Body Contouring Procedures and Non-Surgical Body Contouring Options

Have you ever set a personal goal to lose a significant amount of weight? And upon achieving that goal, have you ever found yourself… disappointed by the overall result? While weight loss can certainly help you feel happier, healthier, and more energetic, its aesthetic effects aren’t always what you might have hoped for. Specifically, major weight loss can sometimes leave you with deposits of stretched-out skin, “flab” that hangs to certain parts of your body and prevents you from looking your best. Body contouring procedures could help find the person you were looking for when you lost the weight.

In instances where weight loss alone isn’t sufficient for meeting your aesthetic goals, we recommend pairing it with body contouring procedures. At Charlotte Plastic Surgery, we are happy to provide our patients with both surgical and non-surgical body contouring options. We invite you to learn a little bit more about what these procedures entail.

What is Body Contouring?

Body contouring is not a weight-loss treatment. That’s a common misconception, and it’s something we like to dispel right from the beginning. If all you’re trying to do is move numbers on the scale, body contouring probably isn’t the right option for you (although it can sometimes be accompanied by some modest weight loss).

Body contouring has more to do with changing the shape and aesthetics of your body; removing those stubborn deposits of fat or areas of “flab” that you can’t seem to get rid of through diet or exercise. In addition to the removal of this excess fat, body contouring also helps tone the skin, giving it a smoother and healthier appearance.

Body contouring procedures are typically sought out by people who have gone through major weight loss, including many moms who have lost their pregnancy weight but have a few areas that just don’t respond to weight loss efforts.

And, these procedures can be targeted to many areas of the body, including the chin, neck, arms, thighs, abdomen, buttocks, etc.

Body Contouring Procedures

There are multiple body contouring procedures available, including both surgical and non-surgical body contouring options. There is no one-size-fits-all answer; to determine which procedure is best for you and your goals, we’d recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our providers. We’re always happy to offer an individualized recommendation.

Here are just a few of the surgical options available to you.

Surgical Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most commonly practiced surgeries in the country. It involves the use of suction to remove excess fat from the targeted areas, resulting in a more streamlined appearance.

Tummy Tuck

Another surgical option to consider is the tummy tuck. This is popular among our patients, both on its own and as part of a “mommy makeover” procedure. This procedure targets the abdomen, removing excess fat and loose skin while also bolstering abdominal muscles, leading to a flatter, firmer belly.

Breast Lift

Meanwhile, a breast lift can be a good way to contour and shape the breasts; this is another surgery that’s popular either as a standalone procedure or as part of a mommy makeover. It doesn’t add volume to the breasts (for that, you’ll need breast augmentation), but it can reposition the nipple and cause the breasts to look firmer and perkier.

Arm Lift

Those who struggle with loose, sagging skin on their arms might consider an arm lift, which gets rid of that extra skin to provide a tighter, flab-free appearance.

These are just a few of the key surgical options we can provide, but many clients will wonder about less invasive options.

Non-Surgical Body Contouring

Non-surgical solutions can provide you with a sleeker physique minus the need for surgical downtime. Here are two of the top options we offer to our clients.

CoolSculpting

In CoolSculpting, we literally freeze the extra fat cells in targeted body parts. This makes it easier for the body to break down that fat, and after a few weeks it is simply and naturally eliminated as bodily waste. CoolSculpting can be done on just about any part of the body; it’s painless and doesn’t require you to go under. Once the procedure is over, you should feel perfectly fine to head right back to work or to your responsibilities at home. In fact, some patients come and have CoolSculpting sessions on their lunch break!

CoolTone

CoolTone is a new technology from the same developers of CoolSculpting. Contrary to its name, however, CoolTone does not freeze and kill fat cells in the way that CoolSculpting does. Rather, it employs magnetic muscle stimulation (MMS) to cause involuntary contractions. This results in muscle fiber that becomes stronger and firmer. This is a good procedure for anyone who’s looking for more clearly defined muscles, and it can actually work well in tandem with CoolSculpting: First you can eliminate the extra fat, then you can work to tone up the underlying skin.

Which Body Contouring Solution is Right for You?

Clearly, there are a lot of options to choose from, and again, there’s no one right answer.

Generally speaking, the surgical solutions can produce more significant results, or get rid of larger areas of unwanted tissue. Something like CoolSculpting can be effective but may take multiple sessions if you want to target a particularly large or stubborn area.

By contrast, CoolSculpting and CoolTone don’t require you to be put under or to contend with any post-surgical recovery time or aftercare. As such, they may be the more appealing and convenient options for many of our patients.

The best way to decide which method is right for you is to talk with one of our surgeons. We’d love to sit down and chat with you about your goals, and to help you determine which of these body contouring procedures is the best fit. Of course, we are also ready to answer any of your questions, to show some before and after photos, and to verify that you are a qualified candidate for your chosen procedure.

To learn more about these body contouring methods, we invite you to contact CPS today.