There are two types of people in the world: Those who recognize that swimsuit and beach season is coming and prepare for it, and those who forget about the beach until the arrival of summer.
If you’re usually the type to put off plans for the summer until the last minute, then find yourself wrapped in a linen tunic or bathrobe while lying on the beach, let this year be the year when you’re prepared. It might only be spring, but it’s not too early to start thinking ahead to sunny days and hours spent on the sand or in the sea. With the help of a few plastic surgery procedures, you can get the beach body you want so you feel confident all summer long.
Liposuction
If you’ve got a bit of a belly or some jiggle in your thighs, liposuction can help create a slimmer profile just in time for bikini or swimsuit season. When thinking about liposuction as a way to help you get that beach body, timing is important.
Since liposuction is a type of surgery, albeit one with small incisions and minimal scarring, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to recover from it before you hit the sand. Initial recovery takes about a week, during which time you’ll want to take off of work and just generally kick back and relax.
Even after you head back to the office, it might still be a few weeks, if not a month or so, before you’re ready to don a swimsuit. There are two reasons for that: swelling and that oh-so-stylish compression garment you’ll be sporting. In many cases, surgeons recommend wearing a compression garment for several weeks after liposuction.
It might not look cool and it’s probably not something you’ll want to show off, but it will help shape and slim the treated areas and can even speed up the time it takes before your final results are visible.
Tummy Tuck
Although some people can get a flatter stomach with just a bit of lipo, a tummy tuck can be a more effective option for many others. Why? Well, liposuction focuses on removing deposits of stubborn fat. A tummy tuck focuses on tightening and minimizing extra, saggy skin and loose muscle.
Plenty of life changes, from weight loss to childbirth, can lead to stretched, lax skin in the abdominal area. The extra skin and loose muscle tissue can make it difficult to feel confident in a one-piece swimsuit, let alone a bikini.
If you’re considering a tummy tuck before your beach vacation, the sooner you see your surgeon for a consultation and to schedule the surgery, the better. Tummy tucks tend to be major procedures and can require up to two weeks of initial recovery. After that, it might still be several weeks before you’re even going to want to think about putting on a swimsuit and heading to the beach.
Breast Augmentation/Lift
As a tiny two-piece, a bikini tends to highlight two areas of the body: the breasts and butt. While the overly large look isn’t exactly trendy anymore for breasts, there are plenty of women who would like a bit of help filling out the cups of their bikini tops. If that’s you, this might be the summer when you consider a breast augmentation, with or without a breast lift.
With appropriately sized and shaped implants, you can look and feel more confident throughout your summer vacation. Recovery from the surgery usually takes about a week, and your surgeon will most likely recommend not wearing a bra for the first six weeks after surgery to allow the implants to settle into place. To keep your bikini top from interfering with your breast implants, it’s a good idea to schedule your surgery at least a month and a half before your vacation.
Butt Lift
While some women have trouble filling out the top of their bikinis, plenty of others don’t quite fill out their bikini bottoms. If all you want for beach season is a rounder, plumper derriere, take the time to discuss the pros and cons of a butt lift with your surgeon. A butt lift involves harvesting fat from one area of the body, then injecting it into the buttocks. If you’re considering liposuction of the tummy or thighs, combining it with a butt lift can be the perfect two-for-one option.
Recovery from a butt lift usually takes about a week, but you’ll want to be sure to avoid sitting on your backside for about two weeks afterwards. To make sure your derriere is ready for the beach, it’s a good idea to book your surgery at least six weeks before your vacation.
Houston-based plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Vitenas has more than 30 years of experience helping patients get the beach-ready bodies they want. To learn more about your options and to see which surgery is right for you, call 281-484-0088 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vitenas today.