Topics covered:
- What is Liposuction?
- Liposuction Treatment Areas
- Types of Liposuction
- Liposuction Candidates
- Liposuction Safety
- Liposuction Cost
- Liposuction Scars
- Liposuction Risks
- Liposuction Alternatives
- Preparation for Surgery
- Liposuction Procedure
- Liposuction Recovery
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that utilizes controlled suction to remove stubborn buildups of localized fat from various regions of the body. Along with fat reduction, the treatment can achieve a significant improvement in the contour of the targeted area. As a result, our doctors often pair liposuction with tummy tuck surgery, brachioplasty or arm lift surgery, and numerous other body-sculpting procedures to enhance overall outcomes.
Age and weight gain can add pounds to the body and deposit fat in areas you don’t expect. Genetics is a major factor in how fatty tissue is distributed on the body, and some areas may not respond to normal dieting efforts or exercise regimes. Liposuction can reduce fat in these areas and give your body a more proportional appearance. Whether the procedure is done on the hips, waist, thighs, abdomen, or arms, liposuction can create a more balanced, shapely appearance.
The plastic surgeons at Water’s Edge Dermatology in Florida can provide safe, effective surgery to give your body the contours you’ve always wanted.
Liposuction FAQs
Liposuction can remove diet- and exercise-resistant fat accumulations from virtually anywhere on the body. Some of the most common treatment areas include:
- Abdomen
- Back
- Waist
- Hips
- Thighs
- Arms
- Neck
Wherever your problem area may be, our Water’s Edge team will work with you to develop a customized surgical plan to help you achieve the physique you desire.
There are four main types of liposuction available, including:
- Tumescent liposuction: Tissues are filled with fluid to help separate the fatty tissue for removal.
- Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL): Ultrasonic waves are used to liquefy the fat to make it easy to remove.
- Laser-assisted liposuction: Laser energy is used to help dissolve the fat for easier removal from the body.
- Power-assisted liposuction (PAL): A small blade is used to cut through fat for easy removal.
These techniques have different costs, times, recovery periods, scarring potential, and other considerations. Your Water’s Edge surgeon in Florida will determine the best technique for your individual needs and body-contouring goals.
The best candidates for liposuction have realistic goals for their body. The candidate should be in good general health. Liposuction can minimize small bulges and pads of fat that accumulate in common areas of the body.
People with serious health problems such as seizure disorder, cardiac arrhythmias, immunodeficiency diseases, or blood clot disorders may not be good candidates for the liposuction procedure. If the candidate’s skin has poor elasticity, it may not respond well to liposuction. Smoking can have an effect on healing. At Water’s Edge, we recommend quitting smoking before getting liposuction.
Liposuction is safe and effective when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon who is highly trained and experienced in this method of surgical body contouring. The reputable surgeons at Water’s Edge Dermatology in Florida take all safety precautions, utilize approved techniques and equipment, and thoroughly evaluate each patient to make sure they are healthy enough for surgery and a good candidate for liposuction.
If for any reason one of our doctors believes that your health and safety could be compromised by liposuction, we may instead recommend non-surgical fat reduction alternatives that can deliver outstanding results, or advise that you postpone treatment until you meet candidacy requirements.
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The exact price of liposuction varies from patient to patient based on a variety of different elements. Some of the most notable influencers of total cost include:
- The volume of fat removed
- The number of treatment areas addressed
- The particular liposuction technique used
- The plastic surgeon’s level of skill and experience
- The city and/or region of the country in which the practice is located
Supplementary expenses that can also impact the cost of liposuction may include fees for the operating facility, anesthesia, post-operative garments, and any necessary medications.
To obtain a personalized price quote for liposuction, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons. After thoroughly assessing your needs and goals, we can develop a treatment plan customized to your needs and provide a breakdown of all associated costs.
If you are interested in plastic surgery financing, a member of our team will be happy to assist you in exploring your financial options.
Because incisions are necessary to perform liposuction, some degree of scar formation will occur. That said, liposuction incisions are often so small (typically only a few millimeters in length) that any potential scarring is barely visible on most patients. In addition, our physicians aim to hide incisions in discreet locations whenever possible, further limiting the possibility of noticeable scars.
Like any surgical procedure, liposuction does involve some risks; however, our Water’s Edge surgeons will do everything within their power to reduce the likelihood of complications both during and after treatment. Potential risks can include infection, blood clots, fluid accumulation, skin texture irregularities, asymmetrical contours and more.
Prior to liposuction, your physician will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for the procedure and how to care for yourself following treatment. It is imperative that you closely follow every step, as these instructions are designed to help minimize risks and promote optimal results. We also ask that you contact the practice at the first sign of any potential problem so that we can provide early intervention, if necessary. We will discuss all risks with you before you agree to go through with treatment so that you are fully informed.
At Water’s Edge Dermatology, we offer a non-surgical, minimally invasive alternatives to liposuction including Kybella and CoolSculpting.
UltraShape Power is an FDA-cleared, non-surgical body shaping procedure that permanently destroys fat cells by using gentle ultrasound technology to destroy fat in just three treatments.
FDA-approved CoolSculpting is a system that freezes and destroys fat through the skin’s surface to create leaner contours. Sessions are quick, and there is little to no downtime following treatment. With different applicators, CoolSculpting can be performed on almost any area of the body, including the midsection, thighs, upper arms, back, and even underneath the chin.
In addition, we can perform treatments with Kybella, an injectable that is FDA-approved to reduce excess fat from under the chin. Double chin reduction with Kybella requires a series of injections into the targeted fat deposit to break down fat cells. Over time, natural processes carry away the fat cells and eliminate them from the body.
While these treatments can be effective ways to reduce excess fat, they do not deliver immediate removal of fat from the body like liposuction does. Both options require a waiting period before the full results are revealed. If you are not considered a good candidate for liposuction or do not want surgery to achieve your goals, we encourage you to ask your Water’s Edge physician about these options during your consultation.
Our Plastic Surgery Locations
What To Expect: Liposuction Surgery at Water's Edge
1. Preparing for Liposuction
Our physicians will review your medical history to ensure that no problems develop during surgery. We will also direct you to eat a healthy diet before the day of surgery and refrain from taking some medications, such as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs that can affect bleeding or healing. You will be advised to stop smoking at least six weeks before surgery to prevent constriction of blood vessels, a complication associated with smoking. Two weeks before the procedure, you should stop taking all herbs and supplements and restrict your alcohol and salt intake. You should also avoid sunbathing, steam baths and the use of skin products that can irritate the skin.
Your Water’s Edge team will give you specific instructions for the day of surgery, which you should follow carefully to ensure the best results.
2. During the Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction uses special equipment to loosen and vacuum fat tissue out of the body. During the procedure, long thin tubes called cannulas are strategically inserted in and/or around the targeted region to extract the fatty tissue from under the skin until an optimal contour is achieved. The treatment can take between 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the technique employed and whether other surgeries are done at the same time. Liposuction is sometimes combined with other plastic surgery procedures, such as tummy tuck and breast augmentation.
3. Liposuction Recovery
Recovery from liposuction varies by patient. Some individuals will feel little discomfort and are on their feet and back to work within a few days. Other patients may find liposuction more difficult. They may experience drainage from the incision area for a number of days and feel significant discomfort. Most patients feel some degree of soreness in the incision area. Your Water’s Edge physician will provide pain medication to keep discomfort to a minimum.
Generally, you should start walking around as soon as possible to help reduce swelling that occurs after the procedure. A reddish discharge may continue for several days after the procedure. The area may show bruising, but this will fade quickly over a number of days. You may notice numbness in the area of the incision, but this symptom will also fade over a period of time.
It can take up to six months for the numbness to completely dissipate. You will have to wear a compression garment after the procedure to help your tissues settle into their new shape. Avoid strenuous activities for three weeks to allow complete healing. Most patients are back at work in four to seven days. The full results of the procedure will be evident over several weeks.*
*Individual results may vary