Cosmetic surgery has dramatically grown in popularity over the past few decades. In fact, there has been a 115% increase since 2000 in the number of procedures performed in the United States alone. The reasons that people decide to opt for cosmetic surgery are numerous, but it seems that many people—especially women—are turning to cosmetic procedures in an effort to give them a sleeker, shapelier and more toned body. With this in mind, we’ll now take a look at a few of the more popular body contouring options available to those looking to get rid of excess fat and improve their figure.

Liposuction is usually the preferred choice for people who are close to their ideal body weight, but still have a few flabs, bulges or rolls. For patients that are generally in decent shape and only have a bit of excess fat, liposuction can be used to remove the bulges and rolls while helping to re-shape and slim the body’s contours. However, liposuction generally doesn’t provide great results for those who are significantly overweight, and it is usually necessary for these patients to either lose weight first or combine the liposuction with other surgical body contouring procedures.

Although liposuction is a great option for those looking to remove excess fat to achieve a slimmer, more toned look, this procedure alone is not always sufficient to produce the desired results. This is precisely why the cosmetic professionals at clinics like Advanced Aesthetic & Laser Surgery note that many patients choose to combine liposuction with other body contouring procedures. Liposuction is useful for removing excess fat, but it can’t always provide the slim and toned look patients desire. For this reason, many also undergo surgical body contouring at the same time. Tummy tucks, breast lifts and lower body lifts can also be performed to help remove excess skin and fatty tissue, which can provide even better results than liposuction alone.

While liposuction, tummy tucks or arm and thigh lifts can all help to shape and tone your figure, these procedures won’t do anything to improve the look or shape of your breasts. Following child birth, many women become more and more unhappy with the look of their breasts, and this is why so many eventually opt to undergo an augmentation, reduction or lift to help restore a more youthful look to their breasts. When combined with liposuction and a tummy tuck, the result can be a body that suddenly looks 10 to 20 years younger.

Not everyone is a candidate for cosmetic surgery, and not all body contouring procedures will be right for everyone. However, if you aren’t satisfied with the way your body suddenly looks—whether it is due to carrying around a few extra pounds, having excess skin due to major weight loss or simply because of the changes that occur with aging or child birth—it is well worth speaking to a surgeon to discuss your possibilities. No one should have to go around feeling uncomfortable in their own skin, and thanks to the many advances is cosmetic surgery, it is now easier than ever to get the shapely, slim and toned figure you’ve long desired.