It might still feel a lot like winter outside, but it’s the perfect time to start working on your beach body so you can enjoy your sleek results by the time bikini season rolls around. If you’re just starting to plan your body contouring procedure, talk to a top female plastic surgeon about these four excellent options to leave you looking and feeling sexy and confident in your summer clothes.
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CoolSculpting®
Before you start looking into your surgical options, know that there is a way to help you get rid of those pesky love handles, bra rolls or belly pooch without needing an extensive surgery or downtime. CoolSculpting® is a non-surgical body contouring treatment that freezes away unwanted fat cells without harming the surface of your skin.
Once frozen, the treated fat cells will gradually dissolve and will be eliminated by your body, leaving you with slimmer and smoother contours in as little as three weeks. Most people will see their full CoolSculpting results continue to develop over the next six months, though. But because CoolSculpting doesn’t require extensive downtime, you can go about your normal routine while the shape of your body continues to change and improve.
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Tummy Tuck
Before getting a tummy tuck or other body contouring treatment, try to reach your weight loss and fitness goals first.
If you’re struggling with loose skin or separated muscle tissue in your abdominal area, your plastic surgeon might recommend a tummy tuck, either on its own or combined with liposuction. Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck can address sagging skin caused by weight loss, pregnancy or aging, as well as diastasis recti, or abdominal muscle separation.
Although you should be able to plan on returning to work within about two weeks after your tummy tuck, keep in mind that your results could take several months to fully develop.
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Liposuction
Liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgery options out there. This procedure usually involves small, discreetly placed incisions, through which a small tube called a cannula can be inserted in order to remove targeted fat cells via suction.
During a specific type of liposuction called SAFELipo®, even smaller cannulas can be used to help minimize swelling and bruising after treatment.SAFELipo also includes an additional step that redistributes fat cells in the treated area to help prevent irregularities like wavy skin, lumps or dents that can sometimes occur with other liposuction techniques.
If you’re a woman who’s interested in SAFELipo, make sure you choose a top female plastic surgeon who has experience performing this specific procedure.
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Mommy Makeover
Before the kids are home for summer vacation, you might want to think about scheduling a mommy makeover if there are multiple areas that you’d like to address at the same time.
Many women choose to include body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck and liposuction, breast enhancement and labiaplasty in their mommy makeover. However, mommy makeovers can be completely customized to match your individual needs and goals, so you can pick and choose which plastic surgeries you’d like to include and which to skip.
You’ll need to take a few weeks off work and away from normal daily activities while you recuperate, but lots of women find that scheduling their procedure during the winter months is often more convenient and relaxing than during the busy summer vacation season.
Dr. Jennifer Harrington is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. Harrington Plastic Surgery is pleased to offer the most advanced cosmetic and reconstructive techniques performed by a highly specialized all-female team of board-certified plastic surgeons and professional staff.
