---
title: "Body Contouring"
---

Body contouring at Santa Barbara Face & Body reshapes the body after weight loss, pregnancy, or when diet and exercise reach their limit, using liposuction, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), lower body and limb lifts (arm and thigh), mommy makeover, Brazilian butt lift, and fat transfer. All are performed by Dr. Alain Polynice, a board-certified plastic surgeon focused on the breast and body, with particular emphasis on post-major-weight-loss and post-GLP-1 contouring, honest multi-stage planning, and a safety-first approach.

## What body contouring can do

The right plan depends on whether the issue is fat, loose skin, or both.

- Remove stubborn fat. Liposuction contours areas that resist diet and exercise.
- Remove loose skin. Tummy tuck and body, arm, and thigh lifts address skin left after weight loss or pregnancy.
- Restore after weight loss. Post-GLP-1 and major-weight-loss contouring, often staged across areas.
- Combine thoughtfully. Mommy makeover and fat transfer address several goals together.

## The body procedures

Each links to its own page.

ProcedureForPost-GLP-1 Body ContouringExcess skin and shape change after weight lossContouring & LiposuctionStubborn, localized fatTummy TuckLoose abdominal skin and muscle separationBody LiftCircumferential lower-body skin after weight lossArm LiftLoose upper-arm skinThigh LiftLoose inner or outer thigh skinMommy MakeoverBreast and body together after pregnancyBrazilian Butt LiftReshaping with your own fat, safety-firstFat TransferAdding volume with your own fat

## Fat, skin, or both, and which procedure

The honest first question is what is actually causing the shape you want to change.

If the issue isThe likely procedureStubborn fat, good skinLiposuctionLoose abdominal skinTummy tuckLoose skin all around after weight lossBody liftLoose arm or thigh skinArm lift or thigh liftBreast and body after pregnancyMommy makeoverShape and projection of the buttocksBrazilian butt lift, safety-first

The value is a surgeon who tells you honestly whether you need fat removed, skin removed, or both, and how to stage it safely.

## Concerns the body procedures address

Many people arrive with a concern rather than a specific procedure.

ConcernOften addressed withLoose skin after weight lossPost-GLP-1 contouring, body lift, tummy tuck, arm and thigh liftsPost-pregnancy body changesMommy makeover, tummy tuckStubborn fat depositsLiposuctionExcess abdominal skinTummy tuckFlat or shapeless buttocksBrazilian butt lift, fat transferArm or thigh laxityArm lift, thigh lift

The value is not the list. It is matching the concern to the procedure, or the staged combination, that will actually resolve it.

## Why Santa Barbara Face & Body

Post-weight-loss and post-GLP-1 bodies are where honest surgical judgment matters most, because the work is often staged, and doing too much at once is a safety issue. Dr. Polynice is Mayo Clinic-trained, focuses primarily on the body, and is known as a mommy-makeover and body-contouring specialist with a safety-first reputation, which is exactly what higher-risk procedures like the Brazilian butt lift call for. He plans realistically, stages sensibly, and is candid about what one operation can and cannot do. That is the standard here.

## Where to start

**A good starting point if you**

- Have loose skin after major or GLP-1 weight loss
- Have stubborn fat that resists diet and exercise
- Want to address post-pregnancy changes
- Want an honest, safe, staged plan

**Worth discussing carefully if you**

- Are still actively losing weight, where timing matters
- Want several areas done at once, where safety guides staging
- Are considering a Brazilian butt lift, which requires a safety-first surgeon

## What to expect

A consultation begins with your goals and an honest look at whether the issue is fat, skin, or both, and how much can be done safely at once. Dr. Polynice explains the options, the realistic staging, and the recovery, and is candid when patience or a phased plan serves you better. You leave with a plan matched to your body and a clear picture of the journey, with pricing in writing.

## What it costs

Body contouring is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends on which procedures you need, how they are staged, and your anatomy. Post-weight-loss transformations are often phased across more than one procedure. You will have clear pricing in writing at your consultation, with no pressure to do more, or sooner, than is safe.

> Body Contouring After Major Weight Loss, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (United States). Body contouring after significant weight loss removes excess sagging skin and fat and reshapes the underlying tissue, commonly through a tummy tuck, lower body lift, and arm and thigh lifts, and is often staged across more than one procedure for safety.
— [Body Contouring After Major Weight Loss, American Society of Plastic Surgeons](https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/body-contouring-after-major-weight-loss)

> Gluteal Fat Grafting (Brazilian Butt Lift) Safety, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (United States). Gluteal fat grafting carries higher risk than many cosmetic procedures, and safety depends on technique, including placement of fat in the correct plane; patients are advised to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon and discuss risk.
— [Gluteal Fat Grafting](https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/brazilian-butt-lift)


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