Body
When thinking about body alterations, it is important to identify whether your dissatisfaction is driven by excess fat, excess skin, or a combination of both. To help identify if your skin tone is good, look for stretch marks, fine wrinkling, or sagging of the skin. As we age, our skin tone naturally declines, but treatments such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, and body lift can improve the appearance of these areas. The following questions will help guide you to possible appropriate procedures for you.
Abdomen
Do you have stretch marks? Overhanging skin? Muscles stretched from pregnancy or weight loss? Have you been pregnant before?
If you have excess fat, can you ‘pinch an inch’? Is the fat resistant to diet and exercise? Are you within 20 percent of your ideal weight? Is your weight stable? Is your skin tone good?
Treatment options include liposuction, an abdominoplasty (also known as “tummy tuck”), a mini-abdominoplasty, or a combination.
Love Handles/Flank
This is an area where liposuction is great, EVEN if you have stretch marks. It is also a very common area for men to need help with. Can you “pinch an inch?” Is this where you hold your weight? Do you have a bulge that comes over pant waistlines or is visible in shirts or dresses? Do you have an “apple” shape?
Inner Thigh
We all hate it when our thighs rub together. To analyze your skin tone, look for fine wrinkling or sagging of the skin. You can pinch the skin together to get an idea of how much excess fat you have. If you have a bulge, but the skin is not wrinkled or sagging, liposuction is a good alternative. If you have fine wrinkling or sagging of the skin, you may need to undergo a medial thigh lift to remove excess skin.
Outer Thigh
Do you have a “pear” shape? Do your pants pull tightly at the level just below the bottom? Do you have to buy pants that are too large in the waist in order to get the thighs to fit? Liposuction works well in this area.
Arms
Do you have skin that hangs down when you put your arms out horizontally? Are you embarrassed to wear tank tops? Have you undergone significant weight loss? If you have a lot of loose skin, you may need skin removal, known as a brachioplasty. If your skin tone is good, liposuction works well to give good muscle contour and definition.