Shaping the Silhouette: A Comprehensive Review of Surgical Body Contouring Techniques for the Torso and Limbs.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

This narrative review examines contemporary surgical body contouring techniques, including abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, liposuction, and fat grafting, as well as breast and gluteal augmentation, thighplasty, calf augmentation, and genital contouring, with a focus on clinical applications, technological advancements, complication profiles, and patient-centered outcomes. Abdominoplasty, including mini, lipoabdominoplasty, and fleur-de-lis variants, consistently restores the abdominal contour and can alleviate functional sequelae, with complication rates lowered by the use of progressive tension sutures and preservation of Scarpa fascia. Brachioplasty and thighplasty in post-bariatric patients improve limb contour and mobility; liposuction-assisted approaches reduce tissue trauma. Energy-assisted devices and circumferential 360° liposuction enhance precision and balance. Autologous fat grafting, ranging from macro- to nano-fat, yields high satisfaction and regenerative benefits; however, fat resorption and rare embolic events warrant a careful technique. Breast augmentation, reduction, and mastopexy achieve high patient satisfaction and improved symmetry; combining augmentation with mastopexy addresses ptosis. Calf and genital contouring refine regional aesthetics with the evolution of implant and fat-grafting methods. Overall satisfaction is high across procedures; complication

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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