Body contouring can remove the excess skin you may have developed as a result of significant weight change or pregnancy. Dr. Tjelmeland at Meridian Plastic Surgery performs these procedures to give Austin-area patients firmer, more aesthetically appealing features and to improve their comfort, confidence, and quality of life.
Dr. Tjelmeland can target various trouble-spots with body contouring, including the stomach, arms, and legs. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years in practice, he is committed to helping patients achieve their aesthetic ideal through high-quality treatment.
The best results from body contouring come from sculpting the area in an attractive way — not just eliminating excess skin and pockets of fat. Dr. Tjelmeland uses his extensive surgical experience to evaluate patient needs and shape their features in a natural-looking way. Our practice also employs the latest technologies in surgical excision and liposuction, helping patients get a smoother result and have a faster, more comfortable recovery.
What Is Body Contouring?
Body contouring is a procedure to remove unwanted excess skin following significant weight change. Dr. Tjelmeland can use body contouring to improve a variety of features, including the stomach, arms, and thighs.
People may benefit from surgery after extensive dieting and exercise or after they have had a bariatric procedure. Women who have been pregnant are often left with extra skin around their abdomen and may include surgery as part of a mommy makeover.
Fat Reduction and Skin Tightening
The goal of body contouring is to create a flatter, firmer appearance. Surgery removes the fat and excess skin that commonly develop after pregnancy or weight loss.
To start, Dr. Tjelmeland will typically treat areas of stubborn fat with liposuction. He can employ either ultrasonic-assisted liposuction (VASERlipo®) or traditional liposuction. The VASERlipo system uses ultrasonic energy to liquefy fatty tissue, which makes it easier to remove. This causes less bruising and discomfort after surgery, and it creates a smoother, more even body contour.
After taking out unwanted fat, Dr. Tjelmeland removes excess skin from the site. This allows the remaining skin to conform to the patient’s new shape. Through years of experience, he has developed the skill to tighten a person’s features while creating a natural and attractive appearance.
Before and After
Body contouring can transform a patient’s features, eliminating unwanted excess skin from a variety of areas. See how surgery has benefited past patients of our Austin practice.
Which Areas Can Be Treated With Body Contouring?
Body contouring is an umbrella term describing several surgeries we can use to address different areas. Below is an overview of some of the most common areas of concern. Our Austin practice will design your treatment during your consultation and based on your individual goals and needs.
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Stomach
Removing excess skin around the stomach can give patients a firmer, flatter midsection. As part of a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), Dr. Tjelmeland can repair and tighten the abdominal muscles and remove stretch marks, excess loose skin, and skin folds around your stomach.
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Upper Arms
Aging and significant weight loss can cause the skin on the underside of your arm to sag. Dr. Tjelmeland’s arm lift (brachioplasty) surgery targets the area between the armpit and the elbow, creating a more toned and fit appearance.
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Inner Thighs
Major weight changes can cause excess skin to develop along the thighs. An inner thigh lift surgery can give you smoother, more proportional contours and overall improved aesthetics.
Am I a Good Candidate for Body Contouring?
Meridian Plastic Surgery takes great care when screening patients to ensure they are a good fit for body contouring surgery. Whether your procedure will target a relatively small area or a larger site, we want you to have the best experience and outcome possible.
During your initial consultation, you will benefit from a comprehensive examination and have a chance to share your medical history so that we can make sure treatment is right for you.
Body Contouring Is Well-Suited for Patients Who:
Have excess loose skin they want to eliminate. If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight, a body contouring procedure can revise this skin to give you firmer, flatter features.
Have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 35. This is to help ensure a successful procedure and recuperation from surgery.
Have maintained a stable weight for at least six months. A more consistent weight allows Dr. Tjelmeland to remove the right amount of skin, providing the results that patients need.
Are in good health. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities.
Are non-smokers. This is to avoid complications following surgery.
Have realistic expectations for their treatment. Body contouring targets unwanted excess skin and areas of stubborn fat. It is not suitable for weight-loss surgery.
Surgery May Not Be Right for Austin Patients Who:
– Want to lose a significant amount of weight or who would be better suited to bariatric surgery.
– Have experienced weight fluctuations in the past six months
– Have a body mass index of 35 or higher.
– Are in poor health or who smoke.
Dr. Tjelmeland and our staff members can discuss these issues with you during your consultation to help guide you to the right treatment option. We encourage you to ask questions at any stage in the process.
How Old Do I Have to Be for Body Contouring?
Meridian Plastic Surgery offers body contouring procedures to patients who are age 18 or older. Generally, these patients have reached physical maturity, so their results are more predictable and they are likely to get the greatest aesthetic benefits from treatment. We are happy to discuss this and other requirements during your consultation.
Types of Body Contouring Procedures Our Practice Performs
Body contouring can target a single small area or address broader aesthetic concerns. Dr. Tjelmeland at Meridian Plastic Surgery uses several surgical approaches to help patients get the results they want.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
With a tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Tjelmeland can eliminate loose skin from your midsection and tighten your abdominal muscles to give you a slimmer appearance. Typically, he combines a tummy tuck with contouring liposuction that creates tapered transitions from the upper abdomen to the hips.
Dr. Tjelmeland places the tummy tuck incision below the bikini line to hide signs of surgery and give a more natural-looking appearance. Some of our Austin patients only require a mini-tummy tuck, which addresses the lower abdomen, while other patients benefit from a full abdominoplasty to resolve concerns above and below the belly button. Learn more on the tummy tuck page of our website.
Upper Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
An arm lift removes excess skin below the armpit, which causes discomfort and embarrassment for many patients. The surgery addresses a condition that most people cannot resolve through exercise alone, as working out usually strengthens the underlying muscle instead of reducing the skin.
During the procedure, Dr. Tjelmeland combines liposuction and skin excision, removing areas of unwanted fat while reshaping the arm. He places incisions in sites that are typically hidden from view. Generally, the aesthetic improvement patients enjoy far outweighs visible signs of surgery.
Inner Thigh Lift
Thigh lift surgery removes excess skin, skin bulges, improves symmetry, and can significantly improve skin irritation between the thighs. The procedure includes liposuction and skin excision to give patients tighter, firmer inner thigh skin.
Though surgery targets the inner thighs, the procedure actually removes unwanted skin from the upper legs and around the groin as well. As a result, in most cases, there should be no visible signs of surgery on the thighs themselves. Most patients get an immediate improvement in how smooth and firm their legs look after a thigh lift.
What Are the Costs Involved in Body Contouring?
Dr. Tjelmeland and the experienced staff at Meridian Plastic Surgery are fully dedicated to patient safety and comfort. It is our goal to deliver a great experience for our patients. Dr. Tjelmeland will perform your procedure on-site in our AAAASF-accredited facility using the latest techniques and resources.
The cost for body contouring depends on your individual needs, the type of procedure you have, and the amount of excess skin and fat your surgery removes. We will be happy to discuss fees in detail during your initial consultation.
Body Contouring Treatment Explained
As part of your initial visit to our practice, Dr. Tjelmeland will talk with you about your goals, provide a comprehensive examination, and explore your options for treatment.
If you are a good candidate for body contouring, he and our staff members will explain how the procedure works and answer your questions about surgery. Typically, we spend a lot of time helping patients understand what they can expect with their results and going over before and after photographs. We want you to have all of the information you need to make the right decision about your care.
What Should I Do in Preparation for the Procedure?
Once you decide to have a body contouring procedure, you will return to Meridian Plastic Surgery about a week or so before your procedure for your preoperative appointment. At this appointment, you will meet with Cindy Jones, PA-C to go over your procedure in detail, cover all instructions for before and after surgery, finish paperwork, and discuss any post-operative supportive garments. This ensures that patients are completely comfortable and prepared for surgery. Dr. Tjelmeland can also meet with you at this time to cover any last-minute questions that you may have.
Before your surgery, our practice will provide you with instructions to follow and guidance for what to do during your recovery. In general, patients should not eat or drink after midnight before body contouring procedures, and they should fill prescriptions for the medications we prescribe so they will be ready after surgery. We can provide more comprehensive guidance as part of your preoperative visit.
How Long Does the Surgery Usually Last?
Dr. Tjelmeland performs body contouring procedures at our Austin surgical facility. This means that your consultation, preoperative visit, surgery, and postoperative appointments will all take place with the same familiar staff.
Dr. Tjelmeland is committed to giving patients results that look aesthetically pleasing and natural. Depending on the amount of fat and skin he removes, a procedure for the arms or legs can take 1-3 hours, while a tummy tuck can take between 2.5 and 4 hours.
What Does Body Contouring Feel Like? Is It Painful?
Patients of Meridian Plastic Surgery have body contouring procedures under light general anesthesia. This means that you will be asleep through the entire experience, and you should not feel any pain. You can plan to go home the same day as your surgery.
What Should I Expect in Terms of Recovery After Body Contouring Treatment?
In general, you can expect to return to work about two weeks after surgery and refrain from physically demanding activities for approximately four to six weeks.
Arm lift and inner thigh lift typically cause swelling and bruising in the treated area. Meridian Plastic Surgery patients will almost always use a compression garment to minimize these effects. Pain medication is prescribed after surgery to manage discomfort following surgery.
Patients can expect to return to work within 1-2 weeks, depending on the type of surgery and the physical requirements of their work. They can usually begin light exercise after about three weeks and return to normal activities after 4-6 weeks.
Do the Results Last?
The results of a tummy tuck, arm lift, or thigh lift surgery should last your whole life. Still, certain factors can diminish the aesthetic benefits.
For example, if you become pregnant or experience substantial weight changes, your body and skin may stretch and change in ways that cause excess skin to redevelop. If you anticipate having more children or if your weight is not stable, please discuss this during your initial consultation.
Other Things to Consider Before Getting a Body Contouring Treatment
Body contouring and liposuction remove excess skin and fat so patients can feel more confident and comfortable, whether they want to wear form-fitting clothing, be happier with their appearance, or eliminate skin irritation. If you are thinking about treatment, we encourage you to learn more at an initial consultation at Meridian Plastic Surgery.
Is It Really Worth It?
If your goal is to have a slimmer shape, body contouring can be a great solution.
Frequently, Austin-area patients choose to have a procedure with our practice because they are ready for an improvement in their quality of life. Many have spent years struggling to get the appearance they want, hiding their figure, and feeling dissatisfied with the way they look.
Body contouring surgery with Dr. Tjelmeland can eliminate unwanted excess skin while hiding most of the visible signs of surgery. Results are fast and relatively predictable, as well as attractive and natural-looking.
Are There Any Other Options for Achieving These Types of Results?
Diet and exercise can eliminate body fat and strengthen underlying muscle. However, excess skin may not be responsive to these measures, and physical improvement can take a long time. People with a lot of excess skin may also feel self-conscious about working out, making it difficult to maintain a long-term exercise routine.
Other Resources Related to Body Contouring
Excellence in Body Contouring in Austin, TX
A body contouring procedure can give you the body you want and get rid of the physical features that have been holding you back.
Dr. Tjelmeland and our staff members welcome the opportunity to get to know you, to learn about your goals, and to help you achieve them. Our practice will leverage years of surgical experience and advanced technical resources to provide you with high-quality care and a great-looking outcome.
Explore how body contouring can give you more beautifully shaped features. Contact our Austin office at (512) 617-7500 or connect with us online.
