapes and improves appearance of the body
2. Body contouring reduces excess fat, tightens loose skin, and enhances muscle definition.
3. Body contouring is not for weight loss.
4. Body contouring can be surgical or non-surgical
5. Consultation is crucial
6. Surgical procedures offer dramatic long-term results
7. Surgical procedures carry increased risk
8. Surgical procedures require significant recovery time
9. Non-surgical procedures offer gradual and subtle results
10. Non-surgical procedures carry little risk
11. Non-surgical procedures require little recovery time
12. Non-surgical procedures require multiple treatments
13. Realistic expectation is crucial
14. Healthy lifestyle is crucial
15. Using a qualified professional is crucial
16. Cost must be considered
17. Body contouring scarring is going to be worse and more significant with the level of surgical treatment
18. Body contouring non-surgical treatment does not cause scaring
19. Body contouring does not remove stretch marks but can improve overall skin condition
20. Body contouring can be used for cellulite reduction

There is no one size fits all approach to body contouring but should be a treatment plan for the individual focusing on goals, anatomy and costs.