Why Choose Liposuction?
While regular exercise and eating a healthy diet are vital for looking and feeling your best, sometimes these things simply do not work when it comes to fat loss. Some individuals, no matter how much they work out or how healthy their diet, still have stubborn fat in one or two body areas.
This fat lingers because of genetics, age or gender, and it cannot be controlled through diet, exercise or other approaches.
Liposuction offers a fat-removal solution. It can help resculpt your body to your ideal form by removing these stubborn pockets of fat.
Is Liposuction Right for You?
If you’re at or near your ideal weight and still have “problem areas,” liposuction may be right for you. We also recommend having good muscle tone and firm skin to see the best results from the procedure.
Problem areas often include the hips, thighs, abdomen and buttocks, but liposuction can also benefit areas such as the ankles, calves, inner knee, chest, back, neck, chin and cheeks.
In many cases, fat removal does not just improve the body’s shape and appearance; it also can improve how your clothes fit—particularly noticeable in the bust, hips, waist and thighs, and can help you if you’re struggling to find flattering outfits due to excess stubborn fat in these body areas.
Ideal candidates for liposuction must also be willing to continue to live a healthy lifestyle after the procedure. While liposuction removes fat cells, and those cells can never grow back, it does not prevent new fat cells from forming in the future.
Can Liposuction Be Combined with Other Procedures?
Yes! Liposuction can be combined with many other plastic surgery procedures, including breast-lifts, tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) and mommy makeovers.
Liposuction can also be used during fat-transfer procedures. Removed fat can be transferred into other body areas as part of the Brazilian Butt-Lift and face-lift procedures.
What to Know About the Liposuction Procedure
Before your liposuction procedure, we recommend living a healthy lifestyle. If you’re a smoker, you’ll need to stop smoking for at least four weeks before your procedure. This is an essential step because it helps to facilitate healing and reduce your risk of complications. You’ll also need to tell us about medications you are taking, including blood thinners, in case you need to modify your medication routine before your surgery.
On the day of your liposuction treatment, you will be prepped for surgery and Dr. Peterson will cover any last-minute details of your procedure.
Dr. Peterson performs an advanced type of liposuction known as tumescent liposuction. A local anesthesia solution is injected into the treatment area before the fat is suctioned away using a thin, hollow tube. Using anesthesia in this manner numbs the area; helps to prevent damage to blood vessels, which minimizes blood loss; and makes fat cells easier to remove. The tumescent liposuction technique is performed under general anesthesia.
Healing after tumescent liposuction can be faster than the traditional liposuction procedure, too, making it a popular option for many people.
How Long Does Liposuction Take?
In most cases, liposuction takes about one hour to perform. Still, the amount of time may vary depending on how many treatment sites you have. Healing also depends on whether liposuction is combined with other procedures, such as the tummy-tuck procedure, which lifts excess skin and removes extra tissue from around the abdomen.
Most people go home after their procedure, but depending on whether you combine liposuction with other surgeries, you might stay in the surgical center overnight.
Are There Risks Associated with Liposuction?
Just like with other surgical procedures, there are risks and complications associated with liposuction. As with any other surgical procedure, if you’re in good health and follow post-surgical instructions, your chance of complications is reduced.
How Do I Prepare for Liposuction Recovery?
If you’re interested in liposuction but worried about the recovery period, most people can return to work on a limited activity level with one week. Liposuction patients can typically return to normal, full activity in six to eight weeks. Dr. Peterson will offer guidance when it is safe for you to resume full day-to-day activity.
After liposuction, it is common to experience some swelling, bruising and soreness in treatment areas. Some patients also have numbness that will subside with healing.
You will have to wear a compression garment after your procedure to help push out excess fluid and improve your results. Dr. Peterson will tell you how long to wear the compression garment.
When Will I See Liposuction Results?
Most patients see their liposuction procedure results very quickly—within one to two weeks. Bruising and swelling may last several months for some individuals. The full results of the liposuction procedure may not be fully realized for up to six months.
Want to learn more about liposuction or other body-contouring treatments to achieve your ideal body shape? Call us today at 785-234-9000 to schedule your consultation.