(body sculpting )
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove fat from specific areas of the body and improve body contour and proportion.
When you lose weight with diet and exercise, the fat cells in the body only shrink, but do not disappear. Liposuction actually removes the fat cells from your body, and has become a frequently performed and requested procedure.
Liposuction gives excellent results when designed with specific treatment areas in mind. The technique removes unwanted fat deposit from areas of the body that have not responded to diet and exercise. Many of us have spot areas that have always been a problem, even at or near our ideal weight. This is probably determined to a great extent by our genetics, and most commonly involves the abdomen, hips, thighs, and knees for women, and the “lovehandle” area, abdomen, and chest for men. Other areas that respond nicely to liposuction are the region under the chin, and sometimes the upper arm region. Multiple areas may be treated at the same setting.
Who should consider Liposuction?
You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have too much body fat in specific spots but otherwise have a stable body weight. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, good candidates for liposuction include:
- Adults within 30% of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone
- Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
- Nonsmokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring
What a consultation entails
During your consultation, Dr. Draper will explain the liposuction procedure and your specific liposuction options, as well as show you before/after photos of past liposuction results. In addition, she will evaluate the elasticity of your skin and examine you to determine if you are a candidate for the procedure. She will then recommend a course of treatment, and discuss your expectations for the procedure.
What to expect during the Procedure
In our center, we use the tumescent technique — which allows the safe removal of fat with minimal blood loss. This technique involves the placement of fluid that constricts blood vessels and allows a customized small tube or cannula to move through the tissues with less resistance and much less trauma. Small incisions are closed with a single stitch.
Also available is ultrasound-assisted liposuction, which uses sound waves to disrupt the fat cell wall, making it easier to remove fat in some particularly fibrous areas. It is most useful for male patients with gynecomastia, or for areas that have previously been treated, and does add to the cost of the procedure.
One of the remarkable things about liposuction is that the fat cells that are removed cannot regenerate, so the treated areas are permanently recontoured. Generalized weight gain could still occur with a drastic change in diet or exercise but patients do not complain of the stubborn bulges recurring. In our practice this procedure seems to be a motivating force to stay fit and healthy because the real problem areas have been dramatically improved.
Recovery information
Every patient is different. An exact progression timeline will be based on healing and determined by Dr. Draper. Total recovery time (resume normal activity with no restrictions) should be estimated between 6-8 weeks.
*THIS SHOULD BE PRETTY STANDARD FOR ALL SURGICAL PROCEDURES.