If you are reading this blog, you are probably trying to lose weight. And our guess is that exercise and diet is not working for you, so you have started considering a weight loss surgery.

But so far your research quest has only confused you further, by introducing so many types and techniques of weight reduction in your head that you can no longer decide. Especially when it comes to the difference between body contouring and weight loss surgery.  

This blog explains the difference between the two procedures while discussing the cause of this confusion.

Body contouring surgery is not a weight reduction technique; it is a type of cosmetic procedure used for helping patients get into their ideal shape after they have achieved a healthy weight.

Unlike weight loss surgery, body contouring procedures can be used by anyone, for improving shape of particular sections of their body, like thighs, arms, or abdomen. Usually, only obese patients above the BMI of 35 who may or may not have certain medical conditions associated with weight are eligible candidates for bariatric surgery.

Richie Gupta, the Senior Consultant & Head of Cosmetic Surgery Department at Fortis Hospital, talked about how confused patient’s come to them to get tummy tucks, when their clear motto is to lose weight. “We are frequently questioned about body contouring procedures like arm lift, tummy tuck etc. by prospective patients, and soon into the discussing after hearing their expectations with the procedure, we realize that weight loss surgery will be more appropriate for them than a cosmetic surgery, as their main objective is to lose weight”.

Body Contouring

Body Contouring involves a wide range of procedures which are used for improving the shape of the body by tightening the loose or excess skin while contouring it for enhancing a patient’s body image. Liposuction, thigh lifts, arm lifts and tummy tucks are some types of body contouring procedures, that is further categorized under cosmetic surgery.

How to choose the right procedure?

Tummy Tuck or Weight Loss Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is used and is designed for giving finishing touches for sculpting a patient’s body after a major life event like excessive weight loss. Women also use these procedures post-pregnancy, to get rid of the accumulating fat in their body.

However, a tummy tuck shouldn’t be considered if the patient is actually trying to get rid of the fat (like visceral fat). Visceral fat aka abdominal fat, or belly fat is found between the abdominal organs that can’t be removed via Tummy Tuck procedure.

Belly fat is amongst the most stubborn fats, and usually, people struggle to get rid of it. Not to alarm you, the accumulation of this fat in the body is directly linked with Type 2 Diabetes, Syndrome X, Insulin Resistance and other obesity-related medical conditions if it is not addressed in time.

Cosmetic surgeons decline such patient requests for undergoing Tummy Tuck when they have excess fat in their body. People need to realize the difference between tummy tuck, and weight loss surgery as they are two very different procedures.

A bariatric weight loss surgery will be required for removing the fat, and once it has been removed, cosmetic surgery might be considered, if the patient wants to get rid of excess skin.

The literal purpose of Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) is to remove the excess skin. There are several procedures which can be considered for getting the desired results like Circular Tummy Tuck, Panniculectomy, Extended Tummy Tuck, Circular Panniculectomy, Bra Roll Excision, Liposculpture, Thigh Lift, Back Lift, Extended Inner Thigh Lift, and many more.

Trust your surgeon as he knows which procedure will be best for you, but if you want, you can also receive a second opinion. Tummy Tuck is a familiar term, so people often ask their doctors to undergo it, as they are unaware of other body contouring procedures, that can help achieve their desired results.

But, Liposuction involves the removal of fat, so should I consider it?

Well, the answer is no! Liposuction is used for removing fat cells, and the procedure is also mistaken as a way to get rid of extra weight without exercise and diet. When in reality, liposuction usually results in  2 – 3 pounds weight reduction. A non-surgical alternative of liposuction, CoolSculpting also cannot be used as a substitute for weight loss surgery because of the same logic.

Additionally, mere removal of fat cells won’t have any impact on a patient’s future weight fluctuations. If patients stay inactive post-liposuction, the remaining fat cells in their body can grow and promote weight gain. Liposuction is suitable for treating small fat pockets.

Key Differences

Bariatric surgery activates instant weight loss; body contouring treatments do not. Weight loss procedures, such as bypass surgery or sleeve surgery and lap band, restrict the calorie intake of the patient by physically shrinking their stomach size. This significantly helps overweight individuals lose extra pounds safely if they have a hard time managing it. In contrast, body contouring procedure has no effect on the patient’s appetite, metabolism or digestion, and will not result in excessive weight loss beyond the weight of tissues and fat cells that are being removed during the surgery.

Weight loss surgery is a type of medical specialty; body contouring surgery is primarily a cosmetic procedure. Weight loss surgery is intended to improve overweight patients overall health by managing medical conditions like Diabetes, BP etc.; its goal is to limit the appetite, that automatically causes weight loss. The primary objective of body contouring surgery is to improve a patient’s appearance, without any focus on correcting or improving their physical health.

Weight loss surgery does not involve removal of excess skin or improvement of body proportions, while body contouring focuses on it primarily. Post-bariatric surgery, several patients end up with loose, excess skin hanging on their body because of rapid weight loss. Therefore, they are often used in combination, and patients undergo body contouring after bariatric surgery to remove the excess skin post weight loss.

Verdict

The Gastric Sleeve surgery help in eliminating the need to get on a regular diet as it limits the patient food intake by reducing the size of their stomach while undergoing Body contouring will not replace dieting.

Body contouring surgery can be used post-weight loss surgery which can help patients in achieving their desired body shape. 

More people today, realize that weight loss surgery can offer a permanent solution to their weight issues and they wouldn’t have to deal with roller coaster dieting and persistent cravings & hunger for food.

It will promote weight loss, by reducing food intake, keeping the patient’s weight on a healthy scale as they continue to age. Gastric sleeve surgery is the best solution for losing extra pounds. And body contouring is suitable to get in the shape that they desire post weight loss surgery.