The New Evolution: Can You Really Change Your Body Shape Safely?
We look at 5 trending techniques to alter your body shape. But at what cost? Why a healthy lifestyle will beat a Brazilian butt lift every time.
Pop culture's portrayal of the so-called “ideal woman” has been a body shape evolution with each and every era. Slim was in with the flappers of the 1920s, which gave way to the hourglass curves inspired by Marilyn in the 1950s. Narrow hips and flat stomachs were the standards of beauty in the 60s and 70s until Jane Fonda popularized an athletic, aerobicized figure in the 1980s. The 90s ushered in the era of the ultra-thin supermodel and, thanks to the Kardashians, the 2010s and beyond have been all about curves—the bigger, the better.
As the images on magazine covers and Instagram feeds have changed over the years, cosmetic procedures have advanced to keep up with the demand for brand-new bodies. From the Brazilian butt lift to the CoolSculpting craze, you have more choices than ever before if you want to refine your shape and achieve the waist-hip ratio you've always wanted. While it’s tempting to want an immediate fix and many women safely achieve their desired results with plastic surgery, these procedures do carry possible risks.
Diving Into Dramatic Transformations
Drastic measures to keep up with body shape evolution certainly aren't a new phenomenon. After all, waist training with whalebone corsets to create an hourglass figure dates to the Victorian era. Still, according to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the past two decades have seen a significant increase in the prevalence of plastic surgery. The organization reports that between 2000 and 2020:
Breast lift procedures increased by 65 percent
Buttock lift procedures increased by 112 percent
Lower body lift procedures increased by 3974 percent
Thigh lift procedures increased by 75 percent
Tummy tuck procedures increased by 56 percent
Upper arm lift procedures increased by 4174 percent
Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, many of which have been newly introduced since 2020, have grown in popularity by 174 percent. This category includes liposuction, injectables, CoolSculpting, and other non-surgical techniques to achieve a specific shape.
Despite the popularity of plastic surgery, some people experience serious health complications such as infection, bleeding, bruising, nerve damage, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, organ damage, and scarring. Weigh the risks and benefits of trending cosmetic procedures before you decide to move forward with this type of dramatic change.
Brazilian Butt Lift (Fat Grafting)
As mentioned above, the Kim Kardashian effect has propelled the Brazilian butt lift to become one of the fastest-growing plastic surgeries. This two-step procedure starts with liposuction to remove excess fat from the thighs, hips, or abdomen, followed by injecting the fat tissue into the buttocks to create a round, shapely rear. It does not, however, address excess fat or sagging skin in this area.
This procedure carries a life-threatening risk of a fat embolism, which can occur if the injected fat enters the bloodstream and travels to the heart or lungs. In 2018, a task force composed of board-certified plastic surgeons from five industry associations, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), issued an urgent warning against this fat grafting procedure because of its reported mortality rate of 1 in 3,000 patients. In comparison, most cosmetic surgeries have a mortality rate ranging from 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000.
Some women also choose fat grafting for breast augmentation instead of traditional saline or silicone breast implants. While liposuction and fat injection are less invasive than traditional augmentation, it does carry all the risks associated with any invasive surgery. Patients who go this route should be aware of possible complications such as infection, cysts, scarring, and even tissue necrosis (the death of body tissue).
Butt Implants
Patients who want to go one step beyond the butt lift may opt for butt implants. These silicone devices provide an option for those who have little body fat available for a graft. In addition, some individuals combine the two procedures to fully emphasize their curves. While about 95 percent of patients report satisfaction with their butt implants according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, some people find the implants uncomfortable or find that they shift from their original positions. Other possible complications include bleeding, infection, and fluid or blood accumulation in the implant area (probably not exactly your desired look).
Gastric Balloons
Introduced as a temporary but similarly invasive alternative to bariatric (weight loss) surgery, the gastric balloon procedure involves implanting a saline-filled silicone device in the stomach. With the balloon in place, patients feel full faster and, as a result, ingest fewer calories. According to the Mayo Clinic, this procedure could reduce your risk for complications of obesity if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Gastric balloons may also be appropriate for those who already have obesity-related illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
However, even high-risk groups should approach this surgery with caution. The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in 2018 after the gastric balloon procedure resulted in 12 fatalities caused by gastric perforation.
Liposuction and Liposculpture
In addition to use in the fat grafting procedures described above, liposuction is an option all of its own for those who want to strategically remove fat from certain areas of the body. This technique works best if you've already achieved a healthy weight with a nutritious diet and regular exercise, but stubborn cellulite deposits remain.
A newer option, liposculpture, treats tiny pockets of fat rather than the larger areas treated with traditional liposuction. Sometimes called waist trimming, liposculpture can create curves in the abdominal area, hips, thighs, and arms, as well as remove love handles. This procedure works best for younger patients who have supple skin elasticity. Possible side effects include unwanted lumps or skin texture in the treatment area, bleeding, blood clots, infection, scarring, limited skin sensation, and bad reactions to anesthesia. The common practice of combining liposuction and liposculpture with more invasive cosmetic surgeries increases these risks.
CoolSculpting
This safe, non-invasive procedure involves placing part of the body between two ice-cold paddle devices. The CoolSculpting process destroys an estimated 30 percent of the fat cells in the treated area. Within a few weeks, your body will clear out this dead tissue, and you will notice a slimmer, more toned appearance. As with similar cosmetic techniques, CoolSculpting works best when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen. Side effects are rare and typically mild, though a few people experience nerve pain after this treatment.
Embracing and Enhancing Your Body the Natural Way
In addition to the significant financial cost and the risk of negative physical outcomes, cosmetic procedures can take a toll on your mental health. Striving to meet the unrealistic standards of beauty created by increasingly altered and filtered digital snaps may impact your self-esteem. According to the federal Office on Women's Health, women who have a negative body image have a higher risk of depression, eating disorders, and other mental health concerns. Often, achieving one's sought-after body shape with a cosmetic procedure does not resolve these feelings of inadequacy.
A body that meets the Instagram ideal also doesn't eliminate the risk of health problems resulting from excess body fat. Even a person that falls within the normal BMI range could have an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses with a high body fat percentage and elevated levels of visceral fat. Instead of relying on outdated BMI numbers, consider getting a DEXA body composition scan to determine your risk level based on your proportions of muscle, bone, and fat mass. Armed with this information, you can refine your fitness plan to meet your aesthetic goals and enhance your wellness levels. And, body composition scans can, and should, be done routinely, helping to keep you accountable and aware of your personal progress. It’s amazing how exciting it is to watch your body fat percentile change over time knowing that it is directly affected by the lifestyle changes and hard work you’ve put in.
Cosmetic surgery produces satisfying results for many women, but it doesn't reduce your risk for chronic illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the following dangers of a diet with too much sodium, sugar, and saturated fat:
Obesity, which affects an estimated 40 percent of U.S. adults and 19 percent of those ages 2 to 19
Stroke, heart disease, and other cardiovascular events
Type 2 diabetes
Many types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, and uterine cancers
Tracking your body composition over time can keep you motivated throughout the major endeavor of getting and staying healthy. Find a DEXA scan near you to start building a healthy self-image that will stay with you as aesthetic trends come and go.
Resources:
https://greatist.com/grow/100-years-womens-body-image
https://www.healthline.com/health/most-common-plastic-surgery-complications
https://www.surgery.org/sites/default/files/URGENT-WARNING-TO-SURGEONS.pdf
https://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/body/buttock-augmentation/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/intragastric-balloon/about/pac-20394435
https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20180606/weight-loss-balloons-linked-to-12-deaths-fda-says
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/coolsculpting
https://www.healthline.com/health/liposculpture
https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/body-image-and-mental-health/body-image
https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/nutrition.htm