Obesity and overweight issues are common in America and getting worse. Dozens of diet and exercise plans are out there to help millions of overweight people lose weight and they work if you can stick with them. However many people are also turning to surgical procedures like liposuction and body contouring to get the bodies they've always wanted.

One common problem patients have after liposuction surgery is the extra skin left over that they no longer need. Finding a way to remove or firm that skin after liposuction is a common problem.

A popular method for getting rid of the excess skin is called body contouring. It does require several surgeries to complete, however it is very successful and often gives people back the shapely curves they are looking for. As cosmetic surgeons become more experienced this type of procedure has become both more common and more successful.

When liposuction is completed there are several areas of the body that can end up with excess skin. These include the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, arms, thighs and even the face. Through body contouring a plastic surgeon can remove these extra flaps of skin and give the person a more shapely figure. The cosmetic surgeon helps each patient regain their confidence and self-esteem by removing this excess skin and fat.

Before you consider body contouring it's important that your weight is stable for several months. Increases in weight after body contouring can lead to additional excess skin and flaps that will be difficult to remove, even with additional cosmetic surgery.

Before you undertake body contouring you should research to learn as much about the procedure as possible so you know what to expect. Additionally and perhaps more importantly, choosing a skilled, experienced and talented Manhattan cosmetic surgeon can make all the difference in the world with your results.

Complications from body contouring are similar to the complications one would expect from liposuction; swelling and bruising, pain, scarring and infection can happen. One Manhattan liposuction surgeon says that those with high body mass indexes are more at risk than others.

This prominent Manhattan plastic surgeon says she prefers to do liposuction and body contouring on those with a BMI under 30, although she has done successful procedures on those with a BMI up to 35. Patients need to be in good overall health to ensure the best results and to minimize complications.

Both liposuction and body contouring are good ways to reshape our bodies and get the look we wish and envision for ourselves. By choosing the top Manhattan cosmetic surgeons we can increase the chances that the surgery will be successful; and meet our expectations for a more shapely figure.