Summer bodies are made in the winter, so if you’re already dreaming of warm, sunny days on the beach, you might want to plan your body contouring procedure now to be ready for swimsuit season in the coming months. To help you figure out the best time for your plastic surgery, here are a few body contouring timeline tips.
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Do Your Research
Before diving into the details, take some time to do a little research on your own. Get an idea of which procedure or combination of procedures you might want and then read up on the general guidelines for downtime, recovery and other tips specific to that particular treatment.
Note that body contouring procedures like liposuction and tummy tucks produce the best results once you’ve already come as close as possible to reaching your ideal weight.
Next, it’s time to pick a plastic surgeon. You can start by narrowing your search down to those plastic surgeons who focus on and have experience with body contouring procedures. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re working with a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
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Schedule Your Consultation by March
Once you’ve chosen a plastic surgeon, schedule an in-person consultation no later than March to discuss your specific goals for your body contouring treatment. A few key questions to ask during your consultation are:
- Am I a good candidate for body contouring?
- Which body contouring treatment might be right for me?
- Would I benefit from combining liposuction with my tummy tuck?
- Do you have before and after photos I can see?
- How many tummy tucks have you performed in the past?
- Which surgical techniques would you recommend for my procedure?
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Book Your Procedure
The type and number of body contouring procedures that you’d like can determine how far in advance you might need to book your surgery. A mommy makeover, for example, is typically more involved than a tummy tuck on its own because it combines several procedures into one.
Generally speaking, try to book your plastic surgery 3 to 4 weeks in advance to ensure you have enough time to prepare and recover afterwards so you can enjoy your body contouring results come swimsuit season.
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Have a Pre-Op Appointment
Your pre-op appointment is an excellent opportunity to ask as many questions as you might have about what you should be doing before and after your plastic surgery.
After you’ve scheduled your plastic surgery, you should have a pre-op appointment a week or two beforehand. During this time, your plastic surgeon should go over his or her guidelines to help you prep for your procedure, as well as what you can expect in the first few hours and days after your body contouring surgery.
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Rest and Recover
The type of body contouring surgery you choose will influence how long you might need to rest and recover. Most people take about two weeks off work for a tummy tuck, for example, but may need up to three weeks off for a mommy makeover.
During this time, you’ll need to limit physical activity and will need some extra help around the house with things like child care, grocery shopping, laundry and carpooling.
By about the six-week mark, you should be able to return to your normal activities, include exercising and swimming. Work with your plastic surgeon to make sure your incisions have healed properly, though, before taking up strenuous workouts and fun the sun.
Dr. Scot Martin concentrates on breast enhancement and body contouring at his practice in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A nationally recognized plastic surgeon, Dr. Martin is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
He looks forward to meeting you and helping you become the best version of yourself possible.
