Actual Patient
Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgeries in the United States. For many people who have areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise, liposuction might well be the answer for body contouring.
Liposuction can be performed in almost any area where there is a significant accumulation of subcutaneous fat. Areas commonly targeted with liposuction are the neck (under the chin), upper arms, male chest/breasts, trunk, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, inner knees, and calves. And once the fat is gone, it will not return to the treated area, unless the patient gains a significant amount of weight.
And liposuction isn’t just for women: many men have liposuction to treatment “love handles” and/or abdominal fat that they just can’t get rid of with diet and exercise.
How is liposuction performed?
Liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery in which the surgeon permanently removes fat deposits from various parts of the body. The fat is removed via a hollow instrument called a cannula, which is inserted through a small incision and goes under the skin into the fatty deposits. It is important to note that liposuction does not remove cellulite, dimples, or stretch marks, although it can help to change and enhance the contour of the patient’s body. A key ingredient for good results with liposuction is that the patient should have good quality skin elasticity. Patients with loose or floppy skin are not good candidates for liposuction and may need a different type of corrective procedure.
The liposuctioned fat can, optionally, be used for fat grafting techniques – like the Brazilian Butt lift, facial contour restoration, or breast enhancement.
What are the available liposuction options?
There are a number of options for liposuction – and most of them work equally effectively. The key factor to look for is the experience of the surgeon, not the brand of liposuction machine used. We have a lot of experience with the Power-Assisted Lipoplasty (PAL) System for liposuction. The PAL System features a motorized cannula that vibrates back and forth, much like an electric toothbrush, making the fat easier to remove with less trauma than standard manual liposuction. The PAL system is FDA-approved, clinically effective, and is felt by many experts to represent the best combination of safety and efficacy.
The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis, with the use of general anesthesia, in our on-site AAAASF surgical suite. An overnight stay can be arranged, if desired, for patients who are having larger volumes of liposuction performed, or who would prefer the additional recovery time in a monitored, professional setting.
Am I a good candidate for liposuction?
Some factors make you a better liposuction candidate than others. First and foremost, it needs to be determined that you are in good overall health, and also have good skin elasticity. Besides this, you should be close to or at your ideal weight – liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure, but rather a body contouring one. Based on published research showing a major link between obesity and the risk of complications, we do not recommend liposuction unless your BMI is 30 or less. (For our recommendations on body contouring and pre-op weight, click here.)
You should also possess reasonable expectations from the procedure – liposuction isn’t a miracle cure for imperfections, but can help you reach a body shape that is closer to your ideal.
Finally, the targeted fat needs to be subcutaneous or located immediately under the skin. Fat that is within the abdominal cavity – often known as internal fat or omental fat – can not be treated with liposuction. This can be determined by physical exam, or with the use of our in-office ultrasound machine.
Be sure to download our free e-book on liposuction & tummy tucks. It’s filled with answers to frequently asked questions. We recommend reading through this book, prior to your liposuction consultation.