Dr Adam Alexander holds an interest in body contouring, a practice that falls under the umbrella of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is divided into two broad categories: reconstructive plastic surgery (restores the appearance and function of the human body after illness or accident) and aesthetic or cosmetic plastic surgery (used to change one’s appearance).
The effects of body contouring can be learned about in the embedded video.
Modern plastic and reconstructive surgery combine a range of surgical skills and methods that are used in collaboration with a variety of other practices.
Whilst losing a significant amount of weight healthily is highly beneficial, it can also come with some unwanted physical side effects. People who lose significant amounts of weight often find that issues, such as sagging skin, negatively impact their self-confidence. Plastic surgery and body contouring procedures can help to remove these physical attributes.
Problems Following Massive Weight Loss
Some of the issues following massive weight loss include excess loose skin and fat. This can create physical obstructions to exercise. Some also experience skin infections as a result of the excess sagging skin.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has a set of guidelines that patients seeking body contouring surgery must qualify for:
- They must be over 16 years old
- They must have a starting BMI of 40 or less (or 35 or less with other medical problems such as diabetes) and a current BMI of 28 or less
- They must maintain a stable body weight for one year and have either physical or psychological medical problems that are considered significant
The attached infographic includes more details about this cosmetic surgery.
Body Contouring Options and Procedures
Lipolysis is a nonsurgical option that uses cold, heat, lasers and other methods, whereas surgical options usually involve lifts, tucks and liposuction.
Apronectomy, belt lipectomy/lower body lift, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), inner thigh lift, brachioplasty and mastopexy are some of the procedures utilised in contouring certain body parts.
The attached PDF explains these procedures in more detail.
Most surgical procedures require a general anaesthetic and aftercare (consisting of one to three nights stay at the hospital), depending on the type of procedure used.
When exercise and dieting aren’t working, body contouring can remove fat and reshape areas of the body. Being at one’s ideal weight improves the quality of results while also reducing complications.