Body Contouring
Embrace Your Best Self
Why Choose MidAmerica Plastic Surgery for body contouring?
Body contouring helps women and men from Maryville, Edwardsville, and the St. Louis area improve their appearance after significant weight loss.
Using surgical techniques tailored to your specific needs and goals, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ryan Diederich and his team offer transformative solutions to reduce excess skin and stubborn fat pockets, reshaping and refining your body. Celebrate your weight loss success with a procedure personalized just for you.
Body Contouring at a Glance
- Benefits: Improved body shape and confidence
- Downtime: Varies by procedure; generally 1-6 weeks
- Duration: 2-5 hours, depending on the complexity
- Results: Long-lasting with proper maintenance
- Procedures: Liposuction, tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, and more
Sculpt Your Future
What is body contouring?
Body contouring combines different surgical procedures to allow Dr. Ryan Diederich to remove excess fat and loose skin.
Because the skin has lost some elasticity, excess tissue and skin remaining after significant weight loss do not conform to your now smaller frame. Exercise can strengthen muscle but cannot address excess skin, fat, and loss of elasticity. If you have loose, saggy skin following a large weight loss, body contouring in Glen Carbon from MidAmerica Plastic Surgery may be right for you.
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Expert Care for Glen Carbon and Beyond
What is the body contouring procedure like?
We will guide you through each step of your body contouring experience, beginning with a consultation to learn about your goals and provide personalized recommendations. Below is a general overview of what you can expect at each stage of your surgical treatment plan.
Before Body Contouring Surgery
- Get lab testing or a medical evaluation, as needed.
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications, as recommended.
- Stop using nicotine 6 weeks before and after your surgery
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding (if okay with your primary care physician. If you cannot stop, please let us know).
- Pre-op instructions will be provided before the procedure. Please read these thoroughly for additional information.
- Contact Dr. Diederich or our team anytime for extra guidance and support.
The Day of Body Contouring Surgery
- Completed as an outpatient surgery or with hospital stay, depending on your particular needs.
- Nothing to eat or drink the day of surgery.
- You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours.
After Body Contouring Surgery
- Recovery is patient-dependent.
- Post-op instructions will be provided before the procedure. Please keep these close throughout recovery and contact us any time with questions or concerns.
Techniques Tailored to You
What conditions does body contouring address?
Body contouring is performed to:
- Remove excess sagging skin and fat.
- Smooth and tighten tissue.
- Create smoother contours.
- Define and shape the body.
Taut, Toned Contours
What areas of the body can body contouring procedures address?
Body contouring can target multiple areas, including:
- Abdomen: Tighten the tummy and remove excess fat and skin
- Arms: Reduce sagging skin for a more toned appearance
- Thighs: Smooth and shape the inner and outer thighs
- Back: Eliminate fat rolls and excess skin
- Buttocks: Lift and enhance shapeliness
Enter a New Era of Confidence
What are the benefits of body contouring?
Body contouring carries many benefits that can have a positive impact on every area of your life.
- Enhanced Appearance: Achieve a more toned and attractive body shape.
- Improved Confidence: Feel better about your body and boost your self-esteem.
- Long-Lasting Results: Enjoy enduring improvements with proper care and a healthy lifestyle.
- Targeted Fat Reduction: Remove stubborn fat deposits that don’t respond to diet and exercise.
Who May Benefit From Body Contouring?
Am I a candidate for body contouring?
Body contouring may be right for you if:
- You have excess skin laxity.
- You are physically healthy and don’t have a medical condition that impairs healing.
- Your weight is stable.
- You do not smoke.
Dr. Diederich will take a detailed medical history and may order lab tests to ensure that you are in good general health to undergo cosmetic surgery safely.
After Body Contouring Surgery
Body Contouring Recovery
Recovery is patient dependent. Recovery times vary based on the specifics of the procedure.
Post-op instructions will be provided before the procedure. Please keep these close throughout recovery and contact our team any time you have questions or concerns.
You will have some swelling, bruising, and discomfort, which tend to peak in the first few days after surgery. Most patients can return to work and normal activities within 1-2 weeks, although strenuous exercise should be avoided for 4-6 weeks. Dr. Diederich and his team will check your healing at post-operative appointments to ensure a smooth recovery and optimal surgical outcome.
Unveil Your Ideal Silhouette
Body Contouring Results
Patients typically see initial results immediately after surgery, with final results becoming more apparent as swelling subsides.
The results of body contouring are long-lasting, especially when maintaining a healthy lifestyle and stable weight. Patients enjoy a more contoured and refined body shape and often express a big boost in confidence and overall quality of life. Eating a well-balanced diet and incorporating exercise into your routine ensures you enjoy your results for years to come.
Now What?
Schedule Your Consultation to Learn More.
Dr. Ryan Diederich is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in a range of aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery procedures at MidAmerica Plastic Surgery in Glen Carbon, IL. If you’re looking for a plastic surgeon east of St. Louis, you can schedule a consultation online, or call us at (618) 288-7855 to schedule an appointment. A $200 consultation fee will be collected to reserve your appointment.
*This article is intended as a guideline only. This is not intended as medical advice. There are no guarantees written or implied from the information presented here. Only a consultation can provide an appropriate evaluation and discussion regarding any procedure. Refer to your physician for medical decision-making and advice.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ryan Diederich
Dr. Diederich is a Southern Illinois native realizing his dream of giving back to the community. He helps patients feel and look their best with his surgical skills and compassionate care.
Body Contouring
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients return to work within 1-2 weeks, but this could be longer depending on the complexity of the procedure, individual healing rates, and your job's physical demands.
Body contouring surgery will inevitably involve some scarring. However, the incisions are strategically placed in discreet locations to minimize visibility. Over time, these scars typically fade and become less noticeable. Dr. Diederich and his team take great care to ensure the best possible results, with techniques designed to reduce scarring and promote optimal healing.
Yes, many patients combine procedures for comprehensive results, incorporating procedures such as tummy tuck or liposuction to remove excess fat cells into their surgical plan.
Working with a board-certified surgeon like Dr. Diederich and following his aftercare instructions carefully ensures the safest possible outcome. However, all surgical procedures carry some inherent risks. Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the following, shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heartbeats.
Complications from body contouring surgery are rare but can occur. These include but are not limited to:
- Unfavorable scarring
- Bleeding (hematoma)
- Infection
- Fluid accumulation
- Poor wound healing
- Skin loss
- Blood clots
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Anesthesia risks
- Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
- Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
- Major wound separation
- Asymmetry
- Recurrent looseness of skin
- Pain, which may persist
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Persistent swelling in the legs
- Possibility of revisional surgery
