INTRODUCTION:

The art of plastic surgery is indeed a mysterious one, from the basic thought of laymen that actual plastic is inserted into the body to the misconception that skin grafts look better than original skin as portrayed in many Bollywood movies. Plastic surgery is known worldwide for one and one reason only, that is to make the body beautiful or to improve it from its current state.

PROCEDURES:

Procedures to improve the body shape can be grouped under body contouring surgeries.

LIPOSUCTION

One such procedure that has become famous world over is liposuction. This is the process by which minute parcels of fat are gradually sucked out after injecting a solution so as to loosen up the fat and to achieve a relatively bloodless surgery.
Liposuction although seen as a procedure to achieve quick results in fat debulking, should be carefully done as per the patient’s general condition. It has become infamous as well due to various complications arising from poor planning and execution, especially from non-plastic surgeons who try their hand at cosmetic surgical procedures.

BODY LIFT

Apart from liposuction there are body lifting procedures. These are done in cases when there is skin excess, usually seen in long standing obesity or even in patients with massive weight loss following bariatric surgery. Liposuction can address the fat component alone, for excess skin surgical removal is the only way out.

One of the commonest body lifting procedures is called Brachioplasty. In this procedure, the excess skin along the inner arm is removed and closed in a straight line. This is especially indicated in those individuals who have excess hanging loose skin in their arms also known as “bat wings”.

Other body lifting surgeries include, Thighplasty in which excess skin from the inner thigh is removed after liposuction and the wound is closed. Similarly there is the concept of body contouring now known as mommy makeover in which a woman after completing her family can opt to restore her body to its original state. Procedures usually carried out under a Mommy makeover is an Abdominoplasty also known as tummy tuck with a Breast lift. In addition vaginal rejuvenation procedures may also be carried out such as a Labiaplasty and fat grafting along with a chemical peel in order to reduce the darkening in that area.

A Buttock lift can be done in two ways, if the skin elasticity is good enough, fat can be injected under the skin over the buttocks and hips in order to achieve a pear or heart shaped bottom which symbolizes the ideal feminine figure. This procedure of fat grafting is known as Brazilian Butt lift.
Then in cases of massive weight loss where the elasticity is poor, the buttock skin must be physically lifted by removing the skin above it which will require a surgical removal of excess skin.

CRYOLIPOLYSIS

Finally last but not the least there are non-invasive or minimally invasive modalities of body contouring that include coolsculpting which is the brand name of the company that promotes cryolipolysis or “fat freezing”. Other modalities include radio frequency and ultrasound assisted fat reduction, again which have sub optimal results and requires