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The Facts About Body Contouring

By Andrew Jamaz

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 22Nov2009
Word count: 690
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Many people associate cosmetic surgery with the alteration of facial features; with perhaps a few exceptions, the things that usually spring to mind if cosmetic surgery is mentioned are rhinoplasty, the face lift, and so on. However, cosmetic surgery for the body is an equally important category, and that's even without taking breast augmentation into consideration. It's clear that people are concerned about their overall appearance, and this means that any sort of aesthetic issue can have negative effects. If people have concerns about their own physical features, it can keep them from enjoying their lives to the fullest, and for some people, even regarding the body as opposed to the face, the issue cannot be corrected effectively through any means but cosmetic surgery. The majority of cosmetic surgical procedures involving the body are referred to collectively as "body contouring". These procedures seek to alter the contours of the body, which is usually accomplished by removing excess body fat or other tissues as well as by lifting the remaining tissues.

The most popular body contouring procedure is lipo suction. In liposuction, the surgeon uses a surgical tube device called a cannula and a suction device called an aspirator to extract fat. A small incision is made in the area in question, and liquid is introduced to the area to balance out the quantity of fat being removed. Liposuction is so popular because of its effectiveness in addressing a problem faced by many people. It is not used as a weight-loss method, as the actual quantity of fat eliminated is quite small; rather, liposuction is for healthy individuals who, despite sufficient exercise, are unable to get eliminate fat from specific problem areas. Common problem areas include the midsection, the legs, below the chin, and the love handles. Recently, more specialized liposuction procedures such as Liposculpture and SmartLipo have emerged, which target more specific areas and come with even fewer drawbacks.

Another common operation, particularly among women, is the abdominoplasty, also known as the "tummy tuck." This procedure aims to tighten loose skin and excise tissues causing the appearance of looseness from the midsection, a challenge which is especially common with individuals who have experienced significant weight loss, as well as women who have experienced pregnancy. Depending on the extensiveness of the operation, incisions can be made in different locations. Occasionally, the operation may be completed with the use of only one incision. The navel may be repositioned in the course of the tummy tuck operation if necessary.

Body lifts are another type of body contouring. These include thigh lifts and buttock lifts. These are similar procedures in that, in both, excess fat and possibly skin are removed and the remaining tissues are tightened in the target areas. They result in a more youthful, tighter appearance to the area. A thigh lift and buttock lift can be combined with an abdominoplasty, and this expanded operation is referred to as a lower body lift. Conversely, the upper body lift combines the upper arm lift, a procedure involving the removal of excess tissue from the back of the upper arm, and the breast lift, which targets sagging breasts and may also be done alongside breast augmentation surgery in some cases. The upper and lower body lift may be combined into a "full body lift," one of the most drastic cosmetic surgical procedures available.

Certain types of implants, including buttock implants and calf implants, are also considered part of the body contouring category. Buttock implants aim to add or restore volume to the buttocks, and also lend a tighter look and sensation. Some genetic issues which lead to a reduction in muscle tone of the legs are also often addressed through the use of calf implants. They are also often chosen simply for cosmetic reasons. This is an operation particularly popular among bodybuilders, because the calves are very difficult to build up even when the "correct" training program is used.

Any surgical procedure involves certain risks, and the patient must also adhere to a strict recovery plan. Consult with a surgeon to find out if any of these procedures is appropriate for you.

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