Our body’s appearance heavily influences our confidence. So, it is obvious that when we look our best, we begin to feel our best as well. To add to this, certain events in our lives can leave our bodies with permanent changes that may not be ideal for us. These include losing a large amount of weight rapidly or giving birth. Both weight loss and pregnancy can leave us with saggy skin in our thighs, arms, abdomen, etc. In such cases, a body contouring surgery can help shape the body and sculpt it for better contours. Keep reading to find out more about post-weight loss surgery, such as body contouring surgery.
What Is Body Contouring Surgery?
The main purpose of the body sculpting procedures is to bring back the natural and smooth curves of the body, eliminating excess fat and skin. The body contouring surgery targets areas such as the arms, back, buttocks, belly, etc.
📍One thing to note is that the body lift or body contouring surgery does not help with weight loss. It is a procedure aimed at removing excess skin and fat and contouring the body to look slim and lifted. It targets the stubborn fat pockets that remain unaffected by weight loss.
In addition, the body contouring plastic surgery procedure in Turkey also targets saggy skin caused by the natural process of aging. The goal is to make the contours of the body look smoother and more youthful.
📍 When carrying out the surgery, the surgeon makes incisions in a way that they heal and become as unnoticeable as possible.
Ideal Candidates for Body Contouring Surgery
The ideal candidate for a body contouring surgery should have:
- A stabilized weight. Sudden weight fluctuations can cause distorted results and even result in sagging.
- Should not be a smoker as it can affect healing.
- Should be physically healthy and not have any health conditions that could disrupt the healing process post-surgery.
- Individuals who have realistic expectations of the surgery.
- Should be ready to follow a healthy lifestyle and a nutritious diet.
📍 Patients interested in getting a Mommy Makeover in Turkey should wait until they are finished having children before this surgery.
Core Procedures in Body Contouring
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure where fat is eliminated from targeted areas with the help of suction. Specific areas of the body, such as the stomach, hips, buttocks, etc, where fat tends to accumulate are focused on to improve their shape.
📍 It is essential to remember that the liposuction procedure in Turkey does not help with losing weight. Instead, it helps eliminate fat that remains unaffected by diet and exercise.
Moreover, the high-definition liposuction method is different from the traditional liposuction method as it offers incredible precision to tone and sculpt the underlying muscles for a more chiseled and athletic look.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
The clinical term for a tummy tuck is an Abdominoplasty. It is a common surgical procedure that addresses several aesthetic concerns in the abdominal area. An abdominoplasty removes excess skin, fat deposits, and improves the contours of the tummy area. It may also be used to repair muscle defects like Diastasis Recti.
A tummy tuck surgery is suitable for people who can not improve the contours of the abdominal area through conventional means of diet and weight loss. This procedure can restore pre-pregnancy body aesthetics. The increase in the size of the uterus during pregnancy abnormally stretches the abdominal muscles. With consecutive pregnancies, this may end up producing a defect known as Diastasis Recti. A tummy tuck specialist can effectively repair this condition as well.
📍 It is prudent to remember that an abdominoplasty is not a weight loss surgery and has multiple types, such as a full, extended, and mini tummy tuck. It can be performed on its own or as a part of a Mommy Makeover surgery.
Lower Body Lift
A lower body lift focuses on the lower part of the body, such as the buttocks and the inner thighs etc. This procedure is also called a belt lipectomy since the procedure focuses on shaping and toning the belt line. This procedure is perfect for those who have lost weight but aren’t experiencing any slimming in these areas despite the weight loss. The goal is to remove all the saggy skin and fat in the waist area to make it look more toned.
Unlike a tummy tuck, the lower body lift procedure involves a larger incision that wraps around the waist to target the lower body and buttocks. The procedure includes the surgeon getting rid of loose skin and excess fat, and even adjusting existing tissue to better shape the lower body.
Thigh Lift
The thigh lift surgery, also referred to as thighplasty, is a procedure that involves contouring the thighs. It is the ideal procedure for those who have loose skin around their thighs due to weight loss and want to have tighter and smoother-looking thighs. For this surgery, the surgeon marks the lines for the incision while the patient is standing. During the surgery, the surgeon removes the extra fat, eliminates the excess skin, and rearranges the underlying tissue to improve the shape of the thighs and give them more definition. The results of this procedure can take a few months (about 6 months or more) to fully appear.
Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Arm lift surgery, also called Brachioplasty, involves the contouring of the upper arm area. With age and especially with extreme weight loss, the upper skin can develop some sagginess, causing the upper arm to resemble bat wings. The surgeon gets rid of accumulated fat, trims the extra skin, rearranges the underlying tissue, and tightens the top skin for more smoothness. All this brings more definition to the upper arm, eliminating the previous saggy and droopy appearance.
For this surgery, the surgeon places the incision either on the back or the side of the arm. The surgeon then trims excess skin and may use liposuction for the extra fat. Once the surgery is complete and the stitches are in place, the surgeon will bandage the arm.
Fat Transfer for Volume Enhancement
Fat transfer for volume enhancement is also known as Autologous Fat Grafting. “Autologous” means cells or tissue obtained from the patient’s own body. In a fat transfer procedure, fat deposits are harvested from a fat-rich part of the body and relocated to an area of volume loss for restoration of volume.
The common locations for fat transfer for volume enhancement are breasts, buttocks, hips, lower abdomen, inner thighs, etc. The benefits of an autologous fat transfer include fewer chances of tissue rejection, adequate volume restoration, and natural-looking aesthetic outcomes in both the donor and recipient areas. The natural enhancements of a fat transfer are visualized in both the donor and the recipient sites, as the surgery decreases fat levels in one area and restores it in another. An autologous fat transfer may be performed as part of a Mommy Makeover in Turkey.
Breast Contouring (Lift, Reduction, Augmentation)
According to the global survey 2023, breast contouring surgeries like Augmentation Mammoplasty were among the top 5 aesthetic surgeries globally. Breast contouring procedures include the following:
Breast Augmentation
A breast augmentation surgery, or an augmentation mammoplasty, aims to alter the size and shape of the breast by using silicone or saline implants for aesthetic reasons.
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty decreases the overall size of the breast. People suffering from bad posture, backaches, and contour issues due to an extra-large breast size benefit from this procedure.
Breast Lift
A breast lift, or Mastopexy, lifts sagging breast tissue up on the chest to improve body contours and aesthetics.
These procedures are either performed as standalone surgeries or as a part of a more comprehensive set of cosmetic alterations, like a Mommy Makeover Surgery.
Mommy Makeover
A mommy makeover is an all-encompassing term that refers to a combination of aesthetic surgeries to improve and restore the contours of the body after multiple pregnancies. The number and exact combination of surgeries depends on the individual aesthetic needs of the patient. Common surgical procedures that may be a part of a mommy makeover in Turkey include Facelifts, Abdominoplasty, BBL surgery, Breast contouring procedures (augmentation, reduction, lift), Liposuction, etc.
Pregnancy-induced changes in the body, like stretching of the muscles and skin, weight gain, pigmentation, stretch marks, etc., initially reverse on their own. However, with every consecutive pregnancy, the ability of the body tissues to revert to their pre-pregnancy contours is reduced. A mommy makeover is a quick and effective way to reclaim the pre-pregnancy body contours after the family is complete.
Male Body Contouring
Cosmetic surgeries for body contouring are not just a female domain. Male body contouring surgeries are also on the rise, addressing issues such as gynaecomastia, abdominal flab, localized excess fat deposits, etc. The most common procedures for male body contouring include liposuction, breast reduction surgery for gynaecomastia, abdominal sculpting, tummy tuck surgery, thigh lifts, etc.
Male body contouring procedures are different from bariatric surgeries. They are not meant to be weight loss solutions, rather effective ways to improve body contours and aesthetics. A suitable candidate for these procedures is a person almost at their ideal weight, in good health, and without a history of any addictions that may affect the healing process. A full abdominoplasty (for example) has a better chance of success if the candidate is in optimum shape and has realistic expectations of the outcomes.
Benefits of Full Body Sculpting
Body sculpting surgeries have revolutionized the field of cosmetic surgery. The benefits of these versatile procedures include:
- Improvement in the overall body shape
- Improvement in self-confidence and self-esteem
- Incentive to maintain a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle
- Assist in losing the last few pounds to the ideal weight
- Highly customizable
- Durable and long-lasting outcomes
- Better overall health
- Clothes fit better, and the results are aesthetically pleasing
- Single recovery for multiple procedures in case of a mommy makeover
- Available to both genders
Risks and Considerations
It is essential to know all the risks before opting for any kind of surgery. Here are some of the risks one should consider before deciding to get body contouring surgery done.
- While still rare, there is a risk of an allergic reaction to the anesthesia.
- Another risk of getting body contouring surgery is temporary or permanent numbness due to nerve damage.
- It goes without saying that scars are a part of any surgery, and with body contouring surgery, the patient may end up with some undesirable scarring.
- A surgery done on both sides of the body may cause an uneven and asymmetrical appearance.
- At times, in procedures like liposuction, there may be irregularities in the contours of the body owing to uneven removal of fat or the skin being less elastic.
- Bleeding can also be a risk when getting any kind of surgery. Any damage to the blood vessels can lead to internal bleeding.
📍 All this further emphasizes the importance of only opting for a Board-certified surgeon and being transparent about your medical history and expectations during the consultation phase.
🧑⚕️ Dr. Mehmet Yildiran: Your Trusted Expert in Body Sculpting
Dr. Mehmet Yildiran is a renowned plastic surgeon in Turkey who acquired his medical education from the Cerrahpaşa Medical School and went on to specialize in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at Istanbul Medical School at Istanbul University.
With years of experience in body contouring surgeries, Dr. Mehmet Yildiran is distinguished by his precision. He is known to tailor his treatment plans according to each patient’s needs and expectations to get curated results.
That’s not all! Dr. Mehmet has a massive team of multi-lingual experts to make each foreign patient feel comfortable and taken care of.
Take the First Step to Transform Your Body!
Contact us to book your consultation with Dr. Mehmet Yildiran and have a detailed discussion with him about your aesthetic goals. Moreover, get accurate guidance about your required surgical procedure as well as what to expect regarding the recovery.
