Body Contouring

For those of you who have experienced major weight loss, whether naturally or through weight loss surgery, and are distressed about your excess sagging skin and/or fatty tissue, do not despair because there are body contouring surgical procedures that can help correct these conditions. Follow these tips to help you decide when to have plastic surgery after major weight loss.

Be at and Maintaining Your Goal Weight

A person seeking plastic surgery after major weight loss needs to be close to or at their goal weight for at least 6 months to 1 year before their surgery. This helps to ensure that the individual is done losing weight and the body has adjusted to the changes.

Be Mentally and Physically Ready

A big part of working with you on these surgeries is managing your expectations. Dr. Chang customizes the procedures based on your goals, anatomical needs, and overall general health. If you have had major weight loss, you may require adequate nutritional support pre-surgery because your body could be low in wound-healing nutrients like protein.

Customizing Your Post-Weight Loss Surgery

Depending on your needs, your post-weight loss surgery can be performed in one operation or in stages if more extensive treatment is needed. Dr. Chang will examine your concerns and design a treatment plan to help you achieve your goals. Having a plan and making preparations beforehand can better prepare you for your plastic surgery after major weight loss.

Each person will have different needs, but some of the most common procedures included in post-weight loss surgery include:

• Abdominoplasty
• Breast lift
• Lower-body lift
• Upper arm lift
• Thigh lift
• Facelift
• Neck lift

After the surgery and with proper diet and exercise, results from body contouring and cosmetic surgery procedures after massive weight loss can result in a huge boost to your confidence.

If you’re ready find out more about plastic surgery after major weight loss, contact us online or call us at 410-701-3465 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Chang.

CoolSculpting is an alternative to liposuction. This nonsurgical body contouring procedure helps patients eliminate pockets of fat from various areas around the body.

“There are many options when it comes to surgical body contouring procedures, but I wanted to offer a less-invasive solution for patients who don’t want plastic surgery,” Dr. Chang says.

CoolSculpting uses a controlled cooling process to freeze fat cells without damaging the surrounding skin or tissue.

“During treatment, my patients can sit back and relax, since there is typically no pain involved,” Dr. Chang says. “Following treatment, the skin might appear red or bruised, but this will disappear within a couple of weeks.”

CoolSculpting is often used as a complementary treatment for procedures such as breast augmentation or a tummy tuck. Combining procedures is a popular way to achieve more dramatic results.

“CoolSculpting can be performed at the same time as another treatment, or shortly after,” Dr. Chang says. “Patients often use the combination of procedures to restore their appearance after pregnancy or a major weight loss.”

CoolSculpting differs from liposuction in that it doesn’t require incisions or anesthesia.

“Although liposuction is an excellent way to lose more substantial pockets of fat, many patients are able to achieve the results they want with CoolSculpting,” Dr. Chang says. “The best way to determine which procedure is right for you is to make an appointment for a consultation and discuss your goals with a qualified plastic surgeon.”

As a board-certified plastic surgeon in Baltimore, Dr. Chang uses his advanced training to create results that complement each patient’s body and lifestyle.

“It is always my goal to create natural looking results for every patient, and to highlight a person’s body contours,” Dr. Chang says.

Dr. Eric Chang, a plastic surgeon in Columbia, Maryland, has seen an increasing number of women at his practice interested in what’s popularly known as a “Mommy Makeover” procedure. Mommy Makeovers are tailored to the individual needs of each patient, but usually combine tummy tuck with a breast enhancement surgery like breast lift, breast enlargement, or breast reduction to recontour women’s bodies that have begun to stretch and sag after pregnancy.

“Pregnancy is a unique experience for every mom,” explains Dr. Chang. “And every woman needs a slightly different approach for cosmetic improvement after pregnancy. Naturally, pregnancy affects the abdominal area the most, so Mommy Makeover patients generally need abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck, at my cosmetic surgery practice to flatten out the stomach and create a more pleasing silhouette.”

Moms also come to Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to ask Dr. Chang about how they can improve the appearance of their breasts. After pregnancy, a woman’s breasts can begin to sag or lose volume, creating an unflattering appearance that leaves many moms longing for their old look. Lost volume can be restored with breast augmentation, while breast lift may be needed to reposition the breasts for a more youthful look. Many moms choose to combine augmentation and lift for a complete rejuvenation of their breast appearance.

“Returning to a more youthful breast contour is important to many moms,” adds Dr. Chang. “It helps them feel more attractive and in many cases improves their outlook and self-confidence. As I tell my Mommy Makeover patients, there is nothing wrong with wanting to feel attractive, and to regain the body that you had before your baby. Taking care of your family is key, and taking care of yourself is very important as well.”

During the consultation at Dr. Chang’s Columbia, Maryland plastic surgery office, he performs a complete examination and puts together a recommended set of procedures to help each woman achieve her desired outcome. While most Mommy Makeover patients in Maryland choose tummy tuck and breast enhancement, he offers a complete menu of cosmetic surgery and non-surgical services to help women look their best.

Patient safety and comfort are crucial components of any Mommy Makeover procedure at Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. “Maryland moms who choose plastic surgery need to know the risks involved and also need to know that I follow specific protocols to maximize safety during procedures and recovery,” says Dr. Chang. “Safety is the priority with every cosmetic surgery procedure I perform in Columbia, Maryland. By combining such procedures as tummy tuck and breast augmentation, my Mommy Makeover patients are able to target several areas of cosmetic improvement with a single recovery period, allowing them to get back to raising their families and start enjoying their enhanced figure.”

Patients who undergo the procedure known as a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty are overwhelmingly satisfied with their results, says Dr. Eric Chang of Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He sees numerous patients for this procedure and says it can help improve people’s self-image as well as their body contours.

“I’ve had multiple follow-ups with patients who are ecstatic about how much better they look and feel after a tummy tuck,” Dr. Chang says. “Both male and female patients have told me that their new looks boost their confidence and even help them feel healthier.

“This seems to be a trend among patients across the country, judging by the overwhelmingly favorable reviews of abdominoplasty that I’ve been seeing on the RealSelf.com website.”

Dr. Chang describes abdominoplasty as the surgical removal of excess fat and skin from the midsection of the body, along with the tightening of abdominal muscles, which sometimes become stretched as a result of pregnancy or a large weight change.

“The results people see after a tummy tuck can be dramatic, especially for patients who are diligent with their diet and exercise regimens,” Dr. Chang says. “Abdominoplasty can help tighten and flatten the entire abdominal area, creating a narrower, healthier-looking waist.”

Dr. Chang cautions his patients that a tummy tuck is not weight-loss surgery. However, it is often performed in conjunction with liposuction after a person has already lost a large amount of weight in order to improve the look of stretched skin and tissue in the abdominal area that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise.

“Liposuction can frequently be used to enhance the results of abdominoplasty when applicable,” Dr. Chang says. “The best way to determine whether one or both of these procedures is appropriate is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.”

Three of the most popular plastic surgery procedures – breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tuck – are combined in a procedure known as a Mommy Makeover, an increasingly popular option for celebrities and regular moms looking to refresh their look.

“It’s understandable why these three procedures are so commonly chosen for a Mommy Makeover,” says Dr. Chang. “The breasts and stomach region change the most during and after pregnancy. The breasts typically increase in size during pregnancy. Then, after giving birth and nursing, women often lose volume and sometimes experience sagging. Breast augmentation and, in some cases, a breast lift, can correct those concerns.”

In addition, many women experience sagging stomach skin, lax abdominal muscles, and a stubborn tummy “pouch” as a result of their pregnancy. Depending on their concerns, women can often restore their pre-baby bodies with a tummy tuck and/or liposuction, according to Dr. Chang. “In the past, plastic surgeons usually recommended treating the breasts and the abdomen separately. As a result, busy moms had to plan for two separate surgeries and two separate recovery periods. Fortunately, for women today, combining breast enhancement with a body-contouring procedure has become a common practice. We now have the skills and experience to achieve beautiful results in a single surgery for a Mommy Makeover.”

Dr. Chang says that breast augmentation typically is chosen for the breast enhancement aspect of a Mommy Makeover. For the body-contouring aspect, either liposuction or a tummy tuck – or sometimes both, is generally selected.

“A tummy tuck is usually appropriate for patients who have excess skin and fat as well as lax muscles on their abdomen,” Dr. Chang explains. “For women who have specific areas of fat on their stomachs, hips, or other areas, however, liposuction is very versatile and can be highly effective.”

Smartlipo™ MPX has made its Maryland debut at Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The practice’s founder, Dr. Eric Chang, has been selected as the exclusive plastic surgeon instructor in Maryland to train other surgeons in this new Baltimore liposuction technique. Dr. Chang’s extensive experience performing liposuction makes him an ideal choice for pioneering this new technology, which is being hailed as a more effective method of removing fat cells and creating smoother, firmer-looking results than other liposuction approaches.

“I am thrilled to be introducing Smartlipo MPX technology to other surgeons across the state,” says Dr. Chang. “My patients who choose cosmetic surgery in Baltimore, Maryland have already enjoyed the minimized discomfort and recovery time associated with Smartlipo as well as the outstanding results it offers.”

As a Stanford-educated plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Chang has received thorough training in plastic and aesthetic surgery, and specializes in liposuction and body contouring procedures. Due to his extensive training and experience, Cynosure, the maker of Smartlipo, has selected Dr. Chang to guide other Maryland surgeons in the safe and effective use of the Smartlipo MPX system.

“Baltimore plastic surgery patients choose liposuction for a variety of reasons, so it is very important for each surgeon to understand how to approach those needs in the most effective ways,” explains Dr. Chang. “A woman who is interested in correcting her trouble spots through a ‘mommy makeover’ may have different needs than a post-weight-loss patient who wants to combine liposuction and a tummy tuck. Surgeons today need to know how to use the latest technology to help ensure precise results and minimize recovery time. Smartlipo MPX offers clear advantages in both of these areas.”

What Dr. Chang finds most appealing about this system is that it helps him deliver safer and more comfortable procedures. Baltimore liposuction utilizing Smartlipo technology achieves accurate and focused removal of fat cells, stimulates tissue tightening, reduces recovery time and prevents the tissue trauma that creates fluid collection and other factors that lead to postsurgical discomfort.

As Dr. Chang continues to lead the way in the use of Smartlipo, he hopes the new system will help other surgeons continue to advance the quality of care they provide for their patients as well. “Body contouring plastic surgery is about providing highly personalized care and quality results,” he says. “I am excited to have a new technology that allows for more pleasing patient results.”

Dr. Chang performs plastic surgery for the face, breast, and body. If you would like to learn more about Smartlipo MPX or the other procedures he performs for Columbia and Baltimore plastic surgery patients, save $50 on your consultation by registering online or call him at (410) 740-9330 to schedule an appointment.