Body contouring is defined in a number of ways.  For persons who work out a great deal, body contouring may mean artistically removing fat deposits in the abdomen or arms to create more muscle definition.

Body contouring is also defined as a method often chosen by people who have had significant weight loss to complete their transformation.  Patients who have achieved weight loss through diet, exercise, or a type of bariatric surgery (such as gastric bypass or gastric banding) often find that their skin is not elastic enough to return to its original shape.   In these cases, there can be large areas of skin on the stomach, arms, thighs, legs, and chest that can be surgically reduced.  Body contouring may include a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), a breast lift or reduction (gynecomastia in men), arm liposuction or tuck (brachioplasty) and facial surgery such as a facelift (rhytidectomy). 

There is a specific recovery time and surgical technique for each potential body contouring procedure which are outlined throughout Viserage.com  If you are a post-bariatric patient, it is important to note that Dr. Antonio Carbonell and  Dr. Victor Au have significant experience dealing with the skin elasticity issues unique to your situation.