BODY CONTOURING IS A TERM USED PRIMARILY to describe plastic surgery techniques aimed at improving an individual’s body shape. The most common procedures used in body contouring are liposuction and ‘tummy-tucks.’ Body contouring surgery remains one of the most requested procedures performed by plastic surgeons today. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, over 450,000 liposuction procedures were performed in 2004 making it the most common cosmetic surgery procedure. The interest in body contouring surgery has risen significantly over the past five years fueled in part by the widespread media exposure of plastic surgery ‘reality shows’ as well as a trend towards society’s acceptance of plastic surgery as a positive personal experience.

WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR BODY CONTOURING?
Any individual who desires an improvement in their body shape is a potential candidate for body contouring surgery. It is important to recognize that body image can have a significant impact on a person’s well-being. Often times particular areas do not respond to exercise and diet. Many factors such as pregnancy, weight loss and the effects of aging and gravity can lead to unattractive stretch marks and loose skin that detract from one’s body shape. These areas can be significantly improved with body contouring by removing the excess skin and addressing the areas of fat bulging. With the recent ‘trend’ in gastric bypass procedures, body contouring has become an excellent option for these individuals who have experienced massive weight loss.

WHAT PROCEDURES ARE USED IN BODY CONTOURING?
Body contouring usually refers to procedures that remove redundant or sagging skin and/or excess fat. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your abdomen because of hanging skin, a tummy tuck may be an excellent option to improve the appearance of your waistline by removing the loose skin and tightening the underlying muscles. A thigh lift can help to eliminate the wrinkled skin of the upper thighs or, similarly, a buttock lift can restore a more rounded, lifted appearance to a sagging buttock. Liposuction can be used to remove areas of fat bulging and is often used in combination with other body contouring procedures to further refine the cosmetic result.

HOW ARE BODY CONTOURING PROCEDURES PERFORMED?
The most common body contouring procedure, liposuction, involves placing small incisions (approximately the width of your fingertip) in strategic locations to allow for removal of the fat using specially designed instruments (cannulas). Through these small incisions, the fat under the skin can be sculpted and the skin will then shrink down to reshape itself over the treated area. Other body contouring procedures such as a tummytuck, thigh lift or buttock lift require a longer incision so that the sagging skin can be tightened and the excess skin removed. The incisions are usually placed in areas that can be easily covered with minimal clothing. In a tummy-tuck, any bulging of the abdominal muscles is usually corrected by tightening the muscles. The incision for a tummy-tuck is traditionally placed along the lowest part of the abdomen, gently curving upward in a U-shaped fashion along a line connecting the bony prominences of the hip bone. An inner thigh lift incision is usually placed in the groin crease and can extend onto the buttock crease. If a total thigh lift is performed, the incision can continue in a circular manner around the entire upper thigh. A buttock lift incision is most often limited to the buttock crease, but can extend in either direction if necessary. Variations in these incisions are based on patient anatomy and surgeon preference.

Plastic surgery is an art of both body and mind. Body contouring can be your mirror t