Many questions exist about liposuction. Most people have an image of a very violent and bloody procedure with results that are less than optimal. Todays liposuction is much different. Due to techniques we use today, liposuction can be done in the office, with only sedation. I would like to address a number of questions that are commonly asked of me during a consult, and many points that I like to talk about with patients to help them understand what they are to expect.
First, will I get fat in other areas after liposuction? This is one of the more common questions I am asked. The theory is that we are all born with a finite number of fat cells. As we gain or lose weight, we do not gain or lose these cells, they just grow or shrink in size. Some data show that in the super obese, cell numbers may actually increase but we don't liposuction these people. During liposuction, we remove fat cells in the area we are treating. Therefore, if someone gains weight after liposuction, it will accumulate in other areas since we have removed the fat cells in the area they have gained in before. This is true, however, to make a significant difference, it has to be a significant amount of weight....20-30 lb. Most people that spend the money on this type of procedure are not going to let this happen.
Second, will I get lumpy in the area of liposuction? This can happen, especially after weight gain. If you think about the procedure, we are removing layers of fat...not all of the fat. Some remains. This is a good thing. Leaving a layer of fat below the skin allows the skin to remain smooth and supple. Oversuction can create dents and allow the skin to scar to connective tissue underneath....both bad things. With some live fat remaining, if you gain weight, these pockets of fat cells will increase in size and can form areas of lumpiness. Lumps in the immediate period after liposuction are a normal thing. Usually they are a little sore and represent areas where fat has been damaged and the body is breaking them down. I like for people to massage these areas to speed up the process. It can take several weeks to months for them to completely resolve.
Third, will my skin be saggy after the procedure. This is the thing that is hardest to predict. The things I look for are the ones that indicate skin quality before the procedure. For example:
The stretch marks in this photo would indicate to me that a tummy tuck would be a better choice for her...why? Her skin will have less of a chance of contracting after the fat is removed because of the poor starting skin quality. It will be more likely than not that her skin will not contract. This does not rule out liposuction for her but she must understand that, in clothes, she will look better and more sculpted, but in a swimming suit, the skin will still look bad and possibly more saggy. If her skin were smooth, she would be a much better candidate.
Fourth, will the newer technologies help the final result? Yes and no is the answer. Laser and ultrasound technology have helped but they are not the silver bullet. I like to use them as an adjunct to traditional liposuction. The idea is that heating the skin from the inside does cause some contraction, how much is the unknown. I remove the fat first then use the laser to heat the skin to allow skin contraction. Several studies have been done that indicate the use of these technologies alone are sub-optimal and my experience verifies this.
We do liposuction often and combine it with many procedures. It is a great procedure and helps a lot of people. We do the procedure in the office with sedation and tumescent solution. This solution contains lidocaine that numbs the area and also epinephrine that causes the small blood vessels to contract and limits blood loss. Patients recover quickly and this depends on the size of the treatment area. It takes the skin several months to contract and heal so the final result is seen after 3-4 months.
Come see us for a consult and for a limited time receive 10% off of the procedure. Don't forget our laser and breast offers too!!!!
918-786-7780