Are Liposuction and Contouring Right For Me?

Do you want to eliminate fat in specific body areas? If you’ve been working hard to get in shape but still need some extra help getting the perfect contour you desire, then liposuction and contouring may be right for you. Christopher Tiner, M.D. in Pasadena, CA, can help you slim down and tone stubborn areas through lipo, so you can finally reach your aesthetic goals.

Are Liposuction and Contouring Right for You?

Do you have unsightly fat that won’t go away after committing to a healthy, active lifestyle? Lipo or body contouring can be perfect for you if you have stubborn areas with excessive fatty tissue. This minimally invasive procedure can contour, shape, and add definition when you can’t achieve your ideal figure through diet and exercise alone. So if you are looking to achieve a smoother, more-proportioned body with a slimmer physique, you can definitely consider surgical body contouring.

Who Are the Ideal Candidates for Lipo?

The ideal candidates for lipo have successfully reached their goal weight but find it challenging to lose fat in specific body areas. These problematic areas may include the lower back, belly, thighs, and arms. We can perform surgery to contour and shape these fatty areas, as long as there’s healthy, supple skin surrounding them.

When deciding whether you can be an ideal candidate for the surgery, we assess the overall elasticity and quality of your skin. To help you achieve the best results and provide you with a smooth overall appearance, we must ensure that your skin is tight enough to support your new body contour.

You Want To Achieve a Slimmer Contour, Not Lose Pounds

Lipo can successfully break up fat in specific areas. After the procedure, you can expect to lose inches and achieve an overall slimmer appearance, but keep in mind that the surgery does not result in significant weight loss. We only recommend a body contouring procedure if you need additional help to shape and slim down areas with stubborn fat.

You’re Near Your Ideal Weight

Body contouring is not a weight loss solution, but it can effectively eliminate unwanted pockets of fat and help you achieve a more toned, slimmer appearance. If you are near or at your ideal body weight, you can definitely benefit from surgical body contouring.

You Have Realistic Expectations

Body contouring offers permanent, long-lasting results. Once we have successfully eliminated fat cells, they are not supposed to come back. However, the remaining fat cells in your body can increase in size if you gain significant weight in the future.

Additionally, there’s only a certain amount of fat that we can remove in a single procedure. But if you undergo the surgery at a healthy, ideal weight, you can expect to see visible results. Body contouring is not a weight-loss solution, and we will also recommend you to stay at or be near your ideal weight so that you can keep your desired shape for years to come.

Who Is Not an Ideal Candidate for Lipo?

Those expecting dramatic results and hoping to lose a significant amount of weight from the procedure are not yet the best candidates for the surgery. Generally, people have excellent results once they’ve lost the extra weight first. Surgical body contouring can then be used to improve their natural contours, eliminate stubborn fat, and help them get closer to their ideal figure.

Additionally, those who have recently undergone extreme weight loss and are dealing with loose, hanging skin are not the best candidates for body contouring. We can recommend surgical lifting procedures or a tummy tuck to help them achieve a more natural-looking contour.

What Can You Expect During and After Liposuction?

Liposuction is often performed on an outpatient basis, which means there’s no extended recovery period, and you may return home to recuperate on the same day as the procedure. Depending on your needs or preference, we may use general anesthesia or sedation. Most surgical body contouring procedures take less than three hours to complete, depending on the size of the area to be treated.

To eliminate unwanted fat, we make tiny incisions where a narrow tube known as a cannula is inserted. The cannula is directly inserted into fat deposits. It loosens fat cells and gently suctions them away. An attached vacuum device assists with the suctioning process. Sutures are not usually needed because the incisions from the procedure are too small.

What’s the Recovery Like?

A short time after the surgery, you’ll be able to get up and walk in the recovery area. Once you feel comfortable enough to continue your recovery at home, we’ll discharge you to a friend or family member who can drive you home. It will be possible for you to go back to work and resume normal activities about a week after the procedure.

We’ll provide you with a special compression garment that’s used to speed up recovery by improving circulation to the treated areas. This garment must be used and remain in place for at least one week following the procedure. After that, you may continue to use it for five more weeks for enhanced comfort and improved results.

What Results Can You Expect?

The results of your surgery will be noticeable right away. We can safely remove as much as six to eight pounds of fat, so there will be a noticeable difference in your body contour.

You’ll need to wait for your body to become more stable and adjust to its new shape. The final results of your body contouring procedure will become visible within six months or more after the surgery. As long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid significant weight gain, your new contour will be mostly permanent. Still, if you gain some weight after the surgery, you can expect the treated areas not to accumulate as much fat as the other areas of your body.

How To Maintain Your New Contour

Following a regular exercise regimen and maintaining a healthy diet are the best ways to maintain your new figure. An active lifestyle can also help to prevent weight gain in other areas of the body. Nevertheless, weight fluctuations may be unavoidable as you age. For example, pregnancy and a slower metabolism due to aging can cause you to gain some pounds. Still, by taking good care of your body and health, you can keep your ideal figure and always be confident about your physique.

Around the six-week mark after your procedure, you can safely resume exercise and other physical activities. Staying active can also enhance your body contouring results, so don’t hesitate to hit the gym or continue your fitness routine. Additionally, a balanced diet will help your body recover faster and provide you with much-needed nutrients to sustain a healthy-looking figure,

Get in Touch With Us for a Consultation

Are you ready to take your fitness and beauty goals to the next level? With cosmetic surgery, you can finally achieve the body contour you only used to dream about. Contact us at the office of Christopher Tiner, M.D. in Pasadena, CA to schedule a consultation today! You can rely on our surgical skills, expertise, and passion. We look forward to discussing your personal goals and finding ways to provide you with beautiful and natural results.