Guide to Liposuction

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that is used to trim and reshape trouble areas of the body that diet and exercise can’t seem to target. Liposuction removes excess fat deposits, resulting in a more ideal body contour.

Liposuction is an ideal solution for people of normal weight who just can’t seem to shed the last few pounds or have resilient deposits of fat in certain areas of the body. The procedure can improve not only one’s figure, but self-esteem as well.

Unlike diet and exercise, liposuction can target specific areas of the body. Some of the most common areas treated with liposuction are:

  • Inner and Outer Thighs
  • Hips and Buttocks
  • Mid-section (Including the Abdomen and Waist)
  • Upper Arms
  • Love Handles and Other Back Areas
  • Inner Knee
  • Chest
  • Face (Cheeks, Chin and Neck)
  • Calves and Ankles

Why Seek Liposuction?

Occasionally, regardless of a woman’s diet and exercise routine, they may still be burdened with curves in all the wrong places. Localized fat deposits can be stubborn, even with the most rigorous exercise routine. Whether these deposits are a result of genetics or a stubborn body that that is stuck in a plateau, there is a solution.

While it is an amazing solution for those troubling fatty deposits, liposuction is not a weight loss treatment. Liposuction cannot be used to treat obesity or be an alternative solution to a proper diet and exercise routine. Liposuction is also not a treatment for cellulite (the dimply skin that generally appears around the thighs, hips, and/or buttocks). Contrary to popular belief, the factors that contribute to whether or not a person has cellulite have nothing to do with body weight.

Liposuction can be performed safely in conjunction with several other body aesthetic procedures. Some of the most common procedures that are used with liposuction are face lifts, breast reduction surgery, and tummy tucks.

With proper, realistic expectations, liposuction can be the answer you have been looking for to tackle those hard to tone spots.

Liposuction for Men

Since a man’s body does not have to endure the profound changes of pregnancy, body contouring issues are dramatically different for men than they are for women.

For example: Men tend to deposit their excess weight underneath the muscle layers of the abdomen, inside the actual abdominal cavity. Only the excess fat that lies under the skin outside the abdominal cavity can be removed using liposuction techniques.

You should note that liposuction in men is best reserved for those patients with ideal body weight who have congenital or diet and exercise resistant amounts of fat in the love handles or submental area. Patients who are overweight should think about taking the resources they would use for cosmetic surgery and directing them toward a nutritionist or a personal trainer. The improvement in their appearance, as well as the contour of their abdomen, back and flank, will last longer and look more natural than the kind of results that are achieved through the use of plastic surgery techniques.

Liposuction Techniques

Liposuction requires one or more small incisions made near the fatty area that is going to be removed. A hollow tube called a cannula is inserted which suctions the fat. Most liposuction is performed using the tumescent technique, which provides sustained local anesthesia and minimizes bruising. Another technique called ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), which uses ultrasonic waves to break up the fatty tissue, is indicated for certain patients undergoing liposuction.

Anesthesia

The type of anesthesia used depends on the nature and extent of the procedure to be performed. Some procedures may require local anesthesia, while others require intravenous sedation, a regional anesthesia such as an epidural block, or in some cases, general anesthesia.

Before Liposuction Surgery

  • Avoid taking aspirin, advil, motrin, or other aspirin-containing products for two weeks.
  • If you are a smoker, stop smoking to aid in healing.

Recovery After Liposuction

  • You may return to work after several days.
  • You will feel better after a week or two.
  • You will need to wear a snug elastic garment for several weeks.
  • Strenuous activity should be avoided for about a month.
  • Swelling and bruising subside in about 3 weeks, although some swelling may persist for 6 months.

Results After Liposuction

Pre-opPost-op

Pre-opPost-op

Pre-opPost-op

Pre-opPost-op

Next Steps

If you are considering a cosmetic procedure, our team is here to help. Call us at (212) 305-3103 or request an appointment online.

Related