Liposuction
Unwanted bulges? Are you tired of working out, watching what you eat and still can’t get rid of those irritating bulges or rolls? No matter what you do or how hard you work they just won’t go away! You are not alone. Thousands of patients turn to liposuction each year to finally rid themselves of those fat deposits that won’t respond to diet and exercise. Liposuction is one of the top cosmetic procedures performed nationally.
Candidates for Liposuction
In our Atlanta, Georgia medical facility, Plastic Surgery Center of the South, a thorough medical evaluation by one of our board certified plastic surgeons will be performed to explain the procedure in detail and answer all your questions. The best candidates for liposuction are normal weight patients with firm elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat. Age is not a major consideration; however, older patients may not have the same elasticity as a younger patient. You should be in good general health. Liposuction is an excellent way to shape the contour of your body by removing excess fat. To schedule a consultation or if you have any questions, please call our office at 770-421-1242.
Also known as suction assisted lipectomy, liposuction is a technique to remove unwanted fat deposits from specific areas of the body, including the chin, neck, cheeks, upper arms, back, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles. Liposuction is a method of removing localized fat that does not respond to dieting or exercise. The procedure has undergone several new refinements over the years providing patients with more precise results and quicker recovery times, as well as increased safety.
About the Procedure
Liposuction is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia. The time required for the operation will vary depending on the different areas that will undergo liposuction. During the operation small incisions are made near the areas of fullness. Most liposuction procedures are done using the tumescent or super wet techniques where a medicated solution is injected into the fatty areas before the fat is removed. The fluid injection is a mixture of intravenous salt solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and epinephrine (a drug the contract blood vessels) which is infiltrated into the areas of fullness allowing the fat to be removed more easily, reduce blood loss and provide anesthesia during and after the surgery. This can also reduce the amount of swelling and bruising after surgery. Liposuction is then performed to remove the excess, unwanted fat cells. The small incisions are closed using a few fine sutures, dressings are applied and a special post-operative liposuction garment is placed. The few sutures are removed within a week and a surgical garment is worn for several weeks or longer depending on your surgeon’s preference.
Recovering from Liposuction
After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. You might even have a small drainage tube inserted beneath the skin for a couple days to prevent fluid build up. You will be placed in a snug elastic garment/girdle to wear over the treated area at all times for the first few weeks. This garment will help control swelling and help your skin to adhere to its new contours. Don’t expect to feel or look great after surgery. You will be very stiff and sore for a few days but any discomfort is easily controlled by medication. Your physician may prescribe pre-operatively an herbal supplement to help minimize the bruising and swelling. It is important that you get up and start walking around as soon as possible to reduce swelling and to help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. Healing is a gradual process. Activity that is strenuous should be avoided for several weeks or so as your body continues to heal. Your physician will instruct you as to when you can return to physical activities. Your return to work or school will vary from a few days to several weeks depending upon the extent of your operation.
You will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body soon after surgery. However, improvements in your contour as the initial swelling subsides in several weeks will be even more apparent. Your final result will not be achieved for up to six months following your procedure. You might find that you are more comfortable in a wide variety of clothes, feel better about your body and have more self-confidence with your new enhanced appearance.
Liposuction is the most common plastic surgery procedure performed. However, as with any operation, there are risks. The most common complication is skin surface irregularties. Patients with normal elasticity and skin tone will have minimal or no irregulatities. Pigmentation changes, numbness and asymmetry may also occur. If a large volume liposuction (greater than 5,000 cc’s removed) is performed, you may be kept overnight to be monitored and given adequate IV fluids and medications. Our patient’s safety, as well as the optimal cosmetic results, is our utmost concern.
Liposuction is a highly effective technique for giving you a new, permanent body contour with minimal scars. If you do gain weight afterwards, you will gain it more uniformly throughout your body, not just in former bulges. Liposuction can enhance your appearance and self-confidence and make you more at ease with your body.
As with any surgery you are considering, a thorough consultation with board certified plastic surgeons is essential. Our state of the art surgical facility allows for your surgery to be done in a private safe environment. We treat patients from all over the state of Georgia as well as the United States and other countries. Say good-bye to those unwanted bulges and call us today to schedule your consultation at 770-421-1242.
