Body contouring is frequently needed to achieve the intended physical shape after weight loss. Often, lumps are needed where liposuction alone may be insufficient or impossible. This type of surgery can also be done for other reasons such as correction of a bone deficiency, correcting an uneven surface, removing fat from certain areas, or even reconstructing portions of the body that have been damaged by accident or disease. There are various methods for body contouring. They can be performed under general or local anesthesia. These procedures are often covered by health insurance policies.
Some of the most common methods include adjustable banded Dependant Decompression (bands that are removed after surgery to allow for the removal of fat in localized areas), Vaser Liposelection, and Vaser Lipoicculoposition. The most invasive method, however, is called deoxycholic acid injections. In this procedure, a solution is injected directly into the fatty layers of the body. The body then absorbs the excess fat. Most people recover from this treatment relatively quickly. Occasionally, however, some patients experience allergic reactions to this agent, bruising or swelling at the injection site, scarring, or permanent damage to some soft tissue areas.
Another method commonly used in body contouring is ultrasound fat reduction. This procedure uses ultrasonic energy to reduce unwanted fat cells in localized areas. This method is not usually successful for eliminating large areas of fat from the body; it tends to work better on smaller areas. During ultrasound fat reduction surgery, an ultrasound beam is directed at the fat cells being removed; they absorb the energy, which causes them to break down and eventually be absorbed by the blood stream.