When summer calls for shorts, bathing suits, and fewer layers, we want to look our best to walk along the beach or around the swimming pool. If you are feeling a tad self-conscious about specific fat bulges you’ve accumulated in certain areas, it may put a damper on your summer fun.

But there’s good news. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Dreyfuss offers safe and effective body shaping procedures to diminish abdominal fat, deliver sleeker thighs, and eliminate those love handles nobody loves. He provides both surgical and non-surgical options at his practice to help you prepare your figure for warm-weather fun.

Here are three body sculpting procedures that will help you get your physique ready in time for sunshine and summer clothes.

Liposuction

The most popular cosmetic surgery worldwide is liposuction. The reasons are simple: It is well-tested with millions of patients over three decades, it is effective with optimal results, and it is a safe and minimally invasive surgical option goes.

If localized fat deposits around the waist, abdomen, thighs, hips, or arms bother you, this tried-and-true procedure can help. The best candidates are at their ideal weight and struggle with bulges in stubborn areas that prevent them from achieving their dream body for summer. Liposuction can remove this excess fat and help you reshape your body and create that slimmer body outline.

Tummy Tuck

Both men and women seem to have a familiar trouble spot when it comes to excess fat. The abdomen is a collection point of stubborn fat cells, no matter the gender. Abdominoplasty, better known as a tummy tuck, eliminates pesky fat cells and reinforces the abdominal wall. This procedure is popular with women who want to reverse the effects of pregnancy or patients who have dealt with significant weight loss.

CoolSculpting

Many men and women either can’t have surgery or choose against it. It’s why non-surgical cosmetic procedures are trending, and CoolSculpting is at the forefront for body shaping. Using fat freezing technology that eliminates stubborn fat bulges by destroying fat cells gives the patient a sleeker figure with little discomfort and no downtime.

Learn More by Scheduling a Consultation

Chicago patients are learning the importance of seeking a qualified plastic surgeon for their cosmetic needs. Dr. Dreyfuss offers multiple aesthetic treatments, both surgical and non-surgical, that help men and women look their best. If you wish to shape your body or enhance your facial beauty, we can help. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Dreyfuss today and learn how we can make you look your best for summer fun.

scale and measuring tape

Patients seeking to improve body profile through body contouring procedures should consider working toward getting close to their ideal weight. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Dreyfuss recommends your body should be below the Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30. To determine your BMI divide your height in meters into your weight in kilometers. If necessary, there are plenty of free online BMI calculators for conversions.

It is crucial you complete your weight loss goal before surgery. You should also stay at a realistic weight, and you can maintain for the foreseeable future. Restricting yourself of calories to improve your outline, then gaining back the weight is not healthy. Each patient has a unique body structure making an evaluation necessary to determine how much weight you should lose before surgery.

The amount of weight you lose before body contouring is vital not only for safety but to enhance your aesthetic results. A BMI under 30 will decrease the risk of blood clots and wound healing issues. This measure will also make the abdomen and waist look smaller because of a decrease in mass in those areas. These results will help any patient seeking a tummy tuck, liposuction, Brazilian Butt Lift or post-bariatric surgery.

There are particular situations when patients have reached their plateau in their weight loss journey, and body contouring surgery can help. These procedures can assist the patient in achieving their long-term goals and encourage them to maintain healthy lifestyle choices for continued body contouring benefits.

Will My Skin Get Loose?

When you lose considerable weight (over 10% of body weight), this decrease in body mass can reduce significant volume in areas like the breasts, butt, and face. With this volume loss skin laxity in these areas is possible. Because excess skin is often unsightly and uncomfortable, its removal will be a consideration for your surgery if necessary.

Will Dieting Affect My Healing After Surgery?

All surgical procedures cause trauma to the body. During your healing process, additional protein intake is necessary for proper healing and reduced risk. We recommend a healthy diet (not starvation) with daily supplements (at least 80 grams of protein) to aid healing for healthy patients with no kidney issues. Dramatically reducing calories during recovery could starve the body of necessary nutrients which help the body to heal. This could lead to excess fluids, infection, slow healing, and wounds opening. We recommend you follow a healthy diet and maintain a stable weight during your recovery.

Will I Gain Weight After Surgery?

You may notice your weight does not change or slightly increase after body contouring surgery. This is normal. Any increase in weight is from fluid retention, not increase in fat or protein intake. Fluid retention is a natural consequence of surgery because the body experiences a shift in hormone production which signals the body to begin the healing process. Also, any fluids administered during surgery may stick around for a period. Another reason for fluid retention is inflammation (swelling). As your swelling goes down so will the amount of fluid revealing your surgical results and providing you an optimal contour. This process will take a few weeks to several months with continuing improvement realized.

Next Steps

To learn more on how you can improve your body contour after significant weight loss, contact board-certified Dr. David Dreyfuss today.

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Unfortunately, diet and exercise don’t always allow us to reach our desired goal weight. More times than not, stubborn pockets of fat emerge on our bodies, and refuse to go away – no matter how hard we may fight. Luckily, we have tools readily available to help us with this fact: specifically, cosmetic surgery.

While cosmetic surgery is resourceful, it is important to note that any type of weight loss surgery should not be pursued in place of diet and exercise. Specifically, both mini and full tummy tucks should be considered in addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

However, if you do decide on weight loss surgery, which route is best for you and your needs: a mini or full tummy tuck?

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck is a variation of abdominoplasty, or a full tummy tuck. This procedure is known to use a shorter incision, generally at or above the pubic region. Also known as a “modified tummy tuck,” a mini tummy tuck tightens muscles and removes the lower, excess abdominal skin.

Following the mini tummy tuck procedure, patients will have a scar noticeably present. Though the scar can be covered up with clothes, it’s important to understand that this mark will not be hidden in the folds of the skin. The scar will most likely be a few inches long, similar to a C-section scar. With proper healing, the scar may fade over time, but will not completely vanish. This procedure does not require the repositioning of the belly button.

This option is less intricate than a full tummy tuck, meaning the time needed to recover is less, too. However, this is still considered to be a major surgery, and should be treated as such. You will need to take proper precautions post-surgery, and avoid any strenuous activity, such as exercise or heavy lifting.

An ideal candidate for a mini tummy tuck is an individual, male or female, who has localized excess skin or fat – generally between the belly button and pubic bone. Again, these patients are, for the most part, in good health, but are having trouble getting rid of pesky pockets of fat, despite diet and regular exercise.

Full Tummy Tuck

A full tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, successfully removes excess fat and skin, creating a smoother and firmer abdominal profile. Unfortunately, with age, the abdomen can become loose or saggy. Other factors that may cause this include:

  • Genes
  • Pregnancy
  • Fluctuations in Weights

During a full tummy tuck, a horizontal incision is made in the area between the pubic hairline and belly button. The overall shape and length of the incision is generally determined by the amount of excess skin that is to be removed. In some cases, a second incision around the belly button is needed to remove excess skin found in the upper abdomen. Then, the upper abdominal skin is pulled down, the excess skin is trimmed, and the skin that remains is sutured together. Finally, a new opening for the belly button is created and sutured into position.

After the procedure, both dressings and bandagers will be applied to your incisions, and you will also be wrapped in an elastic bandage or compression garment to help with swelling. In order to drain excess blood and other fluids, thin tubes will temporarily be placed under the skin.

To recover timely and properly, it’s imperative to listen to your doctor’s instructions. For example, you will learn how to care for the surgical site and drains, which medications to take for pain and discomfort, and how to avoid potential infections. These orders are necessary to follow. If you have questions or concerns, or are unclear about what to do, don’t hesitate to talk to your surgeon.

Just like with a mini tummy tuck, a full tummy tuck will leave you with a scar. Again, while the scar may fade or become less prominent over time, the scar will always exist.

Mini Tummy Tuck vs. Full Tummy Tuck

Now that you understand a little bit about each type of tummy tuck, you’re most likely wondering which option is best for you and your needs, right? To answer these questions, you must decide what your ultimate goal is post-surgery.

Particularly, a mini tummy tuck does not remove as much skin as a full tummy tuck, and does not have as much impact on stretch marks. Further, the mini tummy tuck, while less expensive, only tightens below the belly button; the full tummy tuck tightens above and below, but requires the replacement of your belly button.

Still unsure? Take a look at your body, its size and shape. What do you see? What do you want to see post-surgery? Remember, you can also meet with your doctor to discuss the pros and cons of each surgery, and which would be most accommodating for your body and your goals.

To learn more, schedule a consultation today at Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery by calling 815-806-9400.