Liposuction
There is only one way to immediately and permanently remove excess, unwanted fat—liposuction. If exercising and eating healthy hasn’t provided the results you are after, then it might be time to consider other options to remove the last of the stubborn fat pockets. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are important for overall health, but only the size of the fat cells is reduced. Fat cells form the adipose tissue in your body, and they are able to grow when you consume a surplus of calories and shrink when you are living on a calorie deficit. However, these cells can neither die off or multiply naturally after birth. The only way to remove them permanently is through procedures like liposuction.
Most of us would like to reduce the size of the waist, upper arms, or remove the bra bulge in the back. Liposuction gives an expert surgeon the ability to remove targeted fat quickly and permanently*. Once that fat is removed with lipo, it can never come back again. Patients at Spectrum Plastic Surgery often choose to combine liposuction with other procedures such as a tummy tuck, arm lift, or thigh lift. However, liposuction can also be its own standalone plastic surgery procedure.
Liposuction can remove fat of the:
- Abdomen
- Back
- Thighs
- Arms
- Breasts
- Face
- Submental area (chin)
How Liposuction Works
This procedure works by removing excess adipose tissue from the subcutaneous layer of the skin. Once these cells are removed, they cannot regenerate. This allows the board-certified surgeon and Spectrum Plastic Surgery to sculpt the treated area and give you the results you want. It’s important to note that this procedure’s ability to remove a large amount of fat often leads to the skin not being able to recover as quickly. This may lead to sagging skin after the procedure and it’s the reason that many patients couple liposuction with other procedures like a tummy tuck or an arm lift.
What to Expect During the Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is a relatively minor procedure, and uses small incisions that will be nearly impossible to spot once they are healed. Anesthesia is used to ensure the procedure is painless, and this might involve local or general anesthesia depending on the area being treated. Incisions are then made on the body to allow access for the cannula, which is the device responsible of dislodging and suctioning the fat from the subcutaneous layer of the skin. The cannula is a tube with a sharp end, similar to a very large needle. After the procedure is over, the incisions are closed with sutures and the patient can begin their short recovery. Results are noticeable once swelling goes down, usually a few days after the procedure.
How Liposuction Works
This procedure works by removing excess adipose tissue from the subcutaneous layer of the skin. Once these cells are removed, they cannot regenerate. This allows the board-certified surgeon and Spectrum Plastic Surgery to sculpt the treated area and give you the results you want. It’s important to note that this procedure’s ability to remove a large amount of fat often leads to the skin not being able to recover as quickly. This may lead to sagging skin after the procedure and it’s the reason that many patients couple liposuction with other procedures like a tummy tuck or an arm lift.
What to Expect During the Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is a relatively minor procedure, and uses small incisions that will be nearly impossible to spot once they are healed. Anesthesia is used to ensure the procedure is painless, and this might involve local or general anesthesia depending on the area being treated. Incisions are then made on the body to allow access for the cannula, which is the device responsible of dislodging and suctioning the fat from the subcutaneous layer of the skin. The cannula is a tube with a sharp end, similar to a very large needle. After the procedure is over, the incisions are closed with sutures and the patient can begin their short recovery. Results are noticeable once swelling goes down, usually a few days after the procedure.
What’s the Advantage of Liposuction vs. Other Treatments
If you have given exercise and dieting a chance and still can’t get the results you want, then you are likely looking at alternatives. The first thing you need to know is that there are surgical and non-surgical procedures to get the taut body you’ve been working towards. Among the most popular non-surgical treatments you will find CoolSculpting, which is perfect for patients who are near their ideal body weight and need a treatment for the final step of their body transformation.
Choosing to go with a surgical procedure gives you choices like Cellfina, BodyTite, and liposuction. If you are happy with your overall weight but are struggling with cellulite, then Cellfina might be the right procedure. BodyTite is less invasive that liposuction and uses radiofrequency to apply heat to kill off fat cells*.
A big downside of non-surgical treatments is the length of time it takes to see results, often needing months for full results to become apparent. This is where liposuction excels over these other treatments. Liposuction is only minimally invasive, with the procedure lasting up to a couple of hours and recovery being quite quick. Results from liposuction can be appreciated about a week after the procedure, once the swelling subsides.
The amount of fat that can be removed with liposuction is also a reason people choose it over other non-surgical treatments. It’s crucial to talk to your board-certified surgeon about your goals, as this will determine which option is best for you. Finally, non-surgical options often require multiple sessions to achieve results. Patients will opt for liposuction because they know that once the procedure is done, that’s it. The fat will be eliminated immediately and all at once.
Liposuction also has the advantage of being complemented with many other procedures like a tummy tuck, mommy makeover, arm lift, or even a facelift. Patients often combine these procedures to avoid any saggy skin that may remain after suctioning off large amounts of fat with liposuction. Combining these surgeries optimizes results and gives you the results you’re after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take the Next Step with Liposuction
If you’ve been dieting and exercising without seeing the results you want, don’t worry. Everyone is born with their own natural shape, number of fat cells, and unique fat cell distribution. Dieting and exercising can only reduce the size of fat cells overall while also building muscle mass and tone. The only way to truly sculpt the body and get rid of stubborn fat permanently is with liposuction. There’s a reason it’s been one of the most popular procedures around the globe for decades. It works, it’s fast, and it gives you the results you’ve always wanted.
To learn more about liposuction, schedule your consultation with one of our board-certified surgeons today. Learn more about how liposuction can be used to sculpt, shape, and contour the body or how it can optimize the results of other procedures like tummy tucks to thigh lifts. Liposuction allows you and your surgeon complete control of your aesthetics, making your body goals a reality. Even better, the downtime is shorter compared to other procedures and you can often schedule liposuction before a big event without worrying about a long recovery period.
Get the body you deserve with liposuction. Contact Spectrum Plastic Surgery today at (480) 579-2090 and learn more about how liposuction can change your life for the better.