Body Contouring Surgery
Restore shape and proportion after weight loss, pregnancy or changes in your body
Significant weight loss, pregnancy and the natural ageing process can leave areas of loose skin that cannot be corrected through exercise alone. Body contouring surgery removes and reshapes excess skin and, where appropriate, can be combined with liposuction to refine the underlying contour.
Mr Mo Herieka is a UK-trained Consultant Plastic Surgeon with a particular interest in aesthetic breast surgery and body contouring. Every procedure is individually planned around your anatomy, areas of concern and what you would realistically like to achieve.
Private consultations and surgery are available at Nuffield Health Wessex Hospital in Hampshire, conveniently located between Southampton and Winchester. Nuffield Health
What is body contouring surgery?
Body contouring is a group of procedures designed to improve shape by removing loose or excess skin and, when appropriate, excess fatty tissue.
It can be particularly helpful following:
significant or bariatric weight loss
pregnancy
changes in weight over time
loss of skin elasticity with age
previous abdominal surgery
localised areas of loose skin that persist despite exercise and a stable weight
Body contouring is not a substitute for weight loss. The most predictable results are generally achieved when you are healthy and your weight is relatively stable.
Abdominoplasty: Tummy tuck surgery
An abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is designed to improve loose abdominal skin and the contour of the abdomen.
Excess skin is removed through a low abdominal incision and the remaining tissues are carefully reshaped. Where the abdominal muscles have separated, these can often be tightened at the same operation.
Liposuction may also be combined with abdominoplasty to improve the contour of areas such as the waist and flanks when appropriate.
The scar is positioned as low as practical and usually extends across the lower abdomen. Its precise length depends on the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed.
Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty
After substantial weight loss, loose abdominal skin may extend both vertically and horizontally. A standard tummy tuck may not provide enough correction in these circumstances.
A Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty removes skin in both directions, allowing greater reshaping of the abdomen and waist.
The trade-off for the additional correction is an extra vertical scar running along the abdomen in addition to the usual lower abdominal scar.
Liposuction can also be incorporated where appropriate to further refine the surrounding contour.
This operation can be particularly useful as part of post-weight-loss body contouring when skin laxity is significant.
Circumferential abdominoplasty
For some patients, excess skin extends beyond the abdomen and around the waist towards the lower back.
A circumferential abdominoplasty extends the skin-removal procedure around the lower torso, treating loose tissue across the abdomen, waist and lower back in a single operation.
The resulting scar therefore extends around the lower abdomen and continues around the waist and lower back. Its exact position is individually planned with the aim of placing it as discreetly as possible beneath clothing.
Liposuction may be combined with the procedure when appropriate to improve the contour of the waist and adjacent areas.
This is a more extensive procedure than a standard abdominoplasty and is particularly relevant to some patients following significant weight loss.
Brachioplasty
Loose upper-arm skin can persist following weight loss and can also develop as skin elasticity reduces over time.
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes excess skin and reshapes the upper arm to create a firmer and more defined contour.
Liposuction may sometimes be incorporated when excess fat contributes to the shape of the arm.
The major consideration with an arm lift is the scar. The amount of skin requiring removal dictates the length of the scar which usually extends along the inner aspect of the upper arm. During consultation, the likely position and length of the scar will be discussed carefully alongside the likely improvement that surgery could offer.
Thigh lift
A thigh lift is designed to remove loose skin and improve the contour of the upper and inner thighs.
It is most commonly considered following significant weight loss, although changes in skin elasticity and ageing can also contribute.
The operation is tailored to the distribution of excess skin. In some patients the scar can be concentrated around the groin crease, while more extensive laxity may require a scar extending further down the inner thigh.
Liposuction can sometimes be combined with thigh-lift surgery to improve contour where appropriate.
Liposuction
Liposuction and skin-removal surgery address different problems.
Liposuction removes localised fatty tissue but does not significantly tighten loose skin. It can be very useful for stubborn areas of fat that have failed to improve with diet and exercise alone. Where there is substantial skin laxity, removing fat alone may not produce the desired contour and can sometimes make loose skin more apparent.
For this reason, liposuction is often used alongside procedures such as abdominoplasty, Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty or circumferential body contouring rather than as an alternative to them.
During your consultation, Mo will assess the quality of your skin, underlying fat distribution and overall proportions before recommending the most appropriate approach.
Which body contouring procedure is right for me?
There is no single operation that suits everyone.
Someone with primarily lower abdominal skin excess may benefit from a standard abdominoplasty, while a patient following significant weight loss may require a Fleur-de-Lis or circumferential procedure to adequately address skin laxity.
The decision depends on:
where your excess skin is located, how much laxity is present, your existing scars, fat distribution, abdominal wall anatomy, general health and what you hope to achieve.
A consultation is therefore about understanding the trade-offs as much as choosing an operation — particularly the balance between improvement in contour, the scars required to achieve it and the post-operative recovery time.
Body contouring after weight loss
Losing a substantial amount of weight is a significant achievement, but the skin often does not contract to match the change beneath it.
Loose skin can remain around the abdomen, waist, arms and thighs and may cause difficulties with clothing, exercise, skin care or simply how you feel about your body.
Post-weight-loss body contouring can address these areas individually or, in carefully selected patients, as part of a staged treatment plan. Whilst we can often safely combine procedures such as a breast lift and tummy tuck - it is important to assess each patient as an individual - taking into account your overall shape, health, priorities and goals.
Trying to correct everything in one operation is not always the safest or most effective approach. Where several areas are involved, Mo will discuss which procedures can reasonably be combined and where staged surgery may provide a better balance between safety, recovery and outcome.
Body contouring after pregnancy
Pregnancy can change both the abdominal skin and the underlying abdominal wall.
Some women develop:
loose lower abdominal skin (“mum pouch”)
separation of the abdominal muscles
changes around the umbilicus (belly button)
persistent fatty deposits around the abdomen or flanks
Issues with c-section scar
associated changes to the breasts leaving them emptier, looser and lower than before
An abdominoplasty can address some of these abdominal changes, sometimes in combination with liposuction and repair of the abdominal muscle seperation.
Where breast surgery is also being considered, it is often possible to combine breast and abdominal procedures. This needs careful individual assessment because combining operations also increases surgical time and recovery although it reduces the overall number of operations. Having fewer operations can be helpful, particularly if you have young children to attend to. The approach will be tailored to you and your requirements.
What should I expect from the scars?
This is one of the most important discussions in body contouring.
Body contouring works by exchanging loose skin for a carefully positioned scar.
The more extensive the excess skin, the longer the scar usually needs to be to achieve a meaningful improvement in shape.
Mo will show you the anticipated scar pattern during your consultation and explain how it is positioned in relation to underwear and clothing.
Scars are permanent but generally change considerably with time. They typically become softer and paler as they mature, which can take 12–18 months or longer.
Recovery after body contouring surgery
Recovery depends considerably on the extent of your operation.
Walking is encouraged early after surgery, while strenuous activity and heavy lifting are restricted initially. Patients undergoing larger abdominal procedures generally require more recovery time than those undergoing more limited arm or thigh surgery.
As a broad guide, patients undergoing abdominal body contouring often plan approximately 2–3 weeks away from desk-based work, with a gradual return to strenuous exercise over approximately 6–8 weeks.
These are only general guides. Your individual recovery plan will depend on your procedure, health, occupation and progress following surgery.
A considered approach to body contouring
Consultant-led care from consultation through recovery
Mo's background in reconstructive and microsurgical plastic surgery involves detailed work with soft tissues, scars and complex anatomy.
He brings the same principles to aesthetic body contouring: careful assessment, thoughtful surgical planning and an understanding that the right operation is different for every patient.
The goal is not to promise a particular body shape or an artificial ideal. It is to understand what bothers you, identify what surgery can realistically change and create a plan that is proportionate to your anatomy and priorities.
You will be looked after by Mo throughout your surgical journey, from the initial consultation through your operation and postoperative follow-up.
Your consultation
Your first consultation is deliberately unhurried.
You will have the opportunity to explain which areas concern you and what you would ideally like to change. Mo will assess your anatomy and discuss the procedures that may be suitable, the scars involved, whether liposuction would add benefit, likely recovery, important risks and limitations, and whether combining or staging procedures is most appropriate.
The aim is for you to leave with a clear understanding of what can realistically be achieved and what the process would involve.
Body contouring FAQ’s
Can loose skin be treated without surgery?
Non-surgical treatments may produce modest improvements in selected patients, but they cannot remove significant amounts of excess skin. Where substantial laxity is present, surgery is usually required to produce a meaningful change.
Should I lose weight before a tummy tuck or body lift?
If you are still actively losing weight, it is usually preferable to reach a reasonably stable weight before body-contouring surgery. Further significant weight loss can alter the result.
Can liposuction replace a tummy tuck?
Not when loose skin is the main problem. Liposuction removes fatty tissue but does not remove significant excess skin or tighten separated abdominal muscles.
Can liposuction be combined with a tummy tuck?
Yes. Liposuction can often be combined with standard, Fleur-de-Lis and circumferential abdominoplasty when it is appropriate and safe to do so. It can help to improve the overall shape achieved.
Can several body-contouring procedures be performed together?
Sometimes. The decision depends on your health, the extent of each procedure and the expected operating time. For more extensive post-weight-loss surgery, staged operations may be preferable.
Will body contouring help me lose weight?
Body contouring is intended to improve shape rather than act as a weight-loss treatment. The amount of tissue removed varies between patients.
How do I know whether I need a standard or Fleur-de-Lis tummy tuck?
This depends mainly on the amount and direction of skin excess. A standard abdominoplasty primarily addresses vertical laxity by removing lower abdominal skin, while a Fleur-de-Lis technique also removes tissue vertically to address significant horizontal looseness.
Considering body contouring surgery?
If loose skin following weight loss, pregnancy or changes in your body is bothering you, a consultation can help you understand the options available.
Mo will assess your individual anatomy, discuss what surgery can realistically achieve and help you weigh the potential improvement against the scars, recovery and risks involved.
Private consultations are available at Nuffield Health Wessex Hospital, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, between Southampton and Winchester.