Losing weight is a significant challenge but often, even if you put in the hard work, you may need help eliminating stubborn pockets of fat, especially when fighting the effects of age or after a pregnancy.
While traditional surgical procedures such as liposuction or an abdominoplasty are very successful at addressing excess skin, stubborn fat deposits or loss of elasticity, not everyone is a candidate for such surgeries.
The good news? There are many safe and effective non-surgical body contouring alternative available for patients who may not be suited or ready for the risks, costs and extensive downtime associated with such surgeries.
During an in-depth consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, they can consider your budget, lifestyle and aesthetic goals to help determine which body contouring procedure is best for you.
Surgical Body Contouring
The aim of the surgical body contouring procedures at our Kelowna health centre is to improve your natural form and reverse any effects of:
- Aging
- Pregnancy
- Weight-loss or weight-gain
An experienced plastic surgeon can use the most technically advanced treatments to improve any problem areas including excess skin or stubborn fat to restore and renew your appearance.
Two of the most common surgical body contouring options are:
1. Liposuction
Liposuction is a highly requested cosmetic surgery by patients to reshape specific areas of their body by removing areas of unwanted fat. This includes:
- Abdomen
- Thighs
- Hips
- Upper arms
- Back
Who is a candidate for liposuction?
Contrary to popular belief, liposuction is NOT a weight-loss solution but rather works best for patients who are within 10 pounds of their ideal body weight and who are looking to remove only small amounts of fat from a specific area.
When is liposuction recommended?
Plastic surgeons often recommend this procedure to compliment your weight loss efforts, taking over where diet and exercise fall short to give you a more proportional, aesthetically pleasing figure.
How is liposuction performed?
In most cases, liposuction is performed as a day surgery and doesn’t require an overnight stay. It takes 1-3 hours to complete.
During the procedure, the plastic surgeon will make small incisions in the treatment area and use a small suction device to remove the excess fat.
After the surgery, the treated area is stitched and bandaged tightly to promote healing and reduce any swelling or risk of infection.
What is the recovery period for liposuction?
Typically, when liposuction is performed as an outpatient procedure, the recovery period is 2 weeks. This largely depends on the size and volume of the treatment area.
Note: Your plastic surgeon may advise you to wear a compression garment during recovery to promote healing and reduce any swelling.
2. Abdominoplasty
An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to tighten stomach muscles and remove excess fat from the abdomen for a tightened, firmer appearance.
Plastic surgeons mostly recommend this surgery for:
- Patients who wish to improve their body contours after undergoing extreme weight loss.
- Mothers who are looking to restore their figure after pregnancy.
Who is a candidate for an abdominoplasty?
Your safety is paramount when choosing to undergo elective cosmetic surgery. That’s why it’s important to talk to your plastic surgeon to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for an abdominoplasty.
In general, you should be:
- In good physical health
- A non-smoker
- At a stable weight
- Finished with pregnancy
When is an abdominoplasty recommended?
Plastic surgeons often recommend this procedure when:
- You have excess fat or skin around your abdomen that can’t be eliminated through diet or exercise
- The shape of your abdomen has been altered by pregnancy or massive weight loss
- The shape of your abdomen is disproportionate to the rest of your body
How is an abdominoplasty performed?
An abdominoplasty not only removes any excess fat or skin you have but restores weakened muscles for a toned and firmer abdominal profile.
The surgery involves the following steps:
- Anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable
- An incision is made horizontally above the pubic line.
- Through this, your plastic surgeon will repair weakened abdominal muscles and remove unwanted skin and fat.
- The incisions are then closed with absorbable sutures.
What is the recovery period for an abdominoplasty?
A tummy tuck is an extensive procedure and full recovery typically requires a few weeks. You will need to wear a compression garment for at least 4 weeks after the surgery.
In most cases, patients can return to work after 10 days and to their normal diets during week 3-4 of recovery.
Non-Surgical Body Contouring
For patients who don’t have significant laxity, large amount of excess fat or who don’t meet the health requirements of surgical body contouring, there are a number of non-surgical options that produce safe, effective and long lasting results.
These include:
- SculpSure: This laser therapy not only gently eliminates unwanted areas of stubborn fat but also encourages the production of collagen and elastin, leading to younger and healthier looking skin.
- Thermage: Thermage is an effective, non-invasive body contouring procedure that can help tighten and firm body skin. You will notice dramatic results after just one treatment.
- CoolSculpting: CoolSculpting is an innovative body contouring procedure that uses highly controlled cooling to freeze and eliminate fat cells without damaging the surrounding skin. (Learn More >)
Whatever your needs, our plastic surgeons are able to develop customized, non-surgical body contouring treatments to give you beautiful, natural results which meet all your aesthetic needs.
Call Today
To find out more about our surgical and non-surgical body contouring treatments, contact our Kelowna plastic surgeons today at 250-868-9799 or toll free at 877-505-8895.
