Understand Which Procedures May Help Your Body Type

A "treatment classification" is a category that describes suggested procedures based on a body type.

Type I - Suction lipoplasty only (more commonly known as liposuction or liposculpture); for patients with minimal skin laxity and minimal muscle slackness.

Type II - Mini abdominoplasty; for patients with mild skin laxity and mild lower abdominal muscle slackness.

Type III - Modified abdominoplasty; for patients with minimal skin laxity and mild lower or upper abdominal muscle slackness.

Type IV - Full abdominoplasty with or without liposuction; for patients with severe skin laxity and significant upper and lower abdominal muscle slackness.

Type V - Same criteria as a Type IV patient with excessive sagging involving the lower back and upper buttock skin.

Morbid Obesity - A special category is necessary for the person with morbid obesity following gastric bypass surgery and massive weight loss. Often arm, breast, abdomen and buttock and medial thigh lifts are required. There is significant lateral resection and a high-tension wound closure is achieved. The deep layer carries the tension and special suture techniques are utilized. (For more information, see Body Contouring Following Significant or Bariatric Weight Loss article).

Lower Body Lift - A Type V patient has a procedure that lifts the groin, upper and inner thighs and tightens the waist. The buttock position and outer thigh skin is also improved. There is significant lateral resection when a high-tension wound closure is achieved. The deep layer carries the tension and special suture techniques are utilized.

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