In some cases, diets and exercises may not help the external image to reach the desired dimensions. In such cases, body contouring surgery can offer combined surgeries to reshape and correct the body.
Experts make the planning differently for each patient in these applications, which make the general appearance of the body more aesthetic. Since aesthetic applications other than medical problems are made according to the decisions of the people, specialist physicians give priority to the wishes of the patients. However, even in body contouring operations to be applied in only one area, they evaluate the adjacent areas. Experts aim to give patients an aesthetic and symmetrical appearance by considering the body as a whole.
Body contouring operations applied for various problems of patients in different age groups are generally performed under anesthesia. The vast majority of applications are permanent; Patients do not experience the same deformations in certain areas or in the whole body even after many years.
Body contouring applications are suitable for women and men who are uncomfortable with the appearance of a single part or more than one part of their body for various reasons. In addition, it helps those who have more than normal fat mass in their body and shape the bodies of women who have sagging in the chest and abdomen after birth. Body shaping operation is also a correct application for people who have deformations that do not appear aesthetic on their body for any reason.
There is an age limit for those who do not have any medical problems and want to benefit from body shaping operations only with aesthetic concerns. Generally, operations performed on men and women older than 18 years can be performed at younger ages if they affect the health of the patients. However, there is no upper age limit for these operations. Older individuals whose health is suitable for body shaping applications can also have the look they want.
Body shaping operations can be applied only to certain parts of the body, as well as covering the whole body. Patients’ requests are of great importance in determining the application area. Some patients only complain about the appearance of certain areas. however, some patients are not satisfied with the appearance of most parts of their bodies. In this sense, the areas where the applications will be performed emerge as a result of the consultation of specialist physicians and patients.
The areas where body shaping applications are most frequently performed are the abdominal area, arms, legs, genital area, and buttocks. These operations are usually performed under anesthesia. Body shaping operations include tightening the abdominal area with sagging skin, removing excess fat, recovering the loose arm skin, or lifting the low-appearing hip.
Body contouring operations applied to certain areas or the whole body provide many benefits to the patients both psychologically and physically. Those who are uncomfortable with the appearance of more than one part of their body can change the appearance of different parts at the same time with simultaneous operations.
Simultaneous body shaping operations performed under anesthesia prevent patients from experiencing the same syndromes again. In this sense, the pain that patients will feel after surgery is reduced at once.
After the applications, the body gets a more lively and youthful appearance; patients have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In combined applications, the body is considered as a whole. so the body looks much more symmetrical
Body Contouring Surgery Methods
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgery that allows the removal of subcutaneous fat tissues collected in certain areas of the body with the help of vacuum and metal pipes.
In weight gain, our body stores excess fat in certain areas. In addition to diet and sports, liposuction application is among the methods preferred by those who want to get rid of fat in certain areas. Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat deposits that distort the body contour without leaving any traces, it can correct body contours.
Liposuction is a surgical method performed in certain parts of the body to remove the increased fat tissues that do not respond to diet and other slimming methods and to better shape the body contours. It is a shaping surgery, not a slimming surgery.
As with any surgical operation, first of all, a specialist doctor’s opinion is required in this procedure. Liposuction application is not a slimming method, it is only a method that provides regional thinning and body lines to become smoother. If you have a weight problem other than regional resistant fats, you should first get rid of your excess weight by applying for a controlled diet and sports program. After that, it will be more appropriate to use this method for excess fat that does not go away with diet.
Liposuction is a method that can be applied to anyone who does not have a systemic health problem, who is not pregnant, or who has not given birth. But experts apply tests to determine The risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes with systemic health problems. It should also take necessary precautions against situations that may pose a danger.
Although age does not constitute an obstacle to this application, it is not suitable for some elderly patients due to the age-related loss of skin elasticity
Regions where liposuction can be applied;
- In the removal of fat deposits that disrupt the proportionality in certain parts of the body in men and women,
- In shaping cheeks, neck, under the chin,
- On the inside of the arms
- In shaping hips, thighs, calves, and wrists,
- In shaping the abdomen and waist regions,
- It is used in the treatment of breast size in men.
- Laser-Assisted Liposuction can break down fat cells more intensely by using laser energy and tighten the skin by using a 2nd wavelength.
Before the operation, it is suitable for patients who have normal or close to normal weight but have excess fat deposits in certain parts of the body. It is also important that the patient’s skin quality is good. If the quality of the skin is poor, that is, if the skin is sagging or cracked, stretching operations that we call dermolipectomy are more appropriate.
Experts should evaluate the patient’s psychology. The patient’s expectation must be realistic and controversial with the surgeon. It is wrong to choose liposuction if surgery has recently been performed in the liposuction area if there is a problem in blood circulation if there are heart or lung diseases. In addition, if the patient is using antidepressant drugs or weight loss drugs, they should stop these drugs 3 weeks before liposuction. Liposuction gives patients the chance to dress more comfortably, to move comfortably, and to increase their self-confidence.
Liposuction surgery is often a single session, and if more than 4 kilos of pure fat is required, it is possible to take the remaining amounts at short intervals. If fat is to be removed from the same localization, 6 weeks should pass. If desired, the oils are taken with liposuction work by injecting in sunken, fat-deficient, thin, or wrinkled areas. Experts should collect the fat in the syringe in a sterile way, and after the liquid inside is filtered, the fat part should be given with the help of thinner cannulas. While local anesthesia is preferred if fat is removed from a few localized areas, general anesthesia will be appropriate for more areas.
While the patient is standing, experts draw the places where fat will be removed according to the rate of fat accumulation. If general anesthesia is preferred for the operation, it will be under the control of the anesthesiologist in the operating room under hospital conditions. If local anesthesia will be used, sedation and wet technique will be used, the prepared solution is important.
Experts open small incisions of 1-2 mm in the area to be thinned in the classical liposuction method and dissolve resistant fats with various methods. Fats that break down and melt are vacuumed through thin pipes or injectors. The operation takes place in areas that will be under underwear and body folds in order to avoid the surgical scars.
In laser-assisted liposuction methods, experts melt stubborn fat with laser beams. In the LaserLipo technique, which is one of the most advanced liposuction techniques, the kidney and liver metabolically remove fat. There is no need for any incision or vacuuming.
Abdominoplasty
Another name of Abdominoplasty is Abdominal stretching operation. This is the process of removing excess fat tissue around the navel and correcting the skin that has lost its elasticity. Factors such as genetic factors, very rapid weight gain, and birth in women, cause abdominal muscles to relax. The operation, which is applied with aesthetic concerns, aims to eliminate the cracks, sagging, and deformities seen in the abdominal region due to these factors. The unwanted tissue around the belly skin is removed and the patients get an aesthetic appearance. Some tummy tuck operations are combined with liposuction applications in order to get much more effective results. Just like liposuction applications, tummy tuck operations are not intended for weight loss. Abdominoplasty is not suitable for overweight people who suffer from obesity problems and those with chronic diseases. The most suitable candidates for tummy tuck operations are those who cannot prevent cracks and sag in this area with sports and women who have given birth.
Arm Stretching
It is an operation that is generally suitable for the arm area due to excessive weight loss, aging, or not doing sports. The aim is to remove the skins that have lost their elasticity. Especially in individuals who gain excessive weight in a period of their life, there is sagging in the arm area after losing these weights. After the stretching operations are aimed at removing the sagging skin along with the adipose tissue, the patient obtains an aesthetic appearance.
Thigh Stretching
Factors such as advanced age, rapid weight gain and loss, genetics, and lack of exercise can cause the skin inside the legs to lose its elasticity. This skin, which has a very thin structure, causes sagging, fluctuations, and fats that disrupt the aesthetic appearance. Although it is more common in elderly individuals, these lipidoses and sagging that can occur at any age are eliminated with thigh stretching surgeries. In most patients, vertical incisions on the inside of the legs are made from the groin to the knee. Thigh lift operations offer permanent solutions.
Genital Aesthetics
These are the applications made to remove the deformations in the inner and outer lips, clitoris, vagina, and vulva parts that make up the genital area. These regions, which are disturbed by their appearance, also cause psychological effects generally associated with sexuality in women. Experts correct the genital area disorders that cause moisture, functional and aesthetic disorders under local or general anesthesia.
Is Body-Contouring Suitable for You?
After excessive weight loss, weight loss must be stabilized in order to perform body shaping surgery.
If you continue to lose weight, the sagging pocket image continues to form.
If you start gaining weight quickly, you will traumatically stretch your already weakened and thinned skin. And this causes the skin to expand further, and the formation of visible cracks and marks.
If you have undergone weight reduction surgery, your plastic surgeon will work with your doctor to decide what is the best time to start your body shaping.
Suitable candidates for body contouring surgery are:
- Adults of all ages who have stabilized weight
- Healthy people who do not have a medical condition that prevents the recovery phase after the surgery or increases the risks of the surgery
- Those who have a positive outlook on body contouring surgery and have specific but realistic goals to achieve an improvement in their mind and appearance
- People determined to lead a healthy lifestyle, including proper diet and exercise
What Should You Do Before Surgery?
Your doctor may ask for the following before surgery;
- Have tests in a lab or get a health check
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications to suit your situation.
- Stop smoking prior to surgery
- Stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal pills as they increase bleeding
- The specific instructions to be given to you will be;
What To Do On The Day of Surgery?
- Using anesthesia during your body shaping surgery
- Post-operative care and follow-up
Your plastic surgeon will also discuss with you where your procedure will be performed. Your body shaping surgery can be done in a reliable surgery-based surgery center or a hospital.
What are the Risks of Body Contouring Surgery?
Having a body contouring surgery is a very personal decision. You need to decide whether the benefits of the operation will enable you to achieve your goals and whether the potential risks and complications are acceptable. Your plastic surgeon will explain the risks associated with the surgery in detail.
Possible risks of body contouring surgery following excessive weight loss can include:
- Unwanted scars
- Bleeding (hematoma)
- Infection
- Fluid collection
- The wound is not healing sufficiently
- Loss of skin
- Blood clot
- Numbness and other changes in skin sensation
- Anesthesia-related risks
- Skin discoloration and/or persistent swelling
- Fat tissue under the skin may die
- Repetitive skin loosening
- Persistence of pain
- Swelling in the legs
Let’s look at the frequently asked questions of the patients about the body contouring surgery, which we informed you in detail.
Will there be scars on the body after the operation?
Depending on the area where body shaping operations are performed, the scars are obvious or vague. Surgeons usually perform operations without visible scars. For example, in tummy tuck operations, the scars are generally within the boundaries of the genital area. However, there is no scar in operations such as liposuction.
How long is the recovery period after the operation?
After shaping operations applied to different parts of the body, the recovery time varies according to the method. After some operations, patients are discharged the same day, while others need to be observed for 1-2 days. However, processes such as removing stitches, reducing symptoms, and becoming vague of scars occur within 6 months at the earliest.
Are our body shaping surgeries painful?
It is normal to feel some pain after body shaping operations as in any surgery. However, the severity of the pain varies according to the operation. For example, after thigh stretching operations, patients experience mild pain, while tummy tuck operations may cause more pain.
Which body parts are liposuction not applied to?
Liposuction, which is generally applied to the waist circumference, abdomen, hips, legs, and arms in women and men, should not be applied in some areas. These areas include the lower thighs and the front of the legs. It is highly likely that deformations such as collapsing of the skin will be seen due to the removal of adipose tissue in these areas where excessive oily is not observed. For this reason, it is recommended not to apply degreasing in these areas.
Which procedures are suitable for combining all body shaping surgeries?
At the end of the meeting with the doctor, the doctor decides the most appropriate procedures for the person. All body shaping surgeries are compatible with procedures such as breast lift with or without a prosthesis, tummy tuck, thigh lift, liposuction (fat removal).
How many sessions are all body shaping surgeries performed?
This process usually ends in one session. If your doctor deems necessary, you will do a second session.
When is it appropriate for all body contouring surgeries to be performed at the earliest after childbirth?
It usually takes a year for the body to recover after birth. During this process, breast and abdominal tissues begin to return to their old form, the slimming and recovery process is completed. If your doctor approves, at least the breastfeeding period should be over before the whole body contouring surgery can be performed.
Does the location of the belly button change during tummy tuck surgery?
All body shaping surgeries are among the major surgeries. Abdominal stretching is also included in the procedures. Experts re-locate the belly button because most of the abdominal muscles are tightened and the skin under the navel is removed.
When can I return to normal life after the whole body contouring surgery?
It is necessary to rest at home for 1 week after discharge. Generally, it is possible to return to normal life after 15 days.
When can I start sports after the whole body contouring surgery?
After 15 days, walks begin. You should avoid heavy sports for 6 weeks.
How long does whole body-contouring surgery take?
These surgeries take 4-7 hours depending on the procedure to be performed on the patient.
How much fat can I remove in liposuction?
The age and health status of the person is important in the amount of fat intake. Of course, what is healthy is the fat intake for shaping. But for people who have started to lose weight sometimes but are at the line of depressed mood, getting some fat from genetic fatty areas encourages them more. They stay more faithful to their diet. It is possible to take 2 to 3 liters of fat from the abdominal area, 3 liters from the waist, and up to 4 liters from the hip. The fluid lost by the person while fat is taken is also given through the vascular access. While the patient can go home on the same day after fluid intake. When more fat is taken, one-night hospitalization should be supported by intravenous and oral fluid intake.
After excessive weight loss, the results of body shaping surgery are immediately noticeable. However, it may take from one to two years for all the recommended and desired results of body contouring surgery to occur. Surgical scars will remain, but the total results will be long-lasting provided you keep your weight constant and exercise.
As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of the results of the improvement you get with this operation will be relatively permanent.
In this article, we gave you detailed information about body contouring surgery. With these operations, you can get rid of the excesses in your body that are not pleasant to your eyes. But for the permanent solution and your health, eat healthy, keep yourself fit.
