Christopher Chung, M.D.
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Chief Medical Officer
Sono Bello 

Body contouring, or body sculpting, is a surgical concept that includes procedures that enhance the draping of skin and tissue after weight loss. 

For many patients considering excess skin removal or fat removal to even out and tone problem areas of the body, a reliable body contouring procedure can be a good way to help patients achieve that ideal look and feel their best. 

What are the most common body contouring procedures? 

These most common body contouring procedures include panniculectomy (removal of excess abdominal skin), abdominoplasty (tightening of abdominal muscles, removal of skin and fat), liposuction, and body lifts.

These surgical procedures are each designed to alter and improve the shape and appearance of the body, and they can be performed alone or in combination with other procedures to enhance the effect. 

Is liposuction the same thing as body contouring? 

Although these two types of procedures often go hand-in-hand, liposuction is really just one type of body contouring procedure focused specifically on removing fat from targeted areas of the body. 

Liposuction is the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the United States. The number of cases increases every year. Ideally, a candidate has a stable weight and a fat distribution that is resistant to exercise and diet. Liposuction can be performed with either general or local anesthetic techniques (although only local anesthetic is used in Sono Bello procedures). 

The following liposuction techniques exist to help remove excess or stubborn fat pockets from different areas of the patient’s body: 

• – Laser liposuction 
• – Power-assisted liposuction 
• – Tumescent liposuction 
• – Ultrasonic-assisted liposuction 

Does body contouring involve surgery? 

When massive weight loss results in an abundance of loose skin, a lift procedure of a combination of anatomic areas may be performed. Often, this excess skin is removed via a surgical procedure. 

Examples of body contouring procedures include: 

• – Abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck alternatives) 
• – Breast rejuvenation (including breast lift, reduction or augmentation) to restore breast contour and shape 
• – Brachioplasty (arm lift) 
• – Buttock lift 
• – Circumferential body lift (belt procedure) 
• – Inner thigh lift 
• – Panniculectomy 

Is body contouring effective? 

Body contouring procedures from Sono Bello are highly effective at helping to tone and trim areas of the body with excess skin, often left over after significant weight loss or after liposuction. 

By removing this excess skin with precision, Sono Bello surgeons are able to remove sagging or hanging skin on the abdomen or other body areas to help patients achieve their desired look. 

The results of body contouring procedures from Sono Bello can be seen in over 24,500 five-star reviews online satisfied Sono Bello patients who have achieved their ideal body shape. 

What are the benefits of body contouring? 

Body contouring procedures can help patients achieve their ideal look and body shape through precise, surgical removal of fat and excess skin. 

Liposuction, for instance, allows patients to target and remove stubborn pockets of fat that do not respond readily to exercise or diet alone. These can be incredibly frustrating challenges for patients, and the option to remove those fat cells from the body entirely provides an effective solution to help them achieve their targeted look. 

Other body contouring procedures (like excess skin removal) can also play an important role in helping patients who have recently lost a significant amount of weight (whether naturally or through liposuction) tone and trim key areas on their bodies. Excess abdominal skin can feel like a burden for someone who has recently lost weight, and procedures like AbEX can help them reach their ideal appearance. 

But maybe the most sought-after benefit of body contouring is the ability to smooth out a patient’s final appearance. For some liposuction patients, areas treated by the surgeon may appear uneven or “bumpy” compared to treated areas. Sono Bello surgeons specialize in body contouring techniques that help to smooth and even out the surrounding areas to ensure a consistent appearance. 

Who is a good candidate for body contouring? 

Generally, a good candidate for a body contouring procedure will look a lot like a good candidate for any liposuction procedure: 

Some of the factors that help best determine whether a patient is a good fit for a body contouring procedure include

1. Patients looking to remove abdominal fat or who require excess skin removal.

2. Anyone who has recently experienced significant weight loss and who requires excess skin removal on the abdomen or other body areas.

3. Patients experiencing post-pregnancy changes that result in pockets of stubborn fat and excess skin (Moms).

4. Patients with BMI between 18 and 42.

5. Healthy individuals who can accurately prepare for surgery and recovery time per a surgeon’s instructions.

Regardless of which applies to an individual patient, the best way to know if a person is a good fit for body contouring is to consult with a Sono Bello surgeon and discuss custom-tailored options. 

What does recovery from body contouring a procedure look like? 

Recovery from a body contouring procedure generally depends on the specific procedure undertaken, as well as each patient’s unique healing process. 

For the most part, Sono Bello patients can return to normal activities 5-10 days after the procedure, and many return to working out in 3-4 weeks. 

Due to Sono Bello’s minimally invasive techniques for body contouring, most patients recover from the body contouring procedures with few to no issues. However, several important steps should be taken by each patient after surgery to ensure maximum success and the best possible results.

1. Rest. Sono Bello recommends that patients rest for around 72 hours after the procedure.

2. Get moving as soon as it is safe to do so. Many patients are encouraged to return to normal activities as soon as they can to help the healing process progress naturally.

3. Use compression devices. Sono Bello patients receive two types of compression devices, which they wear for a total of about 3-6 weeks post-op to encourage healing and proper contour development.

What are the risks of body contouring? 

Sono Bello’s body contouring procedures have been carefully designed to minimize risks to patients while providing the best possible results. With that said, it is important to remember that no surgical procedure is without risks. 

Possible side effects from body contouring procedures may include infection, bleeding, blood clots, scarring, wound healing issues, and contour irregularities. Fortunately, these risks tend to be low provided patients are healthy, well-prepared for the procedure, and follow suggested recovery recommendations. 

Looking for a more toned and even look? Consider body contouring with Sono Bello 

Sono Bello’s body contouring procedures are designed to provide the best possible results for each patient, especially for those struggling with stubborn fat pockets or excess, hanging skin across their body. 

There’s a reason why thousands of patients have found success with Sono Bello’s body contouring procedures—and for any patient seriously considering one, it’s worthwhile to contact a Sono Bello patient care consultant to start the conversation.