Liposuction is a very common and popular procedure. It is designed for the permanent removal of fatty tissue. It is an elective procedure that allows the plastic surgeon to remove undesirable, subcutaneous fat in isolated areas that do not respond to diet and exercise. These areas include the hips, thighs, abdomen, knees, ankles, face and neck.

Liposuction is most successful in people with good skin tone who have fatty deposits. It is not a treatment for obesity. If weight gain occurs following liposuction, the fat will be deposited in areas that have not been treated and to a lesser degree in the areas that have been suctioned. The procedure can be repeated, if necessary. To maintain the safety of the procedure, there is a limit on how much can be done at one time.

A variety of factors can affect the results: Physical condition, genetic makeup, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, and skin elasticity.

Body contours made irregular by fat can be improved by this procedure; it cannot correct contours that are irregular for other reasons, such as a protuberant abdominal wall after pregnancy or overly stretched skin. However, when combined with other procedures such as abdominoplasty, liposuction can correct these other deformities with good results.  There is a limit to the amount of fat that can be safely removed in a given procedure.

The Procedure

Liposuction is usually done under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis in our surgery center. Occationally, smaller areas can be liposuctioned under sedation or "twilight" anesthesia.  The surgeon makes small (less than 1/2 inch), discreet incisions near the areas to be treated. A cannula is inserted in a small incision and attached to a suction machine. The procedure may take an hour or more, depending on how many areas are involved.

Some patients will benefit from ultrasonic liposuction with the VASER Liposelection system.  Patients wanting liposuction of the back and flanks are usually good candidates.  Male patients are also good candidates as are patients that have had previous liposuction.

Recovery: What to Expect

Recovery from liposuction is relatively easy. Expect a fair amount of swelling and bruising in the following two weeks. You will wear special garments provided to apply pressure, minimize swelling and provide support while healing. These garments also assist in retraction of the skin. Stitches will be removed in a week.

Results are usually recognizable immediately, but may be masked by swelling in the treated areas. The results will continue to improve as swelling subsides. The day after surgery you should be up and walking around. Increase your activity daily until full activity is resumed at approximately 4 weeks. You will be ready to return to office work in 3-5 days and more active employment at approximately 10-14 days. Avoid the sun until all bruising has subsided. A sunscreen should be used routinely; it is easy to get sunburned during recovery because of decreased sensation. The results of liposuction are permanent. If you were to gain a large amount of weight you will still gain weight in the areas that have been suctioned, but not as much as would be gained if no liposuction had been performed.

                                                                      Link to Liposuction Photos