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Plastic Surgery

Liposuction

At California Skin Institute, liposuction is just one of several options we offer our patients to contour and tighten troublesome areas of unwanted fat on many parts of the body; including the abdomen, buttocks, chest and arms. Our surgeons perform this procedure as part of a mommy makeover, or to help any patient who has difficulty getting rid of fat pockets, even with proper diet and exercise. If you’re interested in this procedure, it’s important to keep in mind that liposuction techniques have changed greatly over the last several decades. At California Skin Institute we strive to provide patients with treatment options that focus on positive final outcomes, increasing your comfort during the procedure, and using techniques that minimize the need for general anesthesia and shortens recovery time. Hence, we can custom-tailor the procedure to your needs, including the utilization of tumescent liposuction to speed up recovery.

Who is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Liposuction is not an alternative to a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, at times you will find that a healthy lifestyle alone may not be able to address some pockets of fat, requiring professional intervention. The development of these bodily changes can occur because of genetic factors that become apparent with age, as well as localized fat growth during pregnancy (the treatment of which is often referred to as a “mommy makeover”).

Please keep in mind that the best outcomes from this procedure will be achieved if your skin has the tone and elasticity necessary to retract and achieve a smooth outcome following the removal of the underlying fat. However, for patients whose skin has lost elasticity, we can provide other body contouring options in conjunction with the removal of any excess skin.

Can Liposuction Treat Cellulite?

Many patients ask us if liposuction can treat cellulite. Unfortunately, pure liposuction is not effective for cellulite, but California Skin Institute surgeons can use a number of other treatment options to address this issue. For example, we can use Cellulaze, which is a minimally-invasive laser treatment option to treat cellulite.

What is Liposuction?

At California Skin Institute we use a liposuction technique called “tumescent liposuction.” In this approach, a tumescent solution is injected into the treatment site to make fat removal easier. California Skin Institute doctors use a combination of lidocaine (a local anesthetic), and adrenaline (to constrict blood vessels in the treatment area).

There is good reason why tumescent liposuction has become popular over the years; the local anesthetic increases comfort during and after the procedure, and by constricting the blood vessels in the treatment area, blood loss is minimized. Further, tumescent liposuction decreases the need for general anesthesia, or sedatives, in small amounts of liposuctioning. However, larger, or multiple areas of treatment may require general anesthesia.

Liposuction Scars

California Skin Institute doctors take many precautions to reduce scars. Firstly, our doctors strive to make very small incisions during the procedure, and make as few of these incisions as possible. In many cases, liposuction can be performed through incisions that are just a few millimeters in length.

Through the incision, your doctor will insert a small tube (cannula) which is used to carefully draw out excess fat. At California Skin Institute we prefer to use cannulas narrower in diameter. It takes more effort on the part of the doctor performing the procedure, but the narrower liposuction cannula helps us keep the incisions smaller, which minimize scarring for our patients.

Day of Surgery Expectations

A typical liposuction procedure will take anywhere between 2 and 4 hours. Most of our patients are able to go home after the procedure, and full recovery time usually takes several weeks. After treatment, you will be asked to wear a compression garment for a period of time after the procedure so that the tissue can learn its new shape.

Liposuction Results

Liposuction results can be subtle to dramatic depending upon the areas treated and the amount of fat removed. Further, the outcomes depend on the expertise of the doctor and his or her ability to contour the shape of the body through this technique. This point is very important, and California Skin Institute doctors strive not only to remove fat, but to do it in a way that increases the presence of aesthetically pleasing contours. It will take several weeks for the outcome to become fully visible, as your body will need time to heal, and skin will need time to adjust to the new shape.

Disclaimer

Treatment results will vary, talk to a practitioner to see if this treatment or procedure is right for you.


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