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Liposuction

Liposuction Photos

What is Liposuction?
How much does liposuction cost?
What should you expect at your first liposuction consultation with your plastic surgeon?
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
What are the basic liposuction procedures and techniques?
What are some common changes achieved through liposuction?
What will the liposuction recovery be like?

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction (also called lipo and lipoplasty) is the surgical process by which a plastic surgepn removes fat from a person’s body. Liposuction can be performed on many parts of the body including the stomach, hips, waist, thighs, arms and even ankles. Liposuction is also done on the upper body including the neck, chin, and cheeks.

Liposuction (removal of fat) is also used frequently in conjunction with a tummy tuck operation, a face lift and in some breast reduction procedures.

Certain stubborn pockets of fat may exist for many people in spite of their diligence in dieting and exercise. These fat pockets may be the result of genetics, physical injury, or other factors out of a person’s control. One of the great benefits of liposuction is that the plastic surgeon can target these particularly stubborn areas of fat. Using liposuction, a skilled plastic surgeon can improve your figure by removing fat from specific areas of your body.

With liposuction, the normal result is immediate weight loss. Better yet, the instant weight loss is targeted fat reduction in stubborn fat zones such as the hips, thighs, and stomach. Since the fat removal is targeted according to the patient’s desires, the cosmetic results from losing five pounds from liposuction in a specific area can be much better than the results from five pounds of body-wide weight loss.

How much does liposuction cost?

The costs for liposuction vary. Each person presents a unique situation, so an in-person consultation is needed to get an accurate liposuction price estimate. Nevertheless, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the U.S. national average surgeon fee for liposuction for 2010 was $2,884*

*This amount only represents the average for the surgeon’s fee. It does not include the charges for the anesthesiologist, for the facility where the surgery is performed, or for other associated costs.

What should you expect at your first liposuction consultation with your plastic surgeon?

Some doctors are better than others. Don’t just go to any doctor. Choose a surgeon who is board certified in plastic surgery. That way you will know you have a real expert. Ask friends and relatives for their recommendations. Check out what your state medical board has to say about the doctors you are considering. Be confident that your doctor is qualified.

At your initial consultation for liposuction, you’ll want to explain to the doctor what areas of fat you are particularly interested in eliminating. Liposuction is not a substitute for a reasonable diet and exercise, but it can help those very stubborn areas where even a good diet and exercise don’t seem to help. Write down your specific questions so you don’t forget anything during the consult.

Before and after pictures may give you a realistic idea of what changes are possible with liposuction. View Liposuction Photos.

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

Liposuction is especially effective with people who are at or near their ideal body weight and have good skin elasticity, but still have localized fat pockets. A good candidate for liposuction normally has certain isolated areas of fat that seem especially difficult to eliminate. Finally, a candidate for lipo should have good overall health for his or her age, should be stable emotionally, and should have realistic expectations.

What are the basic procedures and techniques used in liposuction?

Essentially liposuction is the removal of the fat by aspiration (suction). The surgeon makes a very small incision in the skin, and inserts a tiny tube (cannula) through the skin into the fat layer. The tube is attached to a vacuum that sucks out (aspirates) the fat. There are a few variations on the techniques used to remove fat via liposuction. Talk to a board certified plastic surgeon to learn which may be best for you.

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures. It may be performed using general anesthesia or local anesthesia, depending on the circumstances. Liposuction may be performed at a surgical center, a hospital or a doctor’s office. Lipo procedures typically lasts from one to four hours, depending on the amount of fat to be removed, and the location of the fat.

Some liposuction techniques, such as water assisted liposuction (WAL) and ultrasound assisted liposuction (UAL) involve loosening or partially liquefying the fat to make it easier to extract. Smartlipo™ utilizes heat energy from a laser to liquefy fat and coagulate blood vessels for reduced bleeding and bruising.

SAFELipo® is more of a body contouring process than a liposuction technique. This comprehensive, multi-step process gently separates and emulsifies the fat, removes it, then sculpts the remaining fat layer. To learn more about SAFELipo, visit our SAFELipo page.

What are some common changes made by liposuction?

Weight loss, and a slimmer, more contoured shape are the changes achieved through liposuction. Because liposuction is surgery, there will be swelling. As the swelling goes down during the first few weeks, the new shape and contours will become more visible. The final results of the patient’s new body may not be fully apparent until all the swelling has gone down. Complete swelling reduction may take a few months.

What will the liposuction recovery be like?

Most people are able to return to work within 10 days, with some pain and discomfort typically lasting a few weeks from surgery. Pain medication may be prescribed by the surgeon.

For patient-specific information on results and recovery, speak with your board certified plastic surgeon. Carefully follow your doctor’s advice to best assure proper healing and the lasting results you want from liposuction.

Related Links: Costs of Plastic Surgery | Liposuction Before and After Galleries | Tummy Tuck Information | Tummy Tuck Before and After Galleries | Find a Plastic Surgeon | Plastic Surgery Guide