Ask Dr. Elliott: Common Questions About Body Contouring

There’s no bad time to think about improving your appearance and self-esteem with the help of cosmetic surgery. However, it’s a fact that body contouring is even more in-demand during the warmer summer months when everyone wants to look their very best. Which is why I thought now would be a great time to shine a spotlight on some of the most common body contouring procedures that I perform. Body contouring is a broad term that can refer to procedures performed on areas all over the body.

Question #1: Can diet and exercise help reduce unwanted fat from my upper arms?

Not necessarily. While eating healthy and exercising regularly can help a person lose weight, there is no guarantee that a specific area of the body, like the upper arms for example, will see the same benefits. As we age, pockets of stubborn fat and loose skin can accumulate and be nearly impossible to address with diet and exercise alone. In these cases, undergoing arm lift surgery or liposuction of the upper arm can provide the toning and contouring effects that my patients desire.

Question #2: When can I expect to see the final results of my liposuction procedure?

Every patient is different, but it will take some time for the results of a liposuction procedure to really take shape. Some degree of post-surgical swelling is common after liposuction and although you may see some results, the post-op swelling can obscure the results for a brief time following the procedure. Once this swelling begins to subside, the results will steadily improve more and more each day. Depending on the nature of the procedure and how much fat was removed, it can be between 1-3 months before the final results are achieved.

Question #3: How expensive is it to undergo a mommy makeover procedure?

The cost of undergoing a mommy makeover, which combines multiple body contouring procedures like liposuction, tummy tuck, and cosmetic breast surgery into on surgery, will depend on the specific details of the procedures performed. It’s important to know that choosing a mommy makeover can actually be the most cost effective approach to cosmetic surgery by helping patients reduce hospital and anesthesia fees and other surgical costs. For patients concerned about the potential cost of a mommy makeover, I offer plastic surgery financing options as well.

Body contouring surgery is extremely versatile and can be used to help a wide variety of cosmetic surgery patients. For more information or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.