The shape of a woman’s body is an obsession for both men and women. Picture a man curving his hands through the air to demonstrate a woman’s hourglass figure or the gleam that shines in his eye when he hears “36-24-36.” Women, too, fixate on physical perfection. For many, body image goes hand-in-hand with self-esteem. Ghana’s obesity epidemic also parlays into a preoccupation with body shape, not just for vanity reasons but for health and wellness. According to government statistics, over 3million Ghanaians are obese. More and more women are turning to body shaping procedures to change the physical flaws that make them uncomfortable or pose a threat to their overall health. “Body contouring can refer to a number of different procedures, such as minimally invasive procedures to treat cellulite or tighten loose skin,” says Mark Codner, M.D., communications commissioner for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. “Body contouring may encompass procedures more surgical than liposuction, such as tummy tucks.” Body contouring can also be achieved by weight loss, exercise, weight training, mesotherapy, body wraps and nutrition. Before undertaking any of these options, women should investigate all of the alternatives to decide what procedure is best for them. Nonsurgical Body Contouring Body Wraps Among the many benefits offered by body wraps — detoxification, hydration, relaxation — body contouring may be the most popular. “With a mineral wrap, you can expect to lose six to thirty total body inches with one treatment,” says Teri Pepitone-Casey, owner of Body Wrap Masters & Spa. Categorized as a compression wrap, this procedure involves soaking ace wraps in a mineral solution and then wrapping them snugly around the entire body. A woman may need to have more than one wrap to maximize results. The procedure is generally safe and free of discomfort. Loren Clayman, M.D. of The Plastic Surgery Center and Miracle Spa says body wraps are a good option for women who are struggling to improve their body appearance. “It’s a positive result for someone having trouble getting motivated,” Clayman says. Fitness Training “Weight training should not be overlooked as a way to contour bodies,” says Kathryn Connors of All Star Health and Fitness Personal Training. What keeps many women from using this healthy, natural method to shape their bodies is the fact that it requires effort. Yet, in as little as four weeks, a three-day-a-week training regimen can pay-off with results. “You must have a certain amount of consistency to achieve results,” Connors says. “But this result is real and can be maintained fairly easily once you have obtained a certain level of fitness.” Mesotherapy Pioneered in France by Dr. Michael Pistor in the 1950s, mesotherapy is a nonsurgical procedure that reduces targeted fat deposits through the injection of medication into the body. “It is an alternative to liposuction,” says Holly Dufresne of Medical Weight Loss by Healthy Outlook. “There are only two ways of removing fat cells from your body: liposuction and mesotherapy.” The procedure takes less than thirty minutes and is performed by a physician. After the application of a topical numbing cream, a series of injections using a very small needle are applied to the trouble spot. Multiple sessions may be required to obtain the desired outcome. “It’s a forever affect because it’s literally melting the fat cells,” Dufresne says, although she cautions that weight gain can nullify the results. Women who have already begun to lose weight and want to speed up results or those with trouble spots (bra area, back, outer and upper thighs, abdomen) are the best candidates for mesotherapy. The side effects are minimal, such as bruising, tenderness and swelling. With the procedure’s quick and relatively pain-free application, affordability, quick results and no time lost to recuperation, mesotherapy is an appealing option. Supplements For women looking to drop a few pounds and a couple of dress sizes, the medically supervised weight loss and cellulite reduction plan offered by First Coast M.D. may be just the ticket. The program combines oral mesotherapy pills with meal replacement shakes. Weekly sessions with the GX-99 massager help to stretch and loosen the connective tissue, reducing cellulite. According to Chantina Davis, PA-C, it is affordable, non-invasive, safe and effective. “There are supplements that can help you reach specific goals, when combined with a food plan and enhanced with exercise,” says Max Muscle Sports Nutrition owner and certified fitness nutrition specialist Nancy Southerland. Customized programs are available to reshape bodies. After being assessed by a certified nutrition specialist, a program is formulated to meet that individual’s nutritional needs. Women who follow the plan can expect to lose two to three pounds of body fat per week. Surgical Body Contouring Liposuction Liposuction is a surgical body sculpting procedure that removes fat deposits from under the skin via suction through a hollow tube called a cannula or by using an ultrasonic probe. While the technique was first developed in 1974, the advent of tumescent liposuction (large volumes of diluted local anesthesia injected into the fat allow the procedure to be done under local anesthesia and reduces blood loss) greatly improved both the safety and efficacy of the surgery. Another improvement was the use of a smaller cannula, making the procedure less invasive and less damaging to tissue. Done under conscious sedation, also called “twilight” sedation, tumescent liposuction is an outpatient procedure. The minimally-invasive procedures means patients have less scarring, avoid the risks of general anesthesia and are usually back to their normal routine within days. The side effects of liposuction include bruising, swelling and mild to moderate soreness. Liposuction can effectively eliminate fat from the neck, arms, abdomen, back and legs. The reshaping is permanent, so if you gain weight in the future, the fat will not come back in that location. The Plastic Surgery Center and Miracle Spa combines power-assisted sculpting with tumescence to assure a smooth result. N. Fred Eaglstein, D.O. of the Dermatology and Laser Center carefully evaluates each patient to determine where and how much work needs to be done. In addition to minimizing trouble spots, Eaglstein says the procedure can help women in the process of losing weight. “You can expect about a fifty to 75% improvement in the bulge,” he says. Bariatric Surgery Unlike many body contouring procedures which are done primarily for aesthetic reasons, bariatric surgery can be a matter of life and death. “The goal of these operations is not to make bikini models,” says Craig Morgenthal, M.D. director of the Baptist Center for Bariatrics. “What we really want to do is make healthy people.” Bariatric surgery is a procedure designed to reduce the size of the stomach, thereby limiting how much food can be eaten. Because it is permanent, patients must follow up with a physician for the rest of their lives. The average weight loss for bariatric patients is one to two pounds a week. While the majority of patients who undergo this procedure are morbidly obese (having a body mass index of forty or higher), Dr. Robert Cywes, chief of bariatric surgery at Memorial Hospital, says more and more overweight patients with significant medical issues like diabetes are opting to have the surgery to protect their health. Some bariatric patients who lose weight are left with excess or saggy skin and trouble spots. Corrective plastic surgery, liposuction and injectable fillers such as Juvéderm can help resolve these problems, giving individuals greater self-confidence and self-esteem. “Body contouring is only part of the process to help the patient achieve their final desired appearance,” says Codner of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, adding that diet and exercise are important to maintaining results and reducing the need for additional surgery. Body Shape and Self-Esteem Jason Schmotzer, a psychologist with Baptist Health who works with bariatric patients, says self-esteem is a significant factor for many women considering body contouring procedures. “If you look in the mirror and like what you see, you generally feel better about yourself, inside and out,” he says. Schmotzer cautions women to be realistic, recognizing the limitations of each procedure. Mesotherapy or liposuction is not going to transform anyone into a new, better, more beautiful woman. “The procedure may be a catalyst for change, but you’re still going to be the same person,” Schmotzer says. He adds this practical advice: “Do your research. Talk to your doctor. Attend workshops. Talk to others who have gone through this. And ask yourself this question: ‘Why are you doing this procedure?’” Source: womensdigest.net