Body sculpting is a surgical art form where a trained surgeon reduces a patient’s troublesome fat, unwanted excess skin, and accentuates other curves to give them a streamlined and more desirable physique. Tools and techniques for body sculpting have exponentially improved over the years. Now, expert surgeons can achieve better results through simpler procedures. These simpler procedures allow for a more straightforward recovery process and optimal results. Patients can return to their daily lives in less time. Also, body sculpting procedures can be combined in one comprehensive procedure to tackle many trouble areas. So, you only have to undergo one preparation and recovery phase. With body sculpting, patients get to look how they want in just a matter of weeks. To learn more about how we can achieve your desired physical results, schedule a personal consultation at our Denver offices. To reach us directly, please call our front desk at (303) 708-8770.
Before & After Photos
Before and After Photos
The History of Body Sculpting
People of all generations have been troubled by hard-to-lose fat and excess skin. Like nowadays, diet and exercise didn’t always provide worthwhile results back then either. This desire for a slimmer physique led 20th-century surgeons to discover novel approaches for sculpting away unwanted tissue. In 1921 France, surgeon Charles Durjarrier attempted to use a uterine curette to remove subcutaneous fat from a dancer’s calves and knees[1] –– a surgery that inspired surgeons worldwide to create better, safer body sculpting approaches. Through later advancements, father and son Parisian surgeons Arpad and Giorgio Fischer developed the modern technique of liposuction.[2] They used a thin aspirating tube called a cannula to suction out subcutaneous fat cells and minimize the appearance of fatty areas. However, this approach often led to lengthy procedures, potential major blood loss, and drawn-out recovery times. To eliminate these pitfalls, a Californian dermatologist in 1987 named Jeffery Klein created a tumescent fluid that contained lidocaine, saline solution, and epinephrine. When applied to fatty tissue, this fluid caused the fat lobules to swell in size, blood vessels to constrict, and pain receptors to numb. This addition to liposuction helped minimize blood loss and pain as well as maximize the number of fat cells removed. Recently, the addition of laser, radiofrequency, and ultrasound technology has led to even better fat removal, so patients can see even better results.
Sculpt Away Troublesome Fat
Diet and exercise are often looked at as the go-to choices for losing unwanted fat. Pair a healthy diet with a consistent workout plan, and you are on your way to an improved appearance! But this approach only goes so far. Diet and exercise are perfect for losing a specific type of fat: visceral fat.[3] This type of fat exists deeper in the body and is burned to supply the body’s systems with energy. The other type of fat, subcutaneous fat, serves a vital purpose to the body by helping regulate heat loss. Because it serves an important purpose, subcutaneous fat is often resistant to changes in diet and activity levels. This is the type of fat we expertly treat with liposuction.
Traditional Liposuction
Also known as suction-assisted liposuction, traditional liposuction utilizes an aspirating cannula that removes fat cells from their connective tissue. Traditional liposuction can be used on any part of the body and is perfectly complementary to other body sculpting procedures and techniques. Patients turn to traditional liposuction to take unwanted fat away from their chin, arms, calves, abdomen, and hips.
VASER Liposuction
VASER liposuction utilizes high-frequency ultrasound vibrations to dislodge fat cells from their connective tissues. When the fat cells are dislodged, they are easier to extract during the procedure. This is a “lipo-selective” technology which means that upper, superficial, and deep layers of fat can be treated. During a VASER treatment, we use a probe that emits ultrasound waves. This approach extracts more fat and is less invasive than other liposculpture procedures.[4] So, you won’t have to worry about extensive recovery times. VASER is popular in the body sculpting industry because of its ability to produce “overnight abs”. We use VASER to aspirate the fat cells from in between the abdominal muscles, exposing the patient’s natural six-pack abs.
SmartLipo
SmartLipo uses safe, effective thermal energy to melt away fat cells, making fat extraction easier and more efficient. The thermal energy from the SmartLipo laser also heats the dermis. This awakens the skin’s collagen production and tightens the treated skin. A SmartLipo procedure involves only a local anesthetic, so you won’t have to worry about recovering from general anesthesia. If you would like to see how one of these liposuction approaches can help you lose fat for long-lasting results, please schedule a personal consultation at our Denver offices today!
Correct Loose Skin
With age, weight gain, and pregnancy, loose skin can exist around our midsection. Our skin is a complex organ. In our youth, our skin produces an abundant supply of collagen to keep up with our growing skin. As we get older, this supply of collagen wanes. Our skin no longer has the support to keep our appearance wrinkle-free. If our skin stretches from gaining weight and stays stretched for too long, there is an increased likelihood that it won’t bounce back once the weight is lost. So, after a pregnancy or a weight loss journey, many patients are surprised at how much loose abdominal skin they have. To treat this excess skin around the abdomen, we use a tummy tuck.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure where loose, excess skin around the abdomen is excised and separated muscles are repaired. This procedure begins with a hip-to-hip incision. Abdominal muscles can separate during pregnancy. In a tummy tuck, a surgeon brings the muscles back into their organic position with sutures. Next, the surgeon pulls the abdominal skin taut and excises all of the overlapping tissue. Finally, they suture the incision closed before wrapping the abdomen in a compression garment. Since this procedure is a more involved and invasive approach, we do utilize general anesthesia.
Build New Contours
After liposuction, we can use the fat to build out other curves in your body. This procedure is called a fat transfer and has been gaining worldwide popularity over the last few years. The most popular fat transfer procedure is, without a doubt, the Brazilian butt lift.
Brazilian Butt Lift
A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has been made popular by Instagram influencers and social media stars. A BBL is a simple procedure where a trained surgeon takes liposuctioned fat from the patient and relocates it to their buttocks. After injecting the fat subcutaneously, the surgeon then molds the fat to accentuate the butt’s contour and shape. This procedure sculpts the butt’s contours while also minimizing less desirable curves.
Personal Consultation
The first step on this journey is to schedule a personal consultation at our Denver offices. Here, we will perform a brief new patient intake interview and a physical examination. Then, Dr. Zuhlke will examine your trouble spots and note your skin’s laxity. He will listen to your concerns and your desired results. Dr. Zuhlke and his team will construct a personalized treatment plan to address each one of our cosmetic concerns. They will determine which body sculpting approach is right for you. At the end of your consultation, we will give you a list of preparatory steps to follow before your procedure.
How Do You Prepare For Body Sculpting?
To prepare for your body sculpting procedure, we recommend that you follow this list of steps. Please note that these are general guidelines and we will give you more specific instructions if your procedure calls for them.
- Discontinue using nicotine products. This includes cigarettes and vapor products. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and interferes with the body’s natural healing abilities.
- Stop taking any medications that thin your blood as these can cause excessive bleeding during your surgery. We will prescribe appropriate pain medication for your recovery.
- Designate a caregiver to drive you home after surgery and to look after you first the night.
- Plan to take a couple of days or weeks off work depending on your procedure.
Best Recovery Steps
During your recovery, be sure to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for the first few weeks. We will usually wrap the treated area in a compression garment. Be sure to wear this at all times for the first few days after your surgery. At your follow-up appointments, we will note where you are in your recovery and determine what next steps that need to be taken.
How Much Does Body Sculpting Cost in Denver?
The cost of your body sculpting procedure will depend on your individual surgical requirements. We will discuss and determine the cost of your care during your consultation. To learn about pricing, please visit our pricing page. For those interested in financing their procedure, visit our financing page. If you would like to reach our front desk, call us at (303) 708-8770.
References
- Marija, B., & Irena, J. (2016). The History of Body Contouring Surgery. In (Ed.), Body Contouring and Sculpting. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/66282
- Bellini, E., Grieco, M. P., & Raposio, E. (2017). A journey through liposuction and liposculture: Review. Annals of medicine and surgery (2012), 24, 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.10.024
- Mittal B. (2019). Subcutaneous adipose tissue & visceral adipose tissue. The Indian journal of medical research, 149(5), 571–573. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1910_18
- Hoyos, A., & Millard, J. (2007). VASER-assisted high-definition liposculpture. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 27(6), 594–604. DOI: 10.1016/j.asj.2007.08.007