Body Contouring Obesity

Body contouring – Obesity

These days body contouring surgeries are rapidly booming specially among obese people. Cosmetic surgeons are using number of different body contouring techniques to reshape almost any part of the body. Total body contouring surgery has proved to be a redeemer for patients whose excessive fat and skin was unresponsive to exercise and diet, these conditions can result from genetic tendency, substantial weight loss or natural aging process. The emergence of body contouring techniques can now effectively eliminate it (Moraga, Altes, Marcosy, & DeLa, 2007).

Body contouring surgeries can help cut down the excessive skin and fat that is left behind after major weight loss. The purpose of this surgery is to restore attractive portions by cutting down the sagging skin around neck, face, breasts, arms, buttocks, abdomen and thighs. Although these procedures leaves behind scars but most patients consider it to be a good tradeoff for an enhanced appearance.

It has seen that alone body contouring surgery is not suitable surgery for eliminating excess weight it should be accompanied with other procedures such as liposuction is the best option for the skins having great elasticity it can remove excess fat deposits and easily follow new body contours. In such cases where skin elasticity is very poor or zero a combination of both body contouring and liposuction is recommended (Mitchell, et al., 2008). The weight has to be stabilized before the surgery because any weight loss after the surgery will result in loose pockets of skin on the other hand any weight gain will stress your tightened skin and results in stretch marks and widened scars. So it is highly likeable to stabilize weight before undergoing body contouring surgery.

Procedure of body contouring

Anesthesia is directed for the comfort of the patient during the surgical procedures. The choices include general anesthesia and intravenous sedation. It is dependent on doctor to select an appropriate process of dosing an anesthesia (Joseph, Castaldo, Nanney, Wendel, Summit, & Kevin, 2008).

Lower body lift, including the outer thighs, tummy and the area around the mid-section are the most popular body countering procedures. There are some other choices also that include upper body lift with a focus on back and breasts as well as lifts for the inner thighs, arms, neck and the face. As most of these procedures are lengthy so to cut the extent of time consumed under anesthesia the latest approach is that two or more surgeons work on a single patient at the same time. Elite body contouring is a time consuming surgery even with a team of surgeons, a multi procedure that involves a lower body lift, abdomen, breast lifts and arms, could easily last for eight or more hours (Michele, Chang, Magnuson, & Schweitzer, 2006).

Large incisions are required by all body contouring procedures in order to remove excess skin. In most of the cases these incisions turns out to be extensive. The length and pattern of incision depends on the location and amount of the excess skin that has to be removed, as well as doctor’s surgical judgment or patients own preference.

Some of the traditional body contouring techniques means lengthy recovery times, uneven skin tone, scars, and mostly less than ideal results. The latest technique which uses a laser fiber surrounded in a thin tube that is injected through 1-2 mm incision in the skin (Joseph, Castaldo, Nanney, Wendel, Summit, & Kevin, 2008). This inserted laser can liquefies the fat by breaking down the walls of the fat cell thus allowing it to be drained out from the area without damaging the underlying tissues and with slight bleeding. Laser helps the blood vessels to coagulate, that often results in leaving behind firmer skin after the surgery, while traditional body contouring surgeries can leave unattractive loose skin.

 

Possible risks involves

Possible risks that are associated with body contouring procedure involves could be

  • bleeding
  • unfavorable scarring
  • infection
  • poor wound healing
  • fluid accumulation
  • skin loss
  • numbness or changes in skin sensation
  • blood clots
  • prolonged swelling or skin discoloration
  • anesthesia risks
  • fatty tissue that are found deep in the skin might die
  • asymmetry
  • major wound separation
  • recurrent looseness of skin
  • deep vein thrombosis pulmonary and cardiac complications
  • pain which may persist
  • persistent swelling in the legs

 

Recovery time

Recovery time is typically dependent on the details of procedure and the excess amount of fat that is removed. In traditional procedures where doctors are required to insert a metal tube with the help of a large incision to vacuum out solid fat can be traumatic to the tissues and is less precise (Joseph H. , 2009). The new advanced techniques of body contouring have allowed doctors to guide the laser to the areas that need to be treating thus resulting in precise tailored results.

Once a body contouring procedure is completed, bandages or dressings will be applied to the incisions. A thin small tube can be temporarily left under the skin to drain out any excess fluid or blood.

All the surgeries of body contouring are performed under general anesthesia in the hospital and usually patients are kept for less than one to four nights in hospital. After the surgery is completed tubes are generally left in the wound so that to drain excess fluid and timely medicines are given to control any discomfort or pain (Jesse & Michele, 2004). Some swelling, soreness and bruising that last for two to three weeks after surgery are normal.

It has seen that most people can get back to the routine of their life and work after two to four weeks, but where physical activity is necessary their the patients have to wait at least three weeks,

The results of a surgery are visible almost immediately, and are long lasting provided a general fitness and stable weight is maintained. It is very important for a patient to take care that a surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, motion or abrasion till the time wound is complete healed (Joseph, Castaldo, Nanney, Wendel, Summit, & Kevin, 2008).