Cosmetic Liposuction Techniques with Results

It can be hard to eliminate stubborn and excess fat on certain areas of the body such as the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, chin, neck and flanks. When diet and exercise are not enough, many patients turn to liposuction to achieve the results they desire by targeting and removing isolated deposits of fat. Patients that are good candidates for liposuction include candidates that are within 25 pounds of their ideal weight, have deposits of fat that have not responded to diet or exercise and are in general good health.

Patients should also be aware of the fact that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure so it will not eliminate cellulite or stretch marks from the skin. It will simply remove localized concentrations of fat and provide subtle body contouring.

Cosmetic Liposuction Techniques

Depending on the results desired by the patient, there are multiple liposuction techniques that can be used by a surgeon:

• Traditional Liposuction – The surgeon inserts a cannula, which is a thin tube, through an incision in the skin of the patient. The cannula is manipulated by the doctor to break apart the fat while also injecting fluid into the area. The fat that is ready to be removed is taken out of the treated area via the cannula.
• Tumescent Liposuction – This technique is much like traditional liposuction except the surgeon injects a solution made of lidocaine, salt solution and epinephrine into the targeted area of fat. The amount of fluid that is injected is usually three times the amount of fat that is being removed.
• Super-Wet Liposuction – This technique is a variation of the tumescent technique in that it uses less fluid injection. The amount of fluid that is removed is normally equal to the amount of fat that the surgeon is removing from the patient.
• Ultrasonic Liposuction – This form of liposuction uses a cannula that emits ultrasonic sound waves into the targeted fat deposits. The sound waves liquefy the fat cells and make them easier to remove. This method also allows the surgeon to remove larger fat deposits and tighten the surrounding skin.
• Power Assisted Liposuction – The cannula for this method has a vibrating tip that breaks up the fat cells.
• CoolLipo – This is a minimally invasive method that is designed to remove fat from more sensitive areas like the neck, arms, chin and jowls by using a laser to break apart fat cells in the targeted areas.
• SlimLipo – This method uses a laser to melt fat cells in the targeted areas.
• Abdominal Etching – A form of liposuction that enhances the abdominal muscles in order to give patients the appearance of “six-pack abs”. The surgeon outlines the muscles as well as the thin layer of fat that can hide these muscles. A liposuction method, to be determined by the doctor, is used to remove the targeted fat and enhance the look of the abs.

Liposuction can also be used in conjunction with other surgical techniques to provide even greater results to the appearance of the patient. In general, liposuction can be combined with a tummy tuck, body lift, thigh lift, breast reduction, arm lift and fat grafting.

Cosmetic Liposuction Results

The final results of cosmetic liposuction can be seen several months after surgery. Initial results can be seen immediately after the surgery but there will be swelling and bruising that hides the final results. It also takes some months for the body to achieve its new, slender shape so the skin might appear to be loose immediately after the procedure.

Swelling and bruising can last for one to three months and then the final results can be around six months after the liposuction treatment. In order to maintain the final results, patients are advised to follow a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis. The fat that is removed from the targeted area will not return but fat can still be an issue in the parts of the body that surround the area that was targeted by the liposuction.

In order to take advantage of the permanent changes to the body that can be achieved by cosmetic liposuction, patients are advised to schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified surgeon that is experienced in providing the natural and long-lasting results that can be achieved through liposuction.

MA