Body contouring: art, science, and clinical practice

As plastic surgeons, we seek to combine art and science to improve the results we see in clinical practice. Through our artistic sensibilities, we try to understand and obtain aesthetic results. Scientifc analysis provides the data to predict which approaches will be successful and safe. Both art and science connote a high level of skill or mastery. At the present time, our literature is replete with descriptions of specifc pro- dures for body contouring. However, there remains a need for a defnitive reference describing the basic principles to address the complete scope of body contouring including the postbariatric patient and their plastic surgery deformities. Dr. Shiffman and Dr. Di Giuseppe saw this need and sought to address the needs of plastic surgeons faced with the complexities of body contouring surgery. This is a comprehensive text aimed at providing multiple perspectives. The numerous sections, which include a- posity and lipolysis, the breast, abdomen, chest, and buttocks, the extremities, and liposuction, offer various approaches from the foremost authors. Indeed it is with a tremendous amount of skill and mastery that Dr. Shiffman and Dr. Di Giuseppe have successfully edited and collated the numerous contributions to this work. In addition, they have authored individually or, in collaboration, over a dozen of the 87 total chapters. Their combined work as editors and authors are e- dent throughout their text. The fnal result is a comprehensive contribution that will beneft all plastic surgeons seeking to improve their approach to body contouring.