What Drives Women to Consider Body Contouring?
By Douglas S. Steinbrech M.D., F.A.C.S
Body image problems are one of the biggest personal issues faced by women of all ages today. Recent reports indicate that a surprising one in five women are actively planning or strongly considering plastic surgery, while about 7 percent of them have already had at least one surgery. These women aren’t just unhappy 20- or 30-somethings struggling with their looks. A whopping 85 percent of women between the ages of 55 and 64 say they are unhappy with one body part, at least. Patients turning to cosmetic surgery and scheduling consultations has risen 200 percent. These are numbers that can’t be ignored. Let’s talk about the procedures that have become the most popular and what drives new patients to pursue these surgeries today.
What Drives Women to Consider Body Contouring?
In today’s society, how we look is a big part of our identity. Men and women alike are pressured to look a certain way, fit into a certain size clothing, or have an ideal body. While many plastic surgeons believe in helping a person to achieve his or her own best results and stay true to their own features and style, they can also help a prospective patient become happier with the way they look.
Beyond society’s pressures, there are many other factors that can drive patients, particularly women, to pursue body contouring surgery for themselves. Many seek to correct a problem they see in order to increase their overall confidence, build self-esteem, improve their overall happiness, or feel better with their body. Body-contouring patients often find that they are happier with the way they look in the mirror, enjoy having their photos taken, and feel sexy again. For many, clothing fits better as well, which can help with practical matters like easier shopping, less money spent on tailoring clothes, and more confidence wearing them!
What Does Body Contouring Include?
There are several different procedures that fall under the body contouring umbrella, all with specific aims to help a patient contour and shape the body as desired. When a patient works with his or her plastic surgeon to design the right body-contouring surgery to meet desired outcomes, it may include one or more different surgeries performed at the same time. Some of the most popular body contouring surgeries include:
● Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, which focuses on reshaping the midsection of the body. This is a common trouble spot for men and women, especially later in life or following fluctuations in weight or pregnancy. A tummy tuck involves the removal of excess skin, the trimming away of unwanted pockets of fat cells, and the tightening of loose abdominal muscles. An expert surgeon can give you a second chance at the tummy you always wanted to have.
● Liposuction surgery is one of the oldest, and still most popular, varieties of body contouring. It’s most likely so popular because of its versatility; liposuction can be applied to multiple areas of the body in the same procedure. <a href="/surgical/liposuction">Remove</a> unwanted fat cells permanently from the thighs, waist, hips, upper arms, buttocks, and more with liposuction techniques.
● The Mommy Makeover is a specially designed package of procedures that are popular among women after their last pregnancy. The specifics of a Mommy Makeover vary based on the patient’s desired results and trouble areas, but many procedures also include a breast lift and/or breast augmentation component.
There are many other areas that can be toned and tightened with body contouring surgery with procedures like the arm lift or the body lift, an ideal choice after a patient has dropped a lot of weight very rapidly. Consult with an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon for advice on your own potential body contouring procedure.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Body Contouring?
Body contouring surgeries should be carefully considered and planned with the help of a board certified plastic surgeon. To be considered eligible for a body contouring procedure, you should be in good overall health without any existing medical conditions that could delay your healing or put you at a high risk for surgical complications. You should not be a smoker, or be willing to quit for a period of time determined by your surgeon. You must also have a realistic expectation for your body-contouring results and a willingness to work with your surgeon in the planning stages.
Dr. Steinbrech is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in New York City and Los Angeles.