Body contouring: a sculptural art

Body contouring/sculpting is a term that describes the combination of two different processes: fat removal by liposuction and fat transfer.

The first part of the process, liposuction, is a procedure of fat removal and is generally the more popular choice amongst patients and surgeons alike. However, it is important to rememeber that the body is a three dimensional structure. In order to sculpt the body into the ideal shape desired by the patient, certain parts may require fat removal, and other parts may require fat addition. Therefore, the term body contouring/sculpting is more appropriate for this technique, as the removal and subsequent addition of fat are part of the same process.

The notion of body contouring/sculpting, as opposed to liposuction alone, gained popularity primarily from the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) trend, a procedures that sees most patients want fat pumped into their gluteal area. To perform this, fat is removed from other areas of the body via the process of liposuction. Before larger buttocks came into fashion, the most common demand in terms of fat transfer was for the breasts.