Body Contouring
If you’ve had bariatric surgery, such as gastric band or gastric bypass surgery, or shed significant weight with your diet and exercise regimen, body contouring procedures can help smooth out resulting contour irregularities and get rid of loose skin.
When is Body Contouring the Right Choice?
Patients who seek body contouring after dramatic weight loss typically hope to address a combination of localized, stubborn fat deposits and loose, excess skin in the following areas:
- Chin or Neck
- Arms
- Back
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Legs
- Buttocks
Before recommending body contouring in Arlington following major weight loss, Dr. Ward will first ensure that you are healthy, at a stable weight and cleared to undergo anesthesia by our board certified anesthesiologist. He will also talk with you about your surgical goals to ensure he can provide you with results that meet your expectations.
How Body Contouring Treats Excess Skin And Stubborn Fat Deposits
After losing a significant amount of weight (usually 100 lbs. or more), the drastic reduction in body fat may leave behind lax skin that has failed to shrink and form to your new body shape. In addition, stubborn fat deposits may persist in localized areas. To correct these issues, Dr. Ward typically performs a combination of liposuction and body lift surgeries. The liposuction procedure permanently removes fatty tissue, and body lift techniques get rid of loose, hanging skin to reveal a firmer, sculpted body shape.
Post-Operative Steps: What to Expect After Body Contouring
Because body contouring procedures can vary significantly from patient to patient, the length and nature of the recovery period tends to vary as well. A brief stay in the modern, state-of-the-art USMD Hospital is sometimes necessary after more extensive body contouring procedures, and most patients should expect to spend 2-3 weeks off work. At six weeks, the recovery period is usually complete, and you may resume exercising.
Additional stages of surgery may be required to fully realize your goals, and Dr. Ward will talk with you about scheduling additional prodecures for body contouring in Arlington as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be at my ideal weight before undergoing body contouring?
Typically, the best candidates for body contouring will be at or near an ideal body weight. Body contouring is intended to treat areas of the body that are resistant to diet and exercise. Dr. Ward will be able to determine if you are a good candidate for body contouring during your consultation.
Will I experience pain during recovery?
It is normal to experience some pain and discomfort following surgery. Discomfort will gradually subside over the course of several days. Tenderness may last for several weeks. Dr. Ward will provide you with compression garments and pain medication to alleviate your discomfort.
Will there be visible scarring following surgery?
Dr. Ward will strategically place incisions within the natural folds and creases of your body to minimize the appearance of visible scarring. There will be permanent scars following surgery. These will fade and flatten over the course of 12 months.
Will the results of surgery be permanent?
The results of body contouring will be more or less permanent. However, significant fluctuations in weight may impact the longevity of your results. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine will increase the probability of long-lasting results.
What are some the risks associated with body contouring?
There are many benefits associated with body contouring, but surgery also carries some degree of risk as well. These risks will be discussed in-depth during your consultation with Dr. Ward. Some risks may include adverse reaction to anesthesia, blood clots, infection, excessive scarring, prolonged healing and nerve damage.
In the past 25 years, Arlington plastic surgeon Dr. James Ward has treated countless men and women with cosmetic issues arising from drastic weight loss. If you live in Arlington, Texas or the surrounding areas of Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mansfield or Duncanville and would like to learn more about how body contouring after major weight loss can help you get a slimmer, shapelier physique, please contact Dr. Ward’s offices in the USMD Hospital at (817) 861-0505.
