How to Prepare for Body Contouring

Summer is coming and you want your body to have smooth contours — not bulges that show protruding, excess fat. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jack Hensel Jr. with Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, provides an array of non-surgical and surgical body contouring procedures that smooth away unwanted pockets of stubborn fat. Surgical body contouring such as a tummy tuck or brachioplasty (for upper arms) also removes loose skin that’s sagging from a previous pregnancy or significant weight loss. 

Body contouring isn’t a weight-loss procedure. You should be at or near a normal weight for your height and body type. Body contouring smooths out bulges in trouble spots like “love handles” at the sides of your waist or your abdomen. Looking forward to a body contouring treatment is a good motivation to lose those last extra pounds. 

Preparing for nonsurgical body contouring

What do you need to do to prepare for your nonsurgical body contouring session? Following are tips for preparing for your body contouring treatment so you avoid unexpected surprises.

Avoid certain medications and supplements

We ask you to complete a detailed medical history form. Be sure to list all prescription and non-prescription medications and supplements you take on a regular basis.

To reduce bruising after your body contouring procedure, you shouldn’t be taking blood thinners or pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for about a week before your treatment. 

Be sure to include all supplements on your medical history form. Did you know that supplements and herbs such as ginger, turmeric, Vitamin E, fish oil, and St. Johns Wort can thin your blood and interfere with clotting? 

Avoid tanning and getting a sunburn

Avoid direct sun exposure in the week before your procedure. Tanning or, of course, a sunburn makes your skin more sensitive and heightens feelings of discomfort. 

Avoid the procedure if you have a rash, cut, or existing bruise

Postpone the procedure if you have a rash or cut on your skin or an existing bruise. Your skin needs to be completely healthy so that the procedure goes smoothly for you. 

Stop smoking

Smoking retards healing and harms your health. It’s that simple. If you smoke, don’t smoke for two weeks prior to the procedure, and try a cessation program so you can stop for good. 

Preparing for surgical body contouring

If you’re having surgical body contouring such as a tummy tuck or body lift, follow all of the instructions for non-surgical body contouring. In addition, to be cleared for the surgery, you’ll need to have blood drawn at a lab and follow all pre-surgical requirements such as getting an EKG and/or chest X-ray.

To learn more about what body contouring can do for you, call Lowcountry Plastic Surgery Center or book an appointment online today. You’ll love your new curves.