Body Contouring After Weight Loss: What Is It & Who Is It For?
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Body Contouring After Weight Loss

Body Contouring After Weight Loss

Body Contouring after Weight Loss (Body Lift) Quick Look

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"Worth It" Rating

96% say it's "worth it"
Procedure Duration

Surgery Length

3 Hours

Invasiveness

10/10

Discomfort Factor

8 - 9/10

Synopsis of Surgery

A combination of several cosmetic procedures to reshape the body after significant weight loss. Body Contouring can include a tummy tuck, thigh lift, arm lift, butt lift etc. in one single surgery.

Recovery

6 weeks until resuming physical exercise

2-3 weeks off from work/household duties

Anesthesia

General Anesthesia

Alternative Names

Lower Body Lift, Upper Body Lift, 360 Body Lift, Body Contouring


If you have managed to lose a significant amount of weight, you deserve to be thrilled with the end result. Whether you did it through diet and exercise or a surgical weight-loss procedure, you are to be congratulated on achieving your goal. If, however, you have made it to your target weight, but you are not happy due to excess skin, loose tissue, or issues with your physical proportions, then body contouring may be the answer.
After a large weight loss, areas such as the upper arms, breasts, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs may be left with a saggy, deflated look.

Weight loss often leaves behind excess skin that cannot shrink down to your new body shape. Skin elasticity is a function of age and heredity and is unlikely to change for the better as time goes on. As well, after supporting a large amount of fat for a long time, the underlying tissues may have become stretched and now lack tone. Finally, there may be stubborn fat deposits that have not shrunk in proportion with the rest of your weight loss, leaving you with an uneven look.

Body contouring is designed to correct these issues so that you can fully enjoy the results of your weight-loss efforts.

What is Body Contouring after Weight Loss?

Body contouring is a combination of a number of procedures, all of which are designed to remove excess skin and fat and to tighten underlying tissue in order to give you a natural, toned look and a firm, well-proportioned body.

A body contouring plan will normally encompass some of the following procedures:

Arm lift:

Gives you toned arms by removing excess skin and tightening tissue.

Breast lift:

Makes sagging breasts more pert and youthful; sometimes breast implants are used to improve size and shape at the same time.

Tummy tuck:

Creates a nice, smooth, flat tummy by eliminating sagging skin and tightening slack abdominal muscles, as well as removing any stubborn fat deposits.

Buttock lift:

Lifts a sagging, shapeless rear end and improves firmness be removing loose skin and possibly remodeling the fatty tissue through injections harvested from other parts of your body.

Thigh lift:

Improves the shape of the upper legs by excising unwanted skin and tightening the underlying tissue.

If a significant amount of weight has been lost in the face and neck, a facelift may also be recommended.

Naturally, the types of procedure your surgeon recommends will depend on your unique desires and specific physique. Your surgeon will discuss what can or should be combined based on your goals, as well as a realistic assessment of your safety and recovery time. If necessary, your body contouring procedures may be staggered over separate operations.

One Patient’s Experience

A recent patient at The Plastic Surgery Clinic achieved an incredible 145-pound weight loss success after working hard to make specific changes to her lifestyle. However, after spending 16 months committed to this goal and putting in all of the effort required for such an inspiring accomplishment, she found that the excess skin that remained once the weight was gone prevented her from fully realizing her total transformation. As is commonly the case with those who achieve significant weight loss, instead of being able to embrace their improved health and new body, they find that leftover loose skin interferes with the worry-free life that seemed to be within reach. The result can have a negative impact on their self-image, often creating roadblocks to maintaining their weight loss goals as they move forward.

As opposed to body fat, excess skin will not respond to changes in diet and exercise. The only way that it can be adequately eliminated is through surgical restoration. The following images show our actual patient at the different stages of her weight loss endeavour: at her starting weight of 309 pounds; 16 months later following her 145-pound weight loss; and 6 weeks after her body contouring procedure to eliminate excess skin. Please click on the images to view them in greater detail.

To learn more about her unique journey, read Dr. Lista’s blog post about her experience.

Tummy Tuck After Weight Loss

Tummy Tuck After Weight Loss

Results may vary.

Experience and Innovation to Improve Patient Outcomes

At The Plastic Surgery Clinic we perform approximately 200 body contouring procedures each year. Because Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin are closely associated with the Smartshape Weight Loss Centre, which shares facilities and staff with The Plastic Surgery Clinic, they are highly experienced with the results of surgical weight-loss procedures. As a result of this close working relationship, the surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Clinic are some of the most experienced and innovative in Canada at performing body contouring after weight loss. They are frequently invited to lecture or write about the techniques they have pioneered.

Empower Yourself with Knowledge

If you are considering this important surgery please explore the links on the left to learn more. If you have more questions about whether Body Contouring after Weight Loss in Toronto/Mississauga is for you, please contact us at [email protected] to set up a complimentary consultation with Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Austin.

What is Body Contouring After Weight Loss?

The details of each body contouring operation depend entirely on the types of procedure that are being performed, although almost all of them combine the surgical removal of excess skin with strategic tightening of underlying tissue. In some cases, targeted liposuction may also be conducted.

For details concerning each individual procedure, please refer to the Procedures menu.

Wherever possible, scars will be strategically placed so as to hide them from view.

Where Your Body Contouring After Weight Loss is Performed

Your body contouring after weight loss can be performed right on site in the state-of-the-art facilities of The Plastic Surgery Clinic. The Clinic meets or exceeds national, provincial, and municipal health care facility standards in such important areas as equipment quality and infection control.

If you prefer, you can choose to have your surgery at one of the hospitals where the highly skilled plastic surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Clinic enjoy privileges. These include the Mississauga site of the Trillium Health Centre and the University Health Network in Toronto.

No matter where you choose to have your surgery, there is always a surgeon on call to respond to your concerns. In addition, a board-certified anaesthesiologist will administer your local or general anaesthetic, stay with you during the entire operation, and be there as you wake up.

The following images are presented for educational purposes only and should be interpreted subjectively. They do not represent the opinion or view of any patient regarding their result, and they are not intended to suggest the result that may be achieved by any other patient. The images are presented as factual guidelines and merely represent results that have been achieved by others. No two patients are alike and no two results are necessarily alike. Only a personal consultation with your surgeon can provide you with a reasonable expectation of the results you may achieve from any specific procedure.

The Best Candidates for Body Contouring After Weight Loss

The best candidates for body contouring are individuals who have attained or are close to their weight-loss targets and have maintained them for enough time that they are confident that their weight is stable. Weight stability is very important. If much additional weight is lost after body contouring is performed, excess skin may become an issue again; and if a significant amount of weight is regained, the resulting stretching of the skin may widen scars or create unsightly stretch marks. Issues with proportions may also arise.

Smokers should quit for at least two weeks before and after surgery, because smoking inhibits healing.

A realistic expectation of the results is also very important. To this end, Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin are always careful to explain everything about your procedure as clearly as possible, including the risks and the most likely outcomes.

Body contouring after weight loss typically has an immediate, long-lasting effect, provided patients maintain a healthy weight.

Body contouring can have a positive effect on your self-esteem. Feeling better about your appearance can make you feel better about yourself. Studies show that this kind of surgery often improves quality of life. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with an experienced Toronto/Mississauga body contouring surgeon such as Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Austin.

Preparing for Body Contouring After Weight Loss

Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin are proud to have helped so many patients in Toronto and Mississauga finalize their weight-loss goals. You’re proud of how much weight you have lost but may be unhappy with loose skin. Body contouring after weight loss can amplify your new physique by giving it a youthful tautness and attractively proportioned shape.

Because surgery of any sort can make patients feel nervous or apprehensive, Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin listen carefully to a patient’s desires and provide expert guidance on what each type of surgery can and cannot do. They will carefully explain the potential benefits, as well as the risks, in order to make you feel secure and comfortable with the procedure.

Your consultation will involve a physical examination, including a thorough medical history, and a discussion about your goals with surgery. You will be asked to describe your ideal look; if you can, you should bring in pictures that show body shapes that you admire.

Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Austin will spend as much time as you need to make sure both you and your surgeon know exactly what you want. It may not always be possible to meet all your expectations with surgery, so it is crucial that you understand what a realistic outcome is likely to be.

Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad or Dr. Austin will examine you to determine exactly what procedure or combination of procedures will best help you meet your goals. For body contouring, how best to address your particular needs will be carefully discussed. Your surgeon will work with you to recommend a combination of procedures that will help you come closest to achieving your desired results.

Preparing for Your Procedure

Your surgeon will also instruct you on how to prepare for surgery in order to achieve the best result, including guidelines on eating, drinking, and taking certain vitamins and medications. Smokers should plan to stop smoking for a minimum of one or two weeks before surgery and during recovery, as smoking decreases circulation and interferes with proper healing. You may also be asked to refrain from taking aspirin, anti-inflammation drugs, or certain herbal supplements, as they may increase bleeding during the surgery.

Recovery Following Body Contouring After Weight Loss

The Recovery Process for Body Contouring After Weight Loss Patients

Body contouring surgery is performed at The Plastic Surgery Clinic as a day surgery procedure. A friend or relative will need to come and pick you up and stay with you at home that evening.

The recovery period for body contouring after weight loss will depend entirely on the procedures that are performed, although combining procedures should lead to a shorter recovery overall (versus having them done individually). Normally, any bandages placed over incisions will remain in place for a few days, and parts of the body may require an elastic (compression) bandage or garment to be worn for a few weeks to keep swelling under control. Generally patients are able to start showering the day after surgery.

Bruising and swelling usually resolves after few weeks. Patients should refrain from any strenuous activity for at least six to eight weeks. Most scars will fade in approximately six months.

The Pain Relief Pump™

Pain after surgery is not only uncomfortable, it can also slow down the healing process. That is why the surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Clinic take the time to anticipate their patients’ pain needs in advance, in order to help reduce the time it takes for you to get back on your feet.

They have introduced the revolutionary Pain Relief Pump™ to ease the pain during the first 24 hours after surgery. This MP3 player-sized device is worn in a belt around the waist, with a hair-thin tube connecting it to the surgical site. Completely automatically, the device regularly delivers a long-acting local anesthetic into the wound.

The result is that patients feel absolutely no pain. That means that patients do not usually need to take prescription pain medicines, which can be associated with significant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions.

Toronto cosmetic surgery patients at The Plastic Surgery Clinic experience no pain, heal faster, feel happier, have less swelling, and simply recover more quickly. The Pain Relief Pump™ has proven invaluable to plastic surgery patients and is almost exclusively available at The Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Risks and Complications of Body Contouring After Weight Loss Surgery

Dr. Lista, Dr. Ahmad and Dr. Austin perform 200 body contouring procedures each year. The results are ordinarily positive and complications are rare. Nevertheless, there are always risks associated with surgery, and there are specific complications associated with the procedures that may be performed during body contouring. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you thoroughly during the consultation process.

Post-operative complications such as infection and blood clots are rare. Infection can be treated with drainage and antibiotics, but may require a hospital stay. You can minimize the risk of blood clots by moving around as soon as possible after the surgery. At our state-of-the-art plastic surgery clinic in Toronto, patients are given anti-embolic stockings that they are asked to wear for one week following surgery. We also have a specialized device called a sequential compression pump that gently massages the patient’s legs during surgery and, combined with the stockings, greatly decreases the risk of blood clots in the legs.

Poor healing, which can result in conspicuous scars, may require a second operation. Smokers are advised to quit, as smoking may increase the risk of complications and delay healing.

You can reduce your risk of complications by closely following your surgeon’s instructions before and after the surgery, especially with regard to when and how you should resume physical activity.

Please keep in mind that at The Plastic Surgery Clinic, we will treat any complication that may arise.

Body Contouring Photo Gallery

Most of the body contouring patients at the Plastic Surgery Clinic are very happy with their results. The procedures used result in an overall look that is toned, youthful, and natural. Combined with their weight loss, patients can finally feel they have reached the “finish line” and attained the body they wanted. They can move forward with self-confidence.

Body contouring results are normally long-lasting, provided your target weight is maintained.

Any plastic surgery procedure may have an impact on your friends and family. Some may not see much difference, while others may act resentful. If this happens, remind yourself of your goals going into surgery and remember that you did this for yourself and your own satisfaction, not to please anyone else.

During your free consultation, you will be able to look through a wide variety of photos that show the actual results of patients at The Plastic Surgery Clinic who have undergone body contouring after weight loss procedures. If you wish to see a small selection of patient photos, they are available in our body contouring photo gallery.

Cost of Body Contouring After Weight Loss

For many people, thinking about the cost of body contouring after weight loss can be stressful. You’ve worked so hard for your results and, on top of buying a new wardrobe, there is the added cost of maximizing your figure through body contouring. We understand, but we want to help you reach your goal and feel as good about yourself as possible. This is why financing options are available to take the sting out of paying for surgery. Unfortunately body contouring surgery is not always covered by provincial or corporate health care and benefit plans, but if you make an appointment for a free consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons we would be happy to give you a detailed estimate of what your surgery will cost, and many other specifics of the procedure.

To find out more about the cost of body contouring after weight loss, please contact us by phone or e-mail or by filling out the Request for Information form below.

Plastic Surgery Video Gallery

Body Contouring Videos

Browse our collection of videos for an insider's look at this procedure and others we perform.

Watch the Videos
Plastic Surgery Before & After Photo Gallery

Body Contouring Gallery

Explore our photo collections to see actual results we have achieved at The Plastic Surgery Clinic.

See the Results
What to Expect

The PSC Method

Step 1: The PSC Consult

Step 1: The PSC Consult


Consultations are always free. This is our opportunity to get to know you and your vision. And then share with you our expertise and recommendations based on 30+ years of experience, and thousands of satisfied patients.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 2: The PSC Procedure

Step 2: The PSC Procedure


You’ll arrive on the day of surgery fully prepared and confident in your outcome, because your surgeon is internationally recognized as a leader in their field. You will wake up slightly groggy and a bit uncomfortable, and head home soon after.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up


We see every patient the day after surgery. Most find their discomfort extremely manageable, thanks to the pain relief pump. Our post-op nurse will walk you through every step of your recovery and answer all your questions.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 1: The PSC Consult


Consultations are always free. This is our opportunity to get to know you and your vision. And then share with you our expertise and recommendations based on 30+ years of experience, and thousands of satisfied patients.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 1: The PSC Consult
1 The PSC Consult

You and your surgeon will customize a plan to meet your needs and desired outcome.

Step 2: The PSC Procedure


You’ll arrive on the day of surgery fully prepared and confident in your outcome, because your surgeon is internationally recognized as a leader in their field. You will wake up slightly groggy and a bit uncomfortable, and head home soon after.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 2: The PSC Procedure
2 The PSC Procedure

All surgeries are day surgeries, done under general anesthetic at our private hospital.

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up


We see every patient the day after surgery. Most find their discomfort extremely manageable, thanks to the pain relief pump. Our post-op nurse will walk you through every step of your recovery and answer all your questions.

One patient's experience...

My overall experience has been nothing less than beyond exceptional! [The PSC] made me feel confident and comfortable from start to finish…

Via RATEMDS.

Step 3: The PSC Follow Up
3 The PSC Follow Up

We see you the very next day, ensuring optimal recovery and happiness with your result.

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