LIPOSUCTION

General Information

  • Body Parts: Liposuction targets areas such as the buttocks, hips, belly, inner thighs, knees, arms, double chin, and other body regions, helping to reshape and contour the body.

  • Recommended Age: Best suited for individuals after adolescence when the body has fully developed.

  • Anesthesia: Local anesthesia is typically used, although epidural anesthesia may be an option in some cases for added comfort.

  • Surgery Time: The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours, depending on the areas being treated and the amount of fat to be removed.

  • Clinic Stay: Most patients stay in the clinic for 8 to 24 hours for monitoring and post-operative care.

  • Scar: A small cut, less than one centimeter, is made during the procedure, typically hidden in natural body folds to minimize scarring.

  • Post-operative Care: A protective bandage should be worn for 24 hours. Depending on the case, additional special garments may be required to support healing and contouring.

  • Recuperation Period: Patients typically require 5 days of rest, with a gradual return to light physical activity after 14 days to support the healing process.

  • Results Duration: The results of liposuction are generally permanent when combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet, as long as the weight is maintained.

Who is a Candidate for Liposuction?

Liposuction is ideal for individuals with excess subcutaneous fat that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise. It is commonly used to improve body contours in areas such as the chin, upper arms, chest, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles.

Most candidates are near normal weight and seek permanent body contour changes. Advances in liposuction techniques now allow for the removal of larger volumes of fat, making it an option for individuals with higher body weight as well.

Intended Results

The procedure offers permanent improvement in body contours and proportions, resulting in a more flattering figure, both in and out of clothing.

Description of Liposuction

Liposuction is typically performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Small cannulas are inserted through discreet incisions to remove excess fat.

For larger volumes of fat removal, patients may be asked to donate blood and take supplemental iron prior to surgery, with their own blood used for a transfusion if needed during the procedure.

Recuperation and Healing

After surgery, a compression garment or tape is worn to reduce swelling and speed up the final results, typically for about a month. Once pain and discomfort subside, patients often find it more comfortable to wear lycra or spandex exercise pants.

Initial discomfort can be managed with oral medications. Bruising and swelling usually improve within 2 to 4 weeks, with the final results visible within 2 to 3 months.

Other options for Liposuction:

Additional procedures that may enhance the result are Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty), Breast Reduction, Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, Thigh Lift or Buttock Lift.

Insurance guidelines for Liposuction:

The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Major complications are rare.