Liposuction
The way the body can be prone to storing excess fat can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you’re doing everything right. Most people have at least one area of their body that they wish were slimmer or smoother, but even with an active and healthy lifestyle, stubborn fat has a way of persisting.
Liposuction surgery, sometimes referred to as “lipo”, is a surgical cosmetic procedure that works to resculpt the body and redefine its natural contours by removing excess fat from the most stubborn areas of the body. During liposuction, fat is gently dislodged using a narrow hollow tube known as a cannula, as well as an aspirator, which is a suction device that extracts the displaced fat from the region. While liposuction should never be a substitute for a healthy diet and active lifestyle, it can safely and efficiently remove concentrations of fatty deposits in your body that do not respond to traditional weight loss methods alone.
Who is Liposuction Surgery For?
The candidates best suited for liposuction are patients who are in good overall health and who do not have any health conditions that would interfere with an invasive surgical procedure. Liposuction is not a weight-loss surgery, so it is essential that patients have realistic expectations about what this procedure can do for them. Ideal candidates should be at or within a reasonable range of their goal weight, which is typically about 20 pounds or less. Liposuction is often used to remove the volume of fat from the following areas of the body:
- Abdomen
- Side flanks or “love handles”
- Chest or back
- Hips
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Upper arms
- Face and neck
- Submental fullness or “double chin”
Liposuction may also be performed in conjunction with additional cosmetic procedures to help you achieve your best results. As the procedure cannot help with loose or excess skin, patients with poor skin laxity may pair liposuction with a tummy tuck or mommy makeover to further enhance their figure’s natural contours.
Benefits of Liposuction Surgery
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that aims to remove excess fat deposits from various parts of the body.
Support for Overall Wellness: In addition to aesthetic improvements, reducing excess fat may contribute to a healthier lifestyle and overall sense of well-being.
Improved Body Contouring: can help in achieving a well-toned body contour by removing stubborn fat from areas like the abdomen, thighs, arms, and buttocks.
Long-lasting Results: surgery results are long-lasting, provided the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle and weight.
Minimal Scarring: requires only small incisions, resulting in minimal scarring and a quicker recovery time.
Increased Confidence: can help individuals feel more confident in their appearance, leading to an improved quality of life.
Liposuction Procedure Options
There are a variety of advanced liposuction techniques available to help you best address your aesthetic concerns. The type of surgical procedure you require will be determined with the help of your surgeon by factors like the area of the body being treated, whether or not you’ve had liposuction performed in the past, the amount of fat being removed as well as your overall goals for the procedure.
The time required to perform liposuction can vary from patient to patient and is often determined by the technique and anesthesia you have chosen for your surgery. In all liposuction procedures, a narrow cannula is inserted through a tiny incision and is used to vacuum the fat that lies deep beneath the skin. This cannula is moved in a back-and-forth motion to break apart the fat cells for a smooth extraction from the body. The following are techniques offered in our office:
Tumescent Liposuction Technique
Tumescent liposuction is the most common liposuction technique used in liposuction procedures. When the tumescent technique is utilized for your treatment, your surgeon will inject large amounts of fluids, usually up to three times the amount of fat to be removed, into the areas being treated. This fluid is a mixture of saline, lidocaine (a local anesthetic), and epinephrine (a drug that constricts the blood vessels) to help easily remove fat from the area. This method takes between four to five hours and is performed on patients who only require local anesthesia.
In the super-wet technique, lesser amounts of fluids are used than in the tumescent liposuction technique; usually the amount of fluids injected is equal to the amount of fat being removed during the procedure. The super-wet technique is performed under general anesthesia and will take about one to two hours.
The Super-Wet Technique
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction
In an ultrasound-assisted liposuction procedure, a special cannula that is designed to produce ultrasound energy is used. As this cannula passes through your treated areas, the ultrasound energy works to rupture the walls of the fat cells, liquifying the fat. The liquified fat is then easily suctioned out of the region. Fibrous areas of the body, such as the upper back or male breasts, are very responsive to this type of technique.
Book Your Consultation
We will review your medical history to better understand your overall health. Our doctor will discuss your goals and help you understand what options may be available and what to expect from treatment.
Result & Recovery
You can expect to see the final results of your liposuction surgery over about six months as bruising and swelling subside and your discreet incisions fade. The effects of your liposuction surgery will be lasting with the proper maintenance and lifestyle habits. While liposuction is designed to remove fat cells from your problem regions, this does not mean you are done with dieting and exercise. Maintaining a stable weight is essential to keeping your newly slender figure intact, as weight gain can cause existing fat cells to grow larger, adversely affecting your surgical results.
For the first few days following your liposuction surgery, you will be encouraged to walk around frequently to help reduce swelling and prevent any blood clots from forming in your legs. You will also be instructed by your surgeon to wear a compression garment over your treated areas for several weeks to help control any residual swelling and will receive a prescription to help manage pain as well as an antibiotic to reduce the risk of infection. After your surgery, you must drink a sufficient amount of water to prevent dehydration and restore lost bodily fluids. For this reason, alcohol should be avoided as well. Patients should also refrain from submerging their treated areas in bathtubs, pools, or bodies of water until they have fully healed from their liposuction procedure.
Recovering after your liposuction procedure is a gradual process, and the timeframe will vary from patient to patient depending on factors like the total amount of fat removed, the number of treated areas, and the surgical technique selected. Immediately following your surgery, you may experience some initial discomfort or soreness, swelling, bruising, or some temporary numbness, though these symptoms are usually easily tolerated and will subside with time. Most patients are comfortable enough to return to work after several days to a week depending on the extent of their procedure. More strenuous activities and exercise should be avoided for several weeks to a month as your body works to heal itself.
FAQ’S
Strenuous Activities: Avoid heavy lifting, vigorous exercise, or any strenuous activities for at least 2-4 weeks to promote healing.
Smoking and Alcohol: Both can impair blood flow and healing, so it’s best to avoid them during recovery.
Hot Baths or Saunas: Steer clear of these for several weeks to reduce the risk of infection and excessive swelling.
Tight Clothing: Wear loose-fitting clothing to prevent irritation and support proper drainage.
Results can be long-lasting if you maintain a stable weight. While liposuction removes fat cells, gaining weight can cause fat to accumulate in other areas. A healthy lifestyle is crucial for preserving results.
Unfortunately, liposuction will not fix loose skin that usually persists after weight loss. For that, Dr. Pu recommends a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. To determine whether a tummy tuck is an appropriate option to address your loose or sagging abdominal skin, schedule an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon for an exam.
Dr. Pu, like most board-certified plastic surgeons, follows the recommendation of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons on this matter: a maximum of 5 L per session (equal to 11 pounds). While this is general advice, your laser liposuction procedure will be tailored by your board-certified plastic surgeon depending on your body type, weight, height, and any intraoperative findings. Trying to push this limit could be dangerous.
Depending on your unique figure and goals, Dr. Pu may recommend a tummy tuck with liposuction to your flanks and back to help you achieve your desired results. To achieve a shapelier backside, you may consider fat transfer to the buttocks. If Dr. Pu agrees, then he will suggest liposuction to additional areas, depending on the amount of fat necessary to achieve your goals.
To discuss all of your options, it’s important to schedule an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to have an exam. At that time, you can discuss other body rejuvenation options, such as breast procedures, to determine your overall options to help you towards your ideal figure.
Pain varies among individuals, but most patients experience moderate discomfort. We typically manage pain with prescribed medications (for larger areas) and recommend over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.
Liposuction primarily targets localized fat deposits to enhance body contour. It does not address skin laxity or muscle separation.
Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and often tightens abdominal muscles, making it ideal for those with significant skin laxity or after pregnancy.
Liposuction will remove pockets of excess fat; however, it will not tighten excess skin. If you have excess skin prohibiting your flatter stomach, you may need a tummy tuck, which may be necessary to help you achieve the slimmer stomach you desire. A tummy tuck will not only give you a flat tummy, but it will also help remove some of your stretch marks as well. Dr. Pu suggests consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon to schedule a physical exam and receive answers to all of your questions. Most consultations are free and very informative.
Pain varies among individuals, but most patients experience moderate discomfort. We typically manage pain with prescribed medications (for larger areas) and recommend over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.
To determine whether you are a candidate for liposuction or tummy tuck, it’s important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Pu. During your consultation, Dr. Pu will evaluate your overall figure and skin quality to determine which procedure would help you achieve optimal results.
Liposuction is a procedure to address pockets of fat, but it will not address excess skin. In fact, liposuction may exacerbate the appearance of sagging skin, leaving you with results you may not be happy with. A tummy tuck is the correct procedure to address sagging skin. If you have both sagging skin and pockets of excess fat, you may need a tummy tuck with liposuction. During your consultation, Dr. Pu will help you choose the correct procedure.
Yes, it is normal to have swelling that may cause some asymmetry after liposuction. The body does not always heal at the same rate, and swelling is very normal. It can take several months before you see your final result as swelling will come and go. Asymmetries are typically minor and should improve over time.