It seems most women dream of having an hourglass figure. However, this body shape doesn’t come naturally for most. In fact, a study by the University of Texas found that only 8% of women have a true hourglass shape.
Whether you want the textbook 36-24-36 hourglass figure or another body shape, most women don’t naturally have the balanced proportions needed to achieve the figure they want.
Some women are born with larger hips but smaller breasts. Others have larger breasts and smaller hips. Many are built more straight up and down with a flatter chest and narrow hips. The list of body shapes goes on and on.
Today, we are going to talk about the best way to create a balanced body aesthetic, which typically involves a breast procedure. We will also touch on some popular body contouring procedures that complement breast procedures, which are often needed to achieve a balanced body contour.
What is Body Contouring Surgery?
No matter your current body shape, you can probably relate to wearing push-up bras, shapewear, and other undergarments in an attempt to balance things out or smooth and sculpt your figure.
The problem is that body contouring shapewear is often uncomfortable and only works underneath some clothing styles.
Not to mention, we obviously want to look our best undressed as well. That’s exactly why many women turn to body contouring surgeries for a more permanent and natural-looking solution.
Body contouring is any procedure, surgical or non-surgical, that improves the shape and tone of your body. This is typically achieved through plastic surgery procedures such as a breast procedure, liposuction, a tummy tuck, or various body lift procedures where excess fat and skin are removed or suctioned.
Body contouring can also mean “adding” more curves, which is done through surgeries such as breast implants, fat transfer, butt implants, or a Brazilian butt lift. There are also non-surgical body contouring techniques available for those who prefer less noticeable results or aren’t ready for surgery.
Breast Procedures Available for Body Contouring
The most popular and effective way to enhance the contour of your body is with a breast procedure. Whether you’re looking to amplify your curves, address asymmetry, restore lost volume, or downsize so the upper half of your body is more proportionate to your lower half, there is a breast procedure that can help contour and balance the shape of your body.
Here’s a look at some breast procedures that help you achieve the body contour you desire:
Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants
Most adult women have average to larger hips but are genetically predisposed to having smaller breasts. Or their breast shape has changed due to weight loss or pregnancy, all of which can create a disproportionate body contour.
Breast augmentation, also referred to as mammoplasty, using breast implants, is the most popular plastic surgery for enhancing body contours and creating a more balanced frame. There are a lot of reasons why a woman might consider breast augmentation, including:
- Increasing breast size for those who feel their breasts are too small.
- Restoring breast volume lost after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Correcting breast asymmetry to achieve a more balanced appearance.
- As part of reconstructing the breast following mastectomy or injury.
If you want to have breast augmentation surgery using implants, you have several implant types to choose from, each with their own pros and cons:
- Silicone implants: These are implants that are pre-filled with silicone and come in various shapes and sizes. They are known for their natural look and feel.
- Saline implants: This type of implant is filled with sterile salt water. Saline implants can look very natural but have less of a natural feel. However, they have other perks, such as being adjustable during surgery. Also, it would be instantly detectable in the rare case of rupture.
- Gummy bear implants: Also known as form-stable breast implants, this type of highly cohesive silicone implant is known for its teardrop shape and is favored by many looking for the most authentic appearance.
No matter the type of implant you choose, breast implants can help make your breasts fuller and improve their shape– especially beneficial if you are bottom heavy. A plastic surgeon experienced in breast augmentation surgery can help you determine the best shape and size of implants to help create a more proportionate body.
Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer
Breast augmentation with fat transfer is a natural alternative for increasing breast size for those who are eligible. Fat transfer is particularly appealing for those who want a subtle augmentation or prefer to avoid implants.
Fat transfer can also be a great “two-in-one” for body contouring due to its ability to address multiple areas of the body simultaneously. By removing excess fat from donor sites and using that fat for breast enhancement, fat transfer not only enhances breast size but also contours other areas of the body all in one surgery.
If you’re considering breast augmentation with fat transfer, you will need to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon who specializes in this technique. Not everyone is an ideal candidate. You must have enough stubborn fat elsewhere in your body. For example, most women with very large hips and small breasts are usually good candidates for fat transfer breast enlargement.
Breast Reduction
Excessively large breasts can not only cause physical discomfort and make it really hard to exercise, they can also cause the body to look unbalanced.
Breast reduction surgery is a great way to downsize breasts that are too large. Breast reduction is a very popular body contouring procedure, especially for women with a pear-shaped body where the hips are wider than the shoulders.
With a breast reduction, you can not only balance out your body proportions but you can also improve your overall quality of life!
Breast Lift
Sagging or droopy breasts can significantly impact body contour. A breast lift addresses these concerns by lifting and reshaping the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall.
Whether due to aging, pregnancy, or weight fluctuations, a breast lift can help achieve a more balanced silhouette. Although it can be performed as a solo procedure, it’s typically combined with breast augmentation or breast reduction.
Breast Reconstruction
Losing breasts following mastectomy or breast trauma can throw off body proportions. Whether through implant-based reconstruction or reconstruction with fat transfer, breast reconstruction surgery is a popular way to restore body contours and achieve a balanced figure.
If you are considering breast reconstruction, it is crucial that you have the procedure performed by a reconstructive plastic surgeon who specializes in this type of breast surgery, as it is a much more complex surgery compared to other breast surgeries.
Other Body Contouring Procedures to Enhance Your Body Contour
While a breast procedure is often all a woman needs to completely reshape her figure, there are times when other areas of the body need a little “nip and tuck” to achieve desired body contouring results.
Which surgery or surgeries you need will depend on a lot of things. Here is a look at the most common body contouring surgeries your plastic surgeon might recommend:
Liposuction
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, is a very popular body contouring procedure designed to sculpt and reshape the body by removing stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.
One of the key benefits of liposuction is its ability to create a more proportionate figure by eliminating excess fat from areas that may be out of balance with the rest of the body.
Popular areas for liposuction to improve body contour include:
- Love handles
- Stomach
- Lower Back
- Hips
- Buttocks
- Waistline
- Upper arms
- Sides of the thighs (saddlebags)
During the procedure, excess fat is suctioned out using a thin tube called a cannula, which is inserted through small incisions in the skin. Liposuction can be performed on various areas of the body. In fact, it’s common for multiple areas to be treated in a single surgery.
LipoSelection®
You’ve likely heard of liposuction, but what about LipoSelection®? While the goal of both procedures is to eliminate unwanted fat and sculpt the body, LipoSelection® is a modern technique that offers a few distinct advantages that set it apart from traditional liposuction.
Unlike traditional liposuction, which relies on manual suction to remove fat cells, LipoSelection® uses ultrasonic waves to precisely target and break up fat deposits while leaving surrounding tissues unharmed. This results in less trauma to the body, faster recovery times, and smoother, tighter results.
Additionally, LipoSelection® provides a more refined approach to body contouring, allowing for more precise sculpting in areas such as the waist, thighs, butt, arms, neck, or chest. It is also less invasive, so it can typically be performed in a clinical setting with less discomfort and downtime.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck, sometimes called abdominoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that specifically targets excess skin and fat in the stomach area while also tightening the underlying muscles, resulting in a firmer and flatter stomach.
A tummy tuck is a more invasive body contouring procedure compared to something like liposuction or LipoSelection®. The surgery typically lasts one to five hours and requires a larger incision and more recovery time.
During a tummy tuck, the incision is made horizontally across the lower abdomen… just above the pubic bone. The skin is then separated from the underlying muscle tissue, allowing the surgeon to remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal muscles.
There are several reasons why someone might consider a tummy tuck for body contouring over liposuction. Two of the most common are following significant weight loss and after pregnancy.
If you’re considering a tummy tuck, it’s essential to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals, expectations, and candidacy for the procedure.
Body Lift
Clinically known as a belt lipectomy, a body lift is an invasive surgical procedure that targets multiple areas of the body that are sagging with loose skin and/or have lingering fat deposits. The procedure reshapes the entire body for a firmer, smoother, and more toned appearance.
Typically, people who need a body lift are those who have lost a substantial amount of weight and are left with stretched-out skin or women who have severely stretched skin caused by multiple pregnancies.
Body lift surgeries can be extensive, lasting anywhere from 3 to 7 hours. The exact details of a body lift procedure will vary depending on each patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals.
But typically, incisions are made following the upper and/or inner thigh to the waistline. In cases where more significant contouring is required, the incision may extend completely around the waist and lower back.
If you don’t need a full body lift, you can also have lifts for specific areas of the body, such as the arms, butt, and thighs.
Combining a Breast Procedure and Body Contouring
A breast procedure is often all a woman needs to achieve the body shape that she wants. However, for many women, achieving their ideal body proportions requires more than one procedure.
The most well-known method for combining body contouring procedures is the mommy makeover, which got its name from moms looking to restore their pre-pregnancy bodies without needing multiple surgeries.
Despite its name, anyone who wants full body contouring can benefit from a mommy makeover, even if they have never had children. The surgery typically combines procedures such as a tummy tuck, breast lift, and liposuction– but can be tailored to individual aesthetic goals.
In addition to the mommy makeover, there’s also the option of a daddy makeover for men. This combo of procedures typically includes treatments such as liposuction, male breast reduction (gynecomastia surgery), and facial rejuvenation to contour the body to be more masculine and youthful.
There are many ways to combine body contouring methods available to reach your desired body goals. A few other examples of popular body contouring combos include:
- Tummy tuck with breast implants.
- Liposuction with a tummy tuck.
- Breast augmentation with a breast lift.
- Breast implants and LipoSelection.
- An arm lift and a thigh lift.
- Fat transfer (to the breasts) with liposuction or LipoSelection.
- A body lift and breast augmentation.
- A Brazilian butt lift or butt implants with liposuction.
Additionally, many women might have surgical breast enhancement but choose a nonsurgical body contour procedure, such as CoolSculpting or BodyTite. If you want to contour your body, you have many combinations to choose from.
Combining body contour surgeries allows you to enhance your breasts while simultaneously addressing excess fat and skin elsewhere on the body. This not only can create the most balanced and proportionate figure possible, but it also does it all in one surgery, resulting in lower surgery costs and a faster recovery time.
Body Contouring and Breast Procedures in Middle Tennessee
If you want to have surgical body contouring to get the figure you want, you should only have your procedures performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. With many procedures, it should also be a plastic surgeon specializing in reconstructive surgery.
At The Surgical Clinic in Middle Tennessee, we have three board-certified and highly skilled plastic surgeons, Dr. Robert Garza, Dr. Dwayne Lett, and Dr. Maelee Yang, who specialize in both reconstructive surgeries as well as aesthetic/cosmetic procedures.
Give us a call to book a complimentary consultation for a breast procedure or other body contouring surgeries to enhance your body shape!