If you have been pregnant or undergone dramatic weight loss, you may be dealing with 2 lingering issues: loose skin and stubborn fat. From tummy tuck to liposuction and CoolSculpting®, our Brooklyn and Staten Island patients have many options for achieving their body contouring goals. But which option is best for you?
Well, it depends on the results you’re looking for. This blog post will list the benefits of 3 popular procedures and explain how they help you slim down and reduce body fat.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck (also known as an abdominoplasty) is a surgery that involves making a low, horizontal incision that reaches hip to hip, and one within the bellybutton. The doctor uses these incisions to remove excess skin and fat, creating a smooth, firm abdomen in the process.
Tummy tucks can also eliminate a “belly pooch” by treating diastasis recti: a condition where ab muscles are weakened and separated during pregnancy. Stitching together these ab muscles can slim areas that diet and exercise won’t fix.
Patients can return to work after 2 weeks and safely resume exercise after 6. The scars from surgery can usually be hidden by underwear or a bathing suit.
Liposuction
Surgeons perform liposuction by inserting a small tube (called a cannula) through a very small, carefully placed incision. This tube breaks up and suctions out excess fatty tissue in the treatment area. Liposuction can slim saddlebags, love handles, and other body bulges created by excess fat.
There are also other less-invasive types of liposuction–such as BodyTite–that can include skin tightening as well as fat reduction. We can help you decide if traditional liposuction or BodyTite is a better option for your goals.
Most patients can return to work after 1 week after treatment, with vigorous exercise being allowed after 3 weeks. During your recovery, you will need to wear a compression garment to support the healing process and keep swelling to a minimum.
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is a noninvasive procedure that targets fat cells by placing fatty tissue between 2 cooling panels. The targeted fat cells become frozen and are later naturally eliminated from your body (a process called cryolipolysis). As the frozen cells are expelled post-treatment, fatty areas are reduced and gradually shrink in size.
There is no downtime after this procedure, although patients might experience some temporary soreness or redness. While it can’t remove loose skin, CoolSculpting is an excellent option for those who prefer a noninvasive way to reduce fat.
Take the Next Step
Modern medicine has given us many options for toning up our bodies. But in the end, the best way to learn about your contouring options is to have a 1-on-1 discussion with your doctor.
Talk with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discover which option is best for your body and lifestyle. Contact us online or call (718) 720-9400 to schedule your appointment today.
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