Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction

Liposuction is a very common, 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 may include the hips, buttocks, flanks, thighs, arms, abdomen, knees, ankles, face and neck (among others).

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 tend to be deposited in areas that have not been treated. 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, skin elasticity, and age.

Body contours made irregular by fat can be improved by this procedure; it cannot correct contours that are irregular for other reasons, such as muscle weakness or hernia. However, combined with other procedures, liposuction may correct these other deformities with good results.

The Procedure

Liposuction is done under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis in a hospital or surgical center. The surgeon makes small (less than 1/2 inch), discrete incisions in the areas to be treated. A cannula is inserted in a small incision and attached to a suction machine. The procedure may take 1-4 hours, depending on how many areas are treated. Drain tubes may be used.

Recovery

Recovery from liposuction is normally relatively easy. Expect a fair amount of swelling and bruising in the following 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 to 10 days.

Results are recognizable almost immediately and will continue to improve as swelling subsides. The day of or the day after surgery you should be up and walking around. Increase your activity daily until full activity is resumed as instructed. 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 might note rippling in the treated areas, depending on your skin elasticity.

Following liposuction, the scars will go through a maturation process—during the first 8-12 weeks they may be red and possibly raised. The scars will mature over 6-12 months and become pale, flat and soft. You may experience numbness, burning, and tingling around the incision site. These symptoms are almost always temporary.

Please let us know if you are prone to keloid scars.

Detailed pre- and post-op instructions will be provided for you both during your consultation and after surgery.