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Home / Medical Services / Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery / Cosmetic Surgery / Body / Liposuction

Liposuction

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Liposuction is a procedure that removes areas of unwanted fat from the thighs, abdomen, flanks, arms, back, chin, and more. Liposuction is meant for patients who have a large amount of fat that they wish to be removed.

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Is Liposuction Right for Me?

Liposuction is ideal for individuals who experience stubborn areas of fat even after adhering to a stringent diet and exercise program. Liposuction is for patients who have large amounts of fat that they would like removed. Awake Lipo is for patients who have some fat they would like to be removed, and the procedure is not as drastic as traditional Liposuction. These procedures are not considered weight loss procedures, and an ideal candidate should be close to their ideal body weight and in good health.

What are the differences in liposuction and awake lipo?

Awake Lipo is for patients who have some fat they would like to be removed, and the procedure is not as drastic as traditional Liposuction. These procedures are not considered weight loss procedures, and an ideal candidate should be close to their ideal body weight and in good health. Instead of a combination of IV sedation and local anesthesia used in traditional liposuction, Awake Lipo is a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia, permitting the patient to be awake, reposition and stand up as the procedure is being performed, allowing the surgeon to perform an immediate assessment and fine-tune contouring during the procedure. Additionally, Awake Lipo uses a smaller cannula, which can result in less bruising and minimal discomfort.

Can I move my unwanted fat to another area of my body?

Yes, this is called a “Fat Transfer”. After Liposuction is completed, we then take the fat and “clean it”. The fat is then reinserted to the area you would like to enhance. The most common area to transfer fat to is the breasts.

Your Liposuction Surgery Process

Before Surgery
You will first meet with one of our Cosmetic Consultants who will guide you through your entire plastic surgery journey here at RefinedLooks. Our Cosmetic Consultant will take your imaging photos with our Vectra camera that will allow you to review, decide and deliver exciting possibilities of your anticipated procedure using our Sculptor 3D software.

Meet with the surgeon of your choice and ask questions. Review your health history and liposuction goals with your surgeon to determine if liposuction, awake lipo, or a combination of body contouring procedures, is right for you. Discuss fees/financing and schedule surgery with our surgery coordinators

Day of Surgery
Your Liposuction and will be performed in our fully accredited in-office surgical suite or in a same day surgical facility as an outpatient procedure. Local anesthesia is injected into the areas to be treated. The anesthesia takes approximately 20 minutes to take effect. Small incisions are made in designated areas and a small tube is inserted and fat deposits are removed. The physician may ask the patient to reposition or stand during the procedure to identify any additional areas that may need to be treated.

Recovery
You can expect to be in recovery for 1 hour after your surgery. After having liposuction or awake lipo, you will be placed in a compressive garment, which will help minimize swelling and bruising that you may experience. This garment is typically worn for one month to six weeks. After the garment is discontinued, your surgeon will discuss with you your returning to your regular exercise routine.

Liposuction Surgery Frequently Asked Questions

Where and how big are the incisions for liposuction?

The incisions are usually placed within the natural folds of the skin so that they are virtually undetectable after healing has progressed. The parts of the body that are treated determine where the incisions are placed. The incisions will vary between 1⁄8″ up to 1⁄2″ inch depending on the type of cannula and technique used.

Is liposuction effective in removing cellulite?

Cellulite can be best managed by successful weight reduction programs. There are no effective creams, medications or lotions that will improve cellulite. Liposuction does not effectively treat cellulite either although it may be somewhat helpful in selected areas.

Which areas of the body are best for liposuction and which are least effective?

Liposuction is used in the following areas most effectively: Chin and neck; upper arms; breast area; back; abdomen and waist; hips and buttocks; thighs; inner knees; and to a lesser extent, the calves and ankles. The buttocks and particularly the medial thigh areas should be treated with caution as removing too much fat may result in the excess skin being obvious.

How much weight difference will there be after liposuction surgery?

Fat tissue is not extremely dense or very heavy, thus removing three to five liters of fat from your body will not result in significant weight loss. The difference will be in your body contour, usually in inches and how your clothes fit. You may even initially gain a small amount of weight in the immediate postoperative period due to fluid that is given during surgery. Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity but it can permanently change body proportion and eliminate fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise.