Everybody has an ideal image of their body to look like. Different people get their perfect bodies in different ways, and nowadays, achieving your dream body can be achieved through surgery. One of the available things this era is body contouring. Before getting this type of operation or process, it’s essential to know it first.
In medicine, body contouring is also known as body sculpting. This is a surgical or medical procedure used to alter a specific part of the body. The process may entail operations to remove excess skin, eliminate excess fat, or reshape or contour the region being worked on. On the other hand, body shaping is not frequently associated with weight loss. As an alternative, it helps to sculpt the body and target specific regions where weight loss has been ineffective or where significant weight loss has resulted in excess skin.
Types of Body Contouring
Fat freezing or Cryolipolysis
Cryolipolysis, often known as fat freezing, is a non-surgical fat reduction method that involves using cold temperatures to remove fat deposits in specific parts of the body. The operation is intended to remove localized fat deposits or bulges that do not respond to diet and exercise. It is performed under local anesthesia. This product is not designed for those who are overweight or substantially obese. CoolSculptingTM is the trademark for the technology developed and patented in 2009.
Using fat freezing treatments, you can target and freeze your fat cells, inducing apoptosis, sometimes known as cell death. Then, your body’s biological systems destroy the dying cells through the liver, responsible for this process. The fact that fat cells are more sensitive to temperature than skin cells means that the surrounding skin is not injured during the procedure, which is an advantage of fat freezing over invasive procedures such as liposuction. This fat-reduction technique is pretty popular because it does not require surgery or incisions.
Injection Lipolysis
Injection lipolysis is a chemical procedure that lowers the number of fat cells in the vicinity of the treated area. The deoxycholic chemical acid causes fat cell disintegration and death due to its action.
As of right now, it is FDA-approved for the treatment of the area beneath the chin to erase what is commonly termed as a double chin. In this controversial cosmetic surgery, patients are injected with medication mixes that are intended to kill fat cells in the hopes of reducing their size. Phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate (PCDC)-based medications are used in this procedure, which evolved from the first intravenous administration of those chemical formulations to treat blood problems.
Laser Lipolysis
Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive method of body contouring that is becoming increasingly popular. Using laser lipolysis, the volume of fat in a fatty bulge is reduced, which is the ultimate goal. It helps to get rid of tiny fat deposits. This technique, like surgical liposuction, is designed to remove fat cells from your system permanently. On the other hand, laser lipolysis is far less unpleasant, and the recovery time is shorter and less complex.
Additionally, there is a lesser likelihood of loose skin following the procedure. If you have fatty tissue on your abdomen, hips, thighs, or buttocks that you would like to lose, you may be a good candidate for this procedure. This surgery usually is not indicated for persons who are overweight or obese, though.
Radiofrequency lipolysis
In radiofrequency lipolysis, the fat is heated by radiofrequency without needing an instrument to come into direct physical touch with the patient throughout the treatment. The applicator heats the skin from a range of one centimeter away from the skin. Fat cells are heated in a preferred manner, with no adverse effects on other types of cells in the skin or on other structures. Vanquish is a form of radiofrequency lipolysis that is widely used. Dermatologists frequently recommend radiofrequency for individuals who have areas of excess fat on their bodies.
Liposuction
Cosmetic procedures such as liposuction are often performed in the United States. The number of people who have had liposuction has climbed by 264 percent since 1992. To be a good candidate for liposuction, you should maintain a steady weight and have localized fatty deposits that will not diminish with diet and exercise alone. While liposuction is typically performed under general anesthesia, it is also possible to have it done outpatient.
Body Contouring and Recovery
Depending on the type of treatment you have received, your recovery will be different. The recuperation period from contouring surgery, for example, lasts around one to two months and entails a temporary suspension of most typical activities, including exercise. During non-surgical therapies, the recuperation period of two to three weeks is repeated each time you have treatment. Still, you are not restricted in your activities to the same extent. Additionally, the amount of time it takes to recover may vary depending on the area being treated and how quickly you respond to the treatment.
Body reshaping operations frequently necessitate the use of general anesthesia and at least one overnight stay. The most serious hazards associated with surgery are wound healing, asymmetry, and chronic contour deformities. You may require surgical drains following surgery to remove any extra fluid or blood accumulated at the surgical site. Your doctor will walk you through the process of using and caring for your drain. In addition, your doctor may ask you to wear a compression garment for six to eight weeks at a time.
Initially, you may experience discomfort for up to four weeks, and a full recovery may take many months. The size and extent of your scars will vary based on the operation you underwent. When compared to liposuction, body contouring surgery will leave more visible scars.
Nevertheless, there’s no need to worry too much as you will be appropriately guided. You will be provided with particular instructions, which may include the following:
- When should you schedule a follow-up appointment with your plastic surgeon?
- There are specific issues to keep an eye out for at the surgery site or in your general well-being.
- Necessary precaution after the procedure.
- Medicines that can be used topically or taken orally to assist healing.