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Your complete guide and quick links to everything you need to know about Body Contouring Surgery!
What Is Body Contouring Surgery?
When people undergo a major weight loss, be it through bariatric surgery or strict dieting and exercise, they are often left with large amounts of excess loose skin and fat that simply cannot shrink and disappear.
Body Contouring Surgery is a surgical procedure to remove folds of loose skin and fat from the waist, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper torso, and upper arms that remain after major weight loss, after pregnancy, or simply due to ageing.
By removing the folds of excess skin and fat, Body Contouring Surgery can deliver significant benefits such as:
- Ability to wear normal clothing sizes.
- Easier walking and physical activities.
- Improved posture.
- Improved hygiene and comfort.
- Relief of back and shoulder discomfort.
- Relief of rashes and skin infections under the folds of loose skin.
Which Body Areas Can Body Contouring Surgery Improve?
Body Contouring Surgery can dramatically improve the appearances and comfort in the following areas by removing the folds of excess skin and fat remaining after major weight loss, pregnancy, and ageing.
- Lower abdomen, waist, lower back and buttocks: when these are all reshaped together, we refer to it as a ‘Belt Lipectomy’ or ‘360° Body Lift’. Refer our page ‘Body Lift Surgery’ for more details.
- Upper Arms to remove the loose, hanging skin and fat from the underside of the upper arms. Visit our website page ‘Arm Lift Surgery’ for more details.
- Inner Thighs to correct loose hanging skin from the upper inner thighs. Refer our website page ‘Thigh Lift’ for more information.
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How is a Body Contouring Surgery Done?
All forms of Body Contouring Surgery need to be performed under General Anaesthesia and will involve a short stay in hospital.
The location of the incisions and therefore your final scars will depend on which body area the surgery is being performed. Nevertheless, our Plastic Surgeon will always attempt to strategically place your incisions in locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimsuits.
When indicated, liposuction may be added to a body lift procedure to achieve an even better contour.
After the surgery, you will need to remain in hospital for a short stay. Your Plastic Surgeon will determine when you can be discharged to continue your recovery at home.
During your home recovery process, take things easy, and avoid heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks.
Most patients can usually return to their usual daily routines after around 6 weeks, but this can vary due to individual differences in the healing process.
Although a major improvement in appearance will be obvious immediately after the surgery, the healing process does take time and it may take as long as 1-2 years for your final results to fully appear.
‘Pros & Cons’ of Body Contouring Surgery
The Pros:
- The only effective to permanently eliminate residual folds of excess skin after major weight loss.
- Improved appearances.
- Improved hygiene and comfort from relief of sweat and skin rashes under the folds of skin.
- Improved posture, easier walking and physical exercise.
- The ability to again wear normal clothing sizes.
- Relief of back and shoulder discomfort.
- The ability to again wear normal clothing sizes.
The Cons:
- It is extensive surgery.
- A short hospital stay is required.
- The surgical scars can be extensive but your plastic surgeon will try to position the incisions where they will be best hidden by clothing and swimwear.
- Initially, restricted movement from the tightened skin until it stretches.
Potential Risks & Complications of Body Contouring Surgery
Modern surgery is generally considered safe, but any surgery has potential risks and in Body Contouring Surgery, these include:
Specific to Body Contouring Surgery:
- Numbness around the incisions, usually temporary only.
- Visible and prominent scars including keloid and hypertrophic scars.
- Areas of skin that do not heal and may require a skin graft.
- The possibility of a blood transfusion with removal of large amounts of skin.
General Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding from an operated site. If heavy, it could require a blood transfusion.
- Infection that may require treatment with antibiotics or further surgery.
- Hematoma, a collection of blood under the skin, which if large could require a return to theatre for removal.
- Seroma, an accumulation of fluid under the skin, may need one or more needle aspirations before it settles.
- Slow wound healing, often related to smoking and diabetes.
- Allergic reaction to medications, sutures, dressings, or antiseptic solutions.
- Deep Venous Thrombosis and its potential to cause life-threatening Pulmonary Embolism.
- Adverse Reactions to Anaesthesia or Medication: The safety of anaesthesia nowadays in Australia is well established. Nevertheless, potential risks exist with all anaesthesia and unexpected reactions can occur. These may include nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions ranging from minor to severe. Respiratory failure, heart failure, heart attack and stroke are rare but documented risks of any general anaesthesia.
Body Lift ‘Before & Afters’
The Cost of Body Contouring Surgery
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Loose Skin Removal & Body Contouring Surgery
The total cost of Body Contouring Surgery is made up of the following individual costs:
- Surgical Fee: Impossible to indicate until you have been assessed by our Plastic Surgeon and it has been decided which procedures and techniques are required.
- Hospital Fee: Hospitals differ in their hourly rates for Operating
Theatres. Your Plastic Surgeon will advise you of the expected Theatre Fees once it has been determined which hospital you will be attending and how long your procedure will take. There will also be an additional accommodation charge for your short hospital stay. - Anaesthetist Fee: This will basically depend on the duration of the surgery. Anaesthetic Fees are generally around $880/hour.
- Post-Operative Garment(s)
Can I Claim a Medicare or Private Health Insurance Rebate?
Unfortunately, only a minority of Thigh Lift Surgery patients are eligible to claim a partial Medicare Rebate because of Medicare’s strict criteria of eligibility.
If you meet ALL of Medicare’s criteria of eligibility and you also have Private Hospital Cover, you may also be able to claim a variable portion of your Hospital Fees depending on your Fund and Level of Cover.