Body contouring allows you to get rid of those stubborn pockets of fat that can remain in the body, even after hard work at the gym and discipline at the table have allowed you to get very close to your goal weight. Body contouring can also be used to get rid of the frustrating amount of extra skin that many people have after they lose a significant amount of weight.
At eSSe Plastic Surgery in Ford Lauderdale, FL, our skilled female surgeons know how frustrating it can be when pockets of stubborn fat or sagging, loose skin are holding you back from achieving your final goals. We can help.
At our practice, we offer several kinds of body contouring options, like:
Your candidacy for each of these procedures will depend on your unique situation. For that reason, the first step is always to come and talk to us about your goals and concerns. During the consultation, we will evaluate your concerns and let you know which procedure or a combination of procedures can help you reach them.
At that time, we will also review your medical history to make sure that these procedures are right for you. We also will need to look at what supplements and medications you are currently taking. Some supplements and medications will need to be paused for a while in order for you to achieve the best results. This is also a great time to discuss any questions you might have!
In general, however, there are a few things that especially signal that you’re a good candidate for one of these body contouring procedures:
If you are struggling to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat, you are probably a good candidate for one or more of these procedures. The best candidates are close to their ideal body weights and have a BMI of less than 30. Pockets of fat can remain even after the best diet and exercise programs. This is because the human body puts on weight in various places depending on the genetics of the individual. A person’s genetic makeup may make them prone to putting on fat around the stomach, while another person may struggle with fat on the upper arms, breasts, thighs, or elsewhere.
Depending on your unique physiology, you may find that your body simply refuses to release fat from certain areas, or that, if you gain even two or three pounds, your body insists on putting it right back in your trouble spot. We have procedures that can help with this issue.
One of the most common reasons people suffer from dramatically sagging skin is because of recent weight loss, especially if you have had bariatric surgery. After all the effort you put in to lose weight, it can be very frustrating to feel that you don’t look your best because of all the loose skin. We have various ways of addressing this. An arm lift or tummy tuck, for example, can get rid of a lot of loose skin in these areas. We also offer non-invasive skin tightening that can help in areas where you have minor sagging skin issues.
Before you consider getting a body contouring procedure, you should be sure that you have a good handle on your exercise and diet routines. For many of these procedures, fat loss is permanent in the sense that any fat cells that are removed cannot grow back. However, it is not advisable to ever remove every fat cell from any part of the body: our bodies need fat cells for important functions. Therefore, it is possible for the remaining fat cells to expand as you gain weight.
If you gain a significant amount of weight after these procedures, you may find that you have undone everything you’ve worked to achieve. If you’ve been at a stable weight for a while, then you are likely a good candidate.
It does take some energy for your body to recover from any procedure, so it’s best to go into any body contouring procedure well-rested and with a commitment to a healthy diet and lifestyle that will allow you to see your final results quickly.
Get into the habit of sleeping at least 7 1/2 hours every night. Be aware that you may need to take a little time off from work, and you should be able to go a few weeks without engaging in extremely strenuous physical activity. This means you will need to avoid heavy weightlifting, competing in intense sports, and any work that requires you to do a lot of lifting. If you have an arm lift, in particular, you’ll even need to be sure you won’t be required to lift children or pets for a while.
You should also be committed to avoiding alcohol and nicotine during your recovery period, staying well hydrated, and eating a healthy diet with plenty of protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.
As mentioned, your BMI should be 29.9 or less, and you should have no heart or lung problems in order to qualify for most of our body contouring procedures. A healthy heart and good lung function are very important for general anesthesia, so if we need to administer general anesthesia, we need to be sure that you will be safe. A healthy circulatory system is also crucial for recovery.
It is also important that you be able to follow all our instructions prior to your procedure. You will need to avoid taking certain medications for a time before these procedures, and it’s also important that you arrive at your procedure well-rested, nourished, and hydrated.
For some of these procedures, you may need to forgo eating and drinking anything other than water for eight hours prior to your procedure. For others, only local anesthesia will be needed and you may not have to worry about these restrictions. However, it is vital that you stop smoking for a few weeks before and after any procedure, as smoking dramatically interferes with your body’s ability to heal itself.
These procedures work, but they are not miracles, and they are not a way to get around having a healthy lifestyle. Even liposuction, which actually removes fat cells from the area, is not considered a weight loss procedure. Instead, this is a fat reduction procedure that can remove fat cells, slim your contours, and result in a small amount of weight loss.
You need to understand what expectations to have, and that means coming to talk with us about your goals. We can explain clearly what these procedures can and cannot do for you, and will help you to set your expectations correctly so they are met or exceeded.
These procedures require you to rest and take a bit of time off from work and the requirements of life. You will also need someone to drive you home after some of these procedures, and it’s usually a good idea to have someone who can stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours afterward. Thus it is crucial you have a support system of people ready and willing to help. Don’t forget that this may include finding volunteers to watch children or pets, getting help with meals, and having someone you can call if you need errands run.
It is important to have realistic expectations about your results, but it is also important to have the right understanding of what will happen during your procedure, so there are no surprises. Again, this happens by coming to talk to us. Will explain in detail exactly what happens in each procedure and what you should expect at each step along the way.
If you are interested in any of the procedures we offer, or you just want to explore the possibilities, contact us today at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Ford Lauderdale, FL. Dr. Tracey H. Stokes and Dr. Laura Sudarsky believe in empowering women to make confident and educated decisions about their bodies that will allow them to achieve the aesthetic results they love.
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