Body contouring in Chicago

Pregnancy and weight loss can leave loose skin and stretched abdominal muscles that no amount of crunches will tighten. A tummy tuck removes the extra skin and fat below the belly button and repairs the separated muscles (diastasis), giving you a flatter, firmer stomach and often better core strength.

A mini tummy tuck treats only the area below the belly button with a shorter incision and a quicker recovery.

A low incision runs from hip to hip, placed so it hides under underwear or a swimsuit. The muscles are stitched back together, the skin is pulled down and trimmed, and the belly button is reshaped.

Liposuction removes pockets of fat that stay put despite diet and exercise, through incisions a few millimeters long. Common areas are the abdomen, flanks (love handles), back, thighs, arms and under the chin. It shapes rather than slims: it is best for people near their goal weight with good skin tone.

A mommy makeover combines the procedures that address the changes pregnancy and nursing leave behind, usually a tummy tuck with a breast lift or augmentation, and often liposuction. Doing them together means one surgery, one recovery and one time away from work.

It works best once you are done having children and your weight has been stable for several months.

An arm lift removes loose, hanging skin from the upper arm, often after weight loss or with age. The incision runs along the inner arm, where it is least visible. Liposuction can refine the shape at the same time.

After major weight loss, skin often cannot shrink back on its own. A thigh lift tightens loose skin on the inner or outer thighs. A lower body lift works all the way around the waist, lifting the buttocks, outer thighs and abdomen in one procedure.

A buttock lift removes loose skin above the buttocks to raise and firm them. Fat transfer uses liposuction to take fat from the waist or thighs and place it in the buttocks for shape and volume. Current safety guidance from plastic surgery societies is to place transferred fat only in the layer just under the skin, never into the muscle. Ask Dr. Speron how he approaches it at your consultation.