There are multiple benefits to dramatic weight loss, whether through bariatric surgery or a diet and exercise regimen. But although the excess fat is gone, a lot of times the excess skin remains behind, resulting in a loose, sagging appearance. At Tarola Plastic Surgery, our body contouring procedure will tighten and tone your target areas so you can finally show off your new and improved body.
Contact us today at our Murfreesboro office to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Tarola, who will discuss your cosmetic expectations with you as well as what you can expect from a body contouring procedure from start to finish.
What is Body Contouring?
After a large amount of weight loss, skin that was stretched due to excess fat often lacks the elasticity and tone to support your thinner body, resulting in large areas of sagging skin. Consisting of a combination of procedures, body contouring surgically removes excess skin and localized fat deposits, creating a more proportionate, toned body appearance.
What Areas Can Body Contouring Treat?
Body contouring can treat the following areas:
- Face, neck and jowls
- Upper arm region
- Breasts
- Abdominal area
- Buttocks
- Groin
- Thighs
Why Do I Have Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
Skin stretches to cover the body as you gain weight. Two proteins, collagen and elastin, give the skin its texture, determining how firm the skin is and whether it can spring back. When the skin stays stretched for long periods of time, the fibers break down and weaken. The structure of the skin can weaken even more during rapid weight loss, and the skin will not be able to contract to fit your new frame. Older patients or those who have carried extra weight for many years often have more loose skin.
What Procedures Are Included in Surgical Body Contouring?
Although the exact course of treatment will be determined by Dr. Tarola during your consultation, body contouring typically consists of these four procedures:
- A body lift to remove the excess tissue from the abdomen, buttocks, waist, hip and thigh areas at the same time.
- A breast lift to add fullness and youth to drooping, flattened breasts.
- Arm lift surgery to add tone and improve the shape of the underarm areas.
- A thigh lift to achieve smoother skin and reshape the lower body.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Body Contouring?
Candidacy for this procedure is determined on an individual basis, but typically those who have realistic expectations, maintain a stable weight, do not smoke, are committed to adopting a healthy lifestyle after surgery, and do not have inhibiting medical conditions are deemed appropriate for body contouring.
Body Lift Overview
A body lift is used to remove loose skin and fat from the midsection and lower body. It treats the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks and outer thighs and is most common after major weight loss. Dr. Tarola can perform a lower body lift, an upper body lift or both, depending on where you have loose skin.
Lower Body Lift
A lower body lift focuses on the area below the waist. The incision circles the body near the beltline and removes hanging skin from the lower abdomen and flanks. Pulling the remaining skin tight also lifts the buttocks and smooths the outer thighs. This is one of the most extensive contouring operations and is suitable for those with loose skin around the entire lower torso.
Upper Body Lift
An upper body lift addresses more of the loose skin on the back and chest. After weight loss, you may notice rolls of skin on the back, often called bra rolls because of how they bulge around a bra band. This procedure can be paired with an arm lift or a breast lift for patients with more extensive loose skin in the upper body.
Breast Lift Overview
Weight loss can have effects on the breasts, with loose skin making them look deflated and the nipple pointing downward. A breast lift, or mastopexy, removes the loose skin and raises the breast tissue higher. The nipple is repositioned higher on the breast, and the dark skin around it, called the areola, is often resized to match the new shape. Breast lifts change the position and firmness, but not the size of the breasts. Some people may opt for additional breast surgery to address size.
Breast Lift Techniques
The incision pattern will depend on how much of the breast sags. Mild sagging may only require an incision around the edge of the areola. Most major weight loss patients need a more involved incision with a vertical line down to the breast crease and often an additional incision in the crease itself, forming an anchor shape. Dr. Tarola will select the pattern that removes the most loose skin possible with the shortest scar.
Breast Lift With Implants
If weight loss has also caused an undesirable loss of volume in the breasts, a lift can be combined with a breast augmentation with implants. Implants can provide volume in the upper breast and provide more cleavage. Dr. Tarola will review all of your options for implant size and type during your consultation so your results look as natural as possible.
Arm Lift Overview
An arm lift, also called brachioplasty, removes the loose skin and fat from the upper arm between the armpit and elbow. It is common for skin to hang in this area after weight loss, and because it is due to elasticity, it will not respond to exercise. The surgery tightens the underlying tissue and gives the arm a firmer shape closer to the muscle.
Arm Lift Incision Options
The incision length will match the amount of loose skin. Dr. Tarola may recommend a short incision hidden in the armpit, or a longer incision along the inner arm from the armpit to the elbow, common with weight loss patients. This scar will be hidden in most positions, but still visible when you lift your arms.
Thigh Lift Overview
A thigh lift is used to remove loose skin and fat from the thighs. It provides body contouring benefits and physical relief to patients who have been experiencing chafing or sweating during movement. Dr. Tarola can treat the inner thigh, outer thigh or both, depending on where you have loose skin.
Inner Thigh Lift
The incision for an inner thigh lift is in the groin crease where the thigh meets the body and can extend down the inner thigh when there is more skin to remove. The inner thigh tends to sag the most after weight loss, so this is a common procedure.
Outer Thigh Lift
An outer thigh lift can tighten any skin that has loosened along the outside of the leg and hip. There is an incision across the hip that connects with a lower body lift, so the whole lower body can be treated during one operation. This surgery can smooth the saddlebag area and improve the lines of the hips.
What Are the Benefits of Body Contouring?
Increased Comfort
Hanging skin pulls on your frame and gets in the way of everyday movement. You may notice the folds of skin chafing against each other and your clothing, with rubbing that can turn into raw or irritated skin. Once we remove the excess, the friction goes away, and you can be more comfortable during exercise.
Improved Hygiene
When there is excess skin, the folds can trap sweat and moisture, and it can be difficult to clean the sheltered space where bacteria and yeast thrive. Some people experience recurring rashes and infections in the creases called intertrigo, even when regularly cleaning the areas. Hygiene becomes much easier once the extra skin is gone.
Improved Body Shape
Once you have done the hard work of losing weight, it can be discouraging to still have so much loose skin hiding your results, even if you already feel healthier. Body contouring gives you a tighter and more proportionate shape that shows off your new figure.
Long-Lasting Results
Once Dr. Tarola removes the skin and fat, it will not return in the same way, and the changes made can last indefinitely, even permanently. Keeping a steady weight and maintaining your healthy lifestyle is the best way to continue enjoying your results. Certain things, like major weight gain or a pregnancy, can cause the skin to stretch again, and the tissue is always subject to some change because of normal aging.
What Is the Difference Between Surgical and Nonsurgical Body Contouring?
Surgical body contouring removes loose skin and fat through incisions, then tightens what remains. It is the only way to treat large amounts of hanging skin from major weight loss. Nonsurgical skin tightening and fat reduction use energy devices or cooling technology to firm mild laxity or shrink small fat pockets and come with minimal downtime. At Tarola Plastic Surgery, we offer surgical body contouring alongside nonsurgical treatments like CoolSculpting® Elite and BodyTone so we can serve a wider range of patients.
What to Expect During Your Consultation
Your consultation will be with Dr. Tarola, a board-certified plastic surgeon who completed his plastic surgery training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He will go over your medical history and weight loss history and examine the loose skin that you would like to have removed.
This is a time for you to get to know your surgeon. Dr. Tarola welcomes questions about his experience and the surgical and recovery processes. You will receive information about which procedures are likely to be most beneficial for you, and will leave with a treatment plan and a cost estimate to help you start planning.
Preparing for Body Contouring Surgery
Each patient will have specific instructions before surgery since each procedure is different. In general, your weight should be stable for several months, since losing or gaining more afterward can change the result. Smokers must stop well in advance because of the detrimental effects of nicotine on healing after surgery.
You may need lab work or medical clearance leading up to your surgery, and you will be asked to pause blood thinners and certain supplements that may increase bleeding during the surgery. Make sure you have someone to drive you home and to help around the house for the first several days of your recovery.
What to Expect During Body Contouring Surgery
Body contouring is done under general anesthesia, so you will be fully asleep throughout the entire process. You will arrive at our private operating room in our Murfreesboro office, where Dr. Tarola will go over the details of the surgery with you again before you are put under anesthesia. You will wake up in a recovery room where we will monitor you for several hours before releasing you to go home.
What is Recovery Like?
The amount and types of incisions are determined case by case and will be discussed with you by Dr. Tarola prior to surgery. Bandages and dressings will be applied to your treated areas after surgery in order to cushion the areas and support the new contours of your body. Thin tubes may also be placed underneath your skin to drain excess fluids while you are healing.
You may experience swelling after surgery as well as discomfort that can typically be controlled with medication. You may be advised to return to light activity as soon as possible to encourage healing and prevent clotting.
Doctor Tarola will discuss the recovery process as well as the risks and side effects associated with a body contouring procedure. You will also be informed of any medications you may need and how to properly care for your incision sites after surgery to minimize the risk of infection or complications.
Your Recovery Timeline Week by Week
Recovery time depends on how many areas were treated. In general, you can expect:
- First week: You rest at home with bandages and drains in place. Discomfort and swelling peak now and are controlled with prescribed medication. Short walks around the house help prevent blood clots.
- Weeks two to three: Drains usually come out, and swelling starts to drop. Many patients return to desk work near the end of this period.
- Weeks four to six: You can resume most light activity, but heavy lifting and hard exercise are still off limits.
- Six weeks and beyond: Dr. Tarola clears most patients to rebuild their exercise routine. Swelling keeps fading for several months, and scars soften and lighten over the following year.
Body Contouring Risks and Considerations
Every surgery carries risk, and Dr. Tarola will make sure to cover this with you extensively as you decide whether to move forward with surgery. Complications of surgery can include bleeding, infection, fluid collection under the skin and slow wound healing. Numbness near the incisions is common and typically fades as the area heals. Wide or raised scars can occur, more commonly in patients who smoke during recovery.
At Tarola Plastic Surgery, we enroll all of our surgical patients in CosmetAssure, a program to help cover the cost of treating certain rare complications. Following aftercare instructions and choosing an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon lowers your risk and helps with a smooth recovery.
Body Contouring Cost and Financing
The cost of body contouring depends on the number of areas treated and the scope of the surgery. Most body contouring after weight loss surgeries are considered to be cosmetic by insurance companies. Patients with documented rashes or infections may have some coverage depending on their provider. Reach out to your insurance company to find out more about your plan. Tarola Plastic Surgery offers payment plans and works with financing companies so you can spread the cost into monthly payments.
Body Contouring for Out-of-Town Patients
Patients travel to Murfreesboro from across Tennessee and out of state for surgery with Dr. Tarola. We run an Out of Town Program that helps you set up a virtual consultation, find lodging near the office and schedule your pre-op visit and surgery close together to limit trips. Because surgery and recovery happen in the private on-site operating room, you can finish your care in one place before traveling home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Body Contouring
Will body contouring leave visible scars?
Removing loose skin requires significant incisions, and scars are inevitable and permanent. When possible, Dr. Tarola places them in natural creases and areas covered by underwear or swimwear. Scars will look red and firm at first, then flatten and fade over the next 12 months. You will receive instructions for how to care for your scars and minimize them as much as possible.
Will I need more than one surgery to complete my body contouring goals?
Many patients will need to stage their surgeries for safety and results. Treating several areas of loose skin at once can mean a longer time under anesthesia, so Dr. Tarola balances surgery length with the number of surgeries you will have. He will let you know if staging multiple surgeries is recommended in your situation.
Will my body contouring include liposuction?
Dr. Tarola may use liposuction to remove stubborn fat pockets in addition to tightening loose skin to help refine your new shape. On its own, liposuction reduces fat but cannot remove hanging skin, which is why weight loss patients often need to pair it with a lift.
About Tarola Plastic Surgery
Dr. Tarola always listens to his patients before making any recommendations and will tell you honestly if a procedure is not right for you. The surgery itself takes place in a private operating room that he designed and built to his standards, located in his Murfreesboro office, so your treatment and recovery stay in one location instead of a busy hospital. Backing it all is a Vanderbilt-trained, board-certified surgeon and a team that patients describe, in review after review, as unusually thorough and genuinely caring.
Start Your Body Contouring Process Today
Contact Tarola Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation and start the journey to add tone and shape to your already thinner body. Call 615-713-1695 or reach out online.
