If you’ve been eating healthy and exercising regularly but aren’t quite seeing the results you’d hoped for, you might be thinking about getting a body contouring procedure to help you along. Whether you’re comparing liposuction vs. CoolSculpting® or a tummy tuck vs. a mommy makeover, the best fat-reducing procedure for you will depend on what you want to get out of plastic surgery.
To help you narrow down your decision, below we have noted a few of the most popular body contouring treatments and what they can do for you.
CoolSculpting
A nonsurgical fat-reducing option, CoolSculpting has become one of the most popular body contouring treatments among both women and men. It is best for people who are having trouble trimming away unwanted fat in isolated areas, such as their hips, waist, thighs or arms.
CoolSculpting works by using a controlled cooling technique that freezes and destroys targeted fat cells without harming the surface of your skin. Since this is a nonsurgical procedure, you don’t have to worry about any downtime and can therefore get right back to your normal routine after your appointment.
Liposuction
CoolSculpting and liposuction can produce very similar results, although liposuction does allow for a more aggressive sculpting technique. Like CoolSculpting, liposuction is best for men and women who are close to their fitness goals but still have a few trouble spots of exercise-resistant fat they’d like to get rid of.
Liposuction recovery is relatively short, and many people are able to get back to work and light activity within 7 to 10 days. Over the next months, you should notice a gradual improvement in the contours of your body. Although you shouldn’t expect to lose a significant amount of weight after liposuction, you should notice that your clothes fit better and you feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin.
Tummy Tuck
In most cases, liposuction is included with your tummy tuck to achieve optimal results.
After significant weight loss or pregnancy, many people are left with loose skin and weakened abdominal muscles. In this case, a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, can be the best solution. This procedure involves the removal and tightening of excess skin, as well as the tightening of loose muscle tissue, in order to achieve a smoother and more aesthetically pleasing abdominal contour.
Like other body contouring options, a tummy tuck is most suitable for people who have already achieved or are close to achieving their weight loss goals.
Mommy Makeover
Many women who have had children find it difficult or even impossible to get their pre-pregnancy bodies back, no matter how hard they try. A mommy makeover is a customized procedure that combines several different cosmetic surgeries into one.Therefore, if you’d like to address unwanted abdominal fat, skin laxity and drooping breasts, you can combine a tummy tuck, liposuction and breast enhancement in your mommy makeover.
Because this procedure is so customizable, every woman’s recovery will vary. In most cases, you can expect to return to work within two weeks after your mommy makeover, although you’ll need to avoid strenuous physical activity for about six weeks.
If you still have questions about which body contouring procedure could be right for you, sit down with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and options and allow him/her to guide you in the right direction.
Dr. David Kaufman earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, graduating with distinction, the highest academic honor. As an active duty naval special warfare officer, he served our nation for four years, including duty in Operation Desert Storm. He then attended Harvard Medical School, receiving his medical doctor degree in 1996. From there, he entered and completed postdoctoral surgical training in a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center.
A board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Kaufman’s diverse surgical experience and skill enables him to choose procedures and techniques to best suit each patient. Consider him and his practice, Kaufman Plastic Surgery, if you are looking for a plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area.
