Body Contouring St. Louis

A Change For the Better

We all have areas of our bodies that make us feel self-conscious. Losing weight is a major accomplishment that you should feel extremely proud of. Regardless of whether you achieved weight loss from diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery, your body may, unfortunately, be left cloaked in excess skin. This can be uncomfortable during exercise and clothes may not fit properly. Body contouring involves procedures specifically designed to help rid the excess skin and fat, revealing a slimmer, more youthful appearance. At Chesterfield Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, we understand all of the hard work you put into getting back into shape and we want to help show the world the real you.

Your body contouring consultation will involve assessment of all places of concern, and a defined treatment plan will be formulated. Areas patients typically desire lifted or tightened include the face, neck, breasts, abdomen, back, arms, and thighs. If an area has residual fullness in addition to excess skin, our surgeons may incorporate liposuction to further deflate the tissues and help you achieve the slimmer, more defined look you desire. Together we will prioritize areas that bother you the most, then our surgeons will help devise the best operative plan incorporating your body, lifestyle, and desires. Some procedures work well together and can be safely combined. At other times several staged surgeries may be required to achieve a whole-body transformation. Our surgeons and expert staff will guide you along every step of your prideful journey to a slimmer, newer you.

THIGH LIFT

ARM LIFT

BODY LIFT

QUICK FACTS:

Length: 2-6 hours
Anesthesia: General
Overnight stay (longer combined procedures) or outpatient
Recovery: 1-4 weeks
Side Effect: Tightness, swelling, bruising, fluid collections, temporary numbness

BODY CONTOURING CAN IMPROVE:

Sagging facial skin
Loose neck tissues
Drooping, deflated breasts
Body folds and redundant rolls
Hanging upper arm skin
Loose thigh tissue

PREPARING FOR BODY CONTOURING

Body contouring surgery is a major operation that requires a significant amount of healing. Our surgeons recommend all of their body contouring patients to begin protein and vitamin supplementation 1-2 months prior to surgery in order to optimize their body’s healing as much as possible.

Smoking and all forms of nicotine should be stopped at least 4 weeks prior to anybody reshaping. This includes e-cigarettes, patches, and gum.

Any medications and supplements which cause an increased risk of bleeding should be stopped 2 weeks prior to any major surgery. Please see our list of medications and supplements to avoid. As always, make sure to check with your doctor before stopping any medications.

BODY CONTOURING TECHNIQUES

One of the main goals of body contouring surgery is to remove large amounts of excess skin and tissues. This often requires long incisions and subsequently scars. However, our surgeons are meticulous about designing your incisions to try and make these scars as inconspicuous as possible, often hidden in natural body folds or crevices, or in places that are usually covered with undergarments. They use their extensive skills as plastic surgeons to keep these scars as fine and faint as possible.

RECOVERY FROM BODY CONTOURING

Many of our contouring surgeries involve only the excision of excess fat and skin, thus you will be uncomfortable but not in severe pain afterward. Your surgeon will have you up and take short, frequent walks as soon as possible after your surgery, often that same night or the next morning. The body will usually swell some after surgery. You may be requested to wear special compression garments for 4-12 weeks after your surgery to help minimize this. You also may have one or a few drains placed which help remove fluid from the surgical site, allowing your body to heal quicker. These will be removed as your activity level increases and the drain output remains at a low, acceptable level. You should plan to take off work for 1-2 weeks for most arm, breast, thigh lift surgeries, and up to 4-6 weeks after extensive trunk contouring. Recovering after body contouring surgery is a long process, so plan ahead, eat healthy protein, and be patient. Again, our expert staff will help guide you along each step of the way.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you Have a Question?

A: This will depend on a number of factors including your current body shape, areas of laxity, the time you have available off work to recover, and costs. Our surgeons will help devise a plan prioritizing areas of concern, taking into account all of the above.

A: It is best to first meet your goal weight, then remains stable at that size for 6 months prior to pursuing surgery. This ensures your body has recovered and can heal well with the added stress of surgery. It also ensures your lifestyle has adjusted so you can more easily maintain your amazing transformation.

A: Our number one priority is safety. Some surgeries can be safely combined without causing too much tension to your tissues, interruption in blood flow to the skin, or time under anesthesia. As the number and complexity of the surgeries increase, our surgeons may recommend staging procedures by 3-6 months to allow your body to fully recover and minimize any potential surgical or wound healing risks.

A: Yes, but our surgeons will use their expertise to try and hide these in natural body creases, or areas usually covered with undergarments. They use special plastic surgery techniques to help keep these scars as fine and faint as possible.

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