Am I a Good Candidate for Body Contouring?

Diet and exercise can work wonders in helping you shed excess pounds and reshape the contours of your body. But for many of us, even these tried-and-true methods can leave behind stubborn pockets of resistant fat or folds of loose skin that leave us feeling less confident about the way we look.

Fortunately, body contouring can help. Body contouring uses advanced techniques that are highly effective in getting rid of stubborn fat, finally revealing the smoother, slimmer, sleeker contours you’ve worked so hard to achieve. 

At Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery, Rishi Jindal, MD, and his team use state-of-the-art body contouring techniques aimed at helping every patient achieve their own individual goals. Here’s how to tell if you’re ready for this advanced treatment option.

Best candidates for contouring procedures

The first requirement: have realistic expectations of what body contouring can — and cannot — do. Specifically, while body contouring can definitely help refine your results following weight loss, it’s not intended to achieve weight loss. 

For that reason, these procedures are best suited to people who are at or near their ideal weight already and whose weight has been stable for several months. Having a stable weight means you won’t have to worry about major fluctuations that could “undo” the benefits of your surgery.

Contouring also works best for women and men with isolated areas of stubborn fat and for those who are left with sagging skin following major weight loss or pregnancy. Having skin that’s healthy, firm, and elastic is also important to ensure your skin "bounces back” and conforms to your new contours following surgery.

Locking in an optimal outcome

For best results, you should also stay away from tobacco products, and if you’re already a smoker, aim to quit a few months before your procedure. Smoking doesn’t just affect your lungs and heart — it takes a toll on your blood vessels, too. 

Together, these combined effects decrease the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach the surgical site, which means healing can take longer and be more complicated. If you need help quitting, check out SmokeFree.gov for some helpful tips and other resources.

Finally, like nearly any surgery, body contouring is best for people with good general health who don’t have chronic health issues that could inhibit healing or increase the risk of complications. You also need to be ready to commit to a healthy lifestyle that avoids future weight gain in order to continue to enjoy your results for years to come.

Finishing touches for your success

Losing weight is a huge accomplishment. Don’t let stubborn areas of fat or loose, draping skin diminish your success. To learn more about body contouring and how it can help you achieve your own aesthetic goals, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Jindal and the team at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery in San Diego, California, today.