Dressing for Your Post-Surgery Body

September 26, 2012

by Christine G. Adamo

In our previous article, we helped you determine your body type so you could learn about complementary liposuction and body contouring procedures to enhance your natural shape. Now, we want to help you show off that body. Let’s focus on dressing for your body type to play up you assets.

The body-type model we refer to has five distinct categories. It was originally outlined by Randolph Duke and can also be found on Stephanie Pelitier’s “ForeRunnerFashion” blog.

The basic body types are:

• Linear (a.k.a. rectangular) - We lovingly call it the “boyfriend” body. It flows straight up and down with few or no visible curves.
• Hourglass - Most people consider your curves to be dangerous! They begin at your small waist and then fan up and out along your hips and chest.
• Lower Figured (a.k.a. pear shaped) - Your hips, thighs and butt are larger than your smallish chest and shoulders.
• Upper Figured (a.k.a. cone shaped) - If your body progresses from large to small from the shoulders down to the chest, waist, hips and legs this is probably you.
• Middle Figured (a.k.a. diamond shaped) - The size of your hips and shoulders is smaller than or equal to the size of your waist.

Beyond the Closet: Body Contouring

It’s unlikely that any of us is 100 percent satisfied with our body as is. So once you have determined your natural body type, breast augmentation, liposuction, or abdominal etching may be worth looking into to play up what your existing assets.

Explore the body contouring and body sculpting options best suited to your body type by meeting with a plastic surgeon. Use the information you’ve learned here about body types to explain what you want to achieve. Look through before and after photos of women with your body to type to know what to expect.

With the help of a caring cosmetic plastic surgery team, you can get the look you want. Give your abs, hips and thighs a leaner, more toned appearance. Just be well-informed before making a commitment!

Let’s Play Dress Up

Playing dress up with your pre- or post-liposuction body can be easy if you follow a few simple rules. Let’s break them down by body type:

• Linear – Avoid boyfriend jeans; break out the push-up bra; wear waist-defining tops; choose dresses, pants, and skirts with shoulder and hip details
• Hourglass – Lessen the look of extreme curves with vertical lines/detailing. Or, plump them up in clean-lined, body-hugging dresses, tops, and bottoms.
• Lower Figured – Wear light tops, dark bottoms; dress hips, butt and thighs in non-clingy A-lines; emphasize chest and shoulders with halters and shrugs
• Upper Figured – Wear dark tops to minimize your upper body; wear light bottoms to draw the eye downward; accessorize your hips with wide belts
• Middle Figured – Use V-necks to broaden shoulders and bring eyes upward; wear vertical stripe tops with dark bottoms; put on a padded bra, as needed.

Exploring fashion options is a quick and easy way to look and feel better in your body. Try out our suggestions and let us know what you think! Find other women on our discussion forums to offer feedback on which looks works and which didn’t. 

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