Body Contouring Gaithersburg MD

Body contouring is a form of cosmetic surgery performed by a qualified professional in order to repair or to improve upon specific areas of the body. A patient interested in body contouring may be interested in having a tummy tuck, a thigh lift, an arm lift, liposuction, a breast lift, breast reduction or, in some instances, all of the latter mentioned procedures. Patients embark on body contouring procedures in an effort to improve or augment their appearance, or in order to rectify birth defects or bodily defects that are the result of an injury.

Body contouring procedures are a serious matter and should never be entered into lightly. A lot of things need to be considered when one is considering body contouring procedures, including risks, costs, and the benefits of such procedures. By no means whatsoever is a body contouring procedure for everyone. In the past, body contouring procedures were last resorts: they are performed after a patient has lost a dramatic amount of weight and they are now faced with the problem of excess skin or they are surgical procedures that address body issues that arise from defects that cannot be repaired any other way. Currently however, more and more people are getting body contouring to augment their appearance and to improve their self-esteem.

Body contouring procedures are not typically performed on the extremely young. The reason that body contouring is more often performed on adults is because the body of young individuals, like teens, is still in the development process. Further, the patient must be adult enough to understand all that body contouring procedures encompasses; the risks as well as the benefits. Also, patients must understand that body contouring procedures are not a magic potion: they create no instant cure for social problems and they do not constitute a life-changing solution.

There are several different procedures that fall under the definition of body contouring. Each body-contouring procedure has different risks and benefits associated with the procedure in question. Further, depending on the work necessary, each body-contouring procedure will often vary in terms of cost.

Liposuction is one of the most popular forms of body contouring. First, liposuction can be performed as a singular procedure. Oftentimes however, liposuction is used in conjunction with other body-contouring procedures. Liposuction is used to rid the body of fat by using a machine that works much like a vacuum. In some instances the fat cells are turned to liquid with the use of a special tool called a ULA, or an ultrasound assisted lipoplasty. The liquid is then "vacuumed" from the body. Liposuction body contouring, on average, takes around two hours to complete, is conducted while the patient is put under with general anesthesia or is given a local anesthetic, and can be performed on an outpatient basis.

Arm Lifts are another form of body contouring in which the shape of the upper arms is reconstructed. The medical name for an arm lift is referred to as a brachioplasty and it is a body contouring procedure performed to eliminate excess skin and fat in the region of the upper arm and arm pit area. The skin is lifted and excess skin is removed. The area, including the muscle, is then tightened to give the arm a firmer appearance. Thigh lifts are a similar body contouring procedure in which excess skin is removed from the area of the thighs and buttocks. In turn, the region is tightened, leaving behind a more attractive, solid thigh area. Both arm lifts and thigh lifts vary in terms of the length of surgery: the more work required, the longer the surgery will take. A professional surgeon can advise a patient precisely how long their specified procedure may take.

Breast Lifts are common body contouring procedures performed on women. A breast lift is often performed on women who have lost a dramatic amount of weight or on older women who have noticed the natural signs of aging affecting their breasts. As a woman ages, the breasts tend to lower a bit, due to gravity. A body-contouring procedure like a breast lift can reverse the affects of aging. It should be noted hat a body-contouring procedure like a breast lift is different than a breast augmentation where implants are used. Usually, a breast lift requires that the surgeon remove excess skin and tighten the area, resulting in a firmer appearance of the breasts.

A breast lift can take approximately three hours to perform and is a procedure that can be performed on an outpatient basis. The procedure is usually performed with the patient under general anesthesia, and, in most cases, the surgeon can perform the procedure on an outpatient basis. While a breast lift improves the appearance of the breast, the procedure may have to be repeated in the future as the effects vary from one patient to the next.

A tummy tuck is also a body contouring procedure. Excess skin is removed from the area of the abdomen. The remaining skin is then stretched, a new naval is created and the area is sutured. Depending on the work necessary, the surgery can take three to five hours time. The procedure results in a smoother abdomen, and the removal of unsightly stretch marks. Further, clothes fit the patient better and the patient feels more confident about how they look in scant attire or unclothed.

A less common body contouring procedure is that of male breast reduction. Some males develop breasts naturally, and they become very self-conscious. The patient can have the extra tissue removed so they can feel more confident about their appearance. In as little as an hour, the patient can have the procedure performed and be on their way to looking and feeling fantastic.