Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that permanently removes fat from specific areas of the body. By removing the fat cells in these areas, a cosmetic surgeon can shape these areas to the patient’s specifications. This makes liposuction an effective body contouring procedure. Liposuction has been one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for many years.
You should not think of liposuction as a weight loss method. Liposuction is best used when you are at a healthy weight but have stubborn pockets of fat that won’t let go. As in, no amount of diet or exercise will enable these pockets to melt away. If you have pockets of fat like that, liposuction allows you to contour your body in specific places. Here are the various locations around the body where liposuction can be used.
Facial liposuction is most commonly performed on the cheeks. Removing excess fat cells from the cheeks allows the surgeon to contour these areas on the upper portion of your face. As you heal, the skin of the cheeks will mold around this newly shaped area. This gives you a slimmer face, leading to a more pronounced jawline.
Cheek liposuction is sometimes performed alongside other cosmetic procedures such as a facelift.
Chin liposuction is also referred to as submental suction-assisted lipectomy. During this surgical procedure, unwanted deposits of fat are removed from under the chin. This helps to eradicate the double chin and produces a more defined jawline.
Then there is the extended submental liposuction that is aimed at removing a horizontal band of excess fat that extends beyond the jawline, which provides a reduction in the appearance of neck heaviness.
Neck liposuction is aimed at eliminating fat from around the neck. This lipo can also eradicate the appearance of a double chin while giving you a more defined jaw. Both men and women also use neck liposuction to address a “buffalo” hump, which is characterized by the appearance of extra fat on the back of the neck and upper shoulders. Lipo can remove this fat to prevent it from expanding.
Liposuction is used on the chest by both men and women. Women with larger breasts undergo liposuction as part of a breast reduction. By removing excess fat from the breasts, the woman is able to attain shapelier and younger-looking breasts. Breast liposuction is also sometimes added to breast augmentation and breast lift surgery to give women optimal results.
Male cosmetic surgery patients undergo liposuction on the chest during gynecomastia surgery. Gynecomastia is a condition that leads to the excess growth of breasts in men due to a hormone imbalance, steroid use, obesity, and certain medications. Male liposuction removes the excess fatty tissue in the breasts to restore a more masculine appearance to the chest area.
Read our article: Are You a Good Candidate for Male Breast Reduction Surgery?
Liposuction can be used on the upper or lower back. Many women complain about back rolls or bra strap fat. Liposuction can remove fat along these areas to create a more contoured back. The upper back is also where people tend to form a buffalo hump, which is where fat accumulates behind the shoulder. The lower back is also ideal for lipo, which creates a slimmer silhouette. While back liposuction is popular, the procedure can lead to an increased risk of hyperpigmentation of the skin, which is a permanent discoloration if too much fat is removed.
Waist liposuction is one of the most requested areas for lipo, which gives patients a slimmer waist. That is because the area around the waist is one of the hardest areas to lose stubborn body fat using diet and exercise alone. By undergoing waist liposuction, patients can dramatically reduce their waist size by several centimeters, which creates a markedly slimmer waistline.
Liposuction on the abdomen is another popular treatment as many people are insecure about their excess belly fat which is difficult to lose naturally. Lipo along this area tends to create a flatter and more contoured midsection. Liposuction is sometimes performed alongside the tummy tuck to remove excess fat and saggy skin.
The flanks, commonly known as love handles, are the areas between the ribs and hips. It is this location where many people have concerns over rolls or bulges of fat accumulating. Flank liposuction creates a slimmer shape and can be used as a preventative measure to maintain a slimmer physique.
For many women, the upper arms become a repository for fat. This can cause the area under the arm to hang down. This condition is colloquially referred to as bingo wings or bat wings. Liposuction along this area can remove the excess fat from under the arms. In extreme cases, excess skin is also cut away to create firm and toned arms by way of an arm lift.
The hips are another popular area for liposuction as the hips tend to deposit along the hip area. When fat builds in this area, a banana-shaped bulge of fat can form between the bottom of the buttock and the top of the thighs. This fatty tissue is usually resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction can eradicate hip fat, which not only contours the body but also helps clothes fit better.
For most of us, the buttocks area is an acceptable place to accumulate a moderate amount of subcutaneous fat. When the fat is well-proportioned, the buttocks can be aesthetically pleasing and fit clothing more comfortably. When too much fat accumulates on the butt, liposuction can reduce the size and create smoother, more symmetrical results.
Fatty tissue can build on both the inner and outer thighs. When fat accumulates on the outer thighs, we call that condition saddle bags. If you want more toned and smoother-shaped legs, liposuction can be used on both sides of the thighs to create the desired results. Liposuction is sometimes used alongside the thigh lift to remove fatty tissue and eradicate saggy skin.
Excess fat can accumulate around the knees as a result of weight gain or genetics. Having an excess amount of weight along the knees can create concerns regarding the appearance of the legs. Knee liposuction helps to contour the legs by making them appear slimmer.
Fatty ankles and calves can make the calf area indistinguishable from the ankles. This condition is sometimes crudely referred to as cankles. Excess fat and swelling in the calves can sometimes reduce movement. Calf and ankle liposuction can reduce calf size, reshape the lower leg, and improve issues of mobility.
All procedures come with risks. The risks of liposuction will be discussed with you during your consultation with the cosmetic surgeon. Examples of risks include bruising, swelling, fluid accumulation, injection, nerve damage, asymmetry, heat injury, and deep vein thrombosis (blood clot).
Before the liposuction procedure, you and your cosmetic surgeon will discuss what to expect from the surgical session. Your surgeon will review your medical history and ask about medications and herbal supplements you might be taking. Your surgeon may recommend that you stop taking some medications for at least three weeks prior to surgery, such as blood thinners. He may also order lab tests to be performed prior to undergoing liposuction for your safety.
If liposuction requires the removal of only a minuscule amount of fat, the procedure may be performed in an office setting. For larger amounts of fat, or if you plan to have other procedures performed at the same time, such as the tummy tuck, the surgery may take place in a hospital followed by an overnight stay.
In either case, you should arrange to have someone drive you home and stay with you for at least the initial night following your procedure.
When you arrive at the surgical center for the liposuction procedure, the surgeon may mark lines and circles along the treatment area. The surgeon may also take before photos so that after images can be compared.
Your surgeon will choose the appropriate liposuction technique depending on your treatment goals and the area to be treated.
Tumescent liposuction is the most common type of liposuction. To begin, the surgeon injects a sterile solution, which is a mixture of salt water and lidocaine, which numbs the area and aids permanent fat removal. The fluid mixture causes blood vessels to contract, which leads to swelling and stiffening.
The surgeon then makes small cuts in the skin, which function as insertion points for a thin tube called a cannula. The cannula is connected to a vacuum that allows the fat to be suctioned from the body. Body fluids removed by the cannula are replenished intravenously.
HD Lipo in Los Angeles, CA
HD Lipo (VASER) is an ultrasound liposuction procedure that takes traditional liposuction to the next level. Using a beam of radiofrequency energy, the fat is liquefied under the skin. This allows the fat to be flushed from the body to reveal the musculature underneath all that annoying unwanted fat.
Read our article: Liposuction vs. HD Lipo – What’s the Difference?
Following lipo, you should expect some swelling, bruising, and slight discomfort. Your surgeon can prescribe medication to control the pain. Antibiotics can help to control the risk of infection.
In some cases, temporary drainage tubes can be installed at the incision points to promote fluid drainage. You will likely be asked to wear tight compression garments to reduce swelling and aid healing.
It will take a few weeks before you can return to your normal activities, but most are able to return to work after only a few days.
After undergoing liposuction, you should expect swelling to subside within a few weeks. The treatment area will appear less bulky over time. The treatment area will take on a leaner appearance after a few months.
The results of liposuction are long-lasting as long as you stick to a healthy weight. Gaining weight after liposuction can cause your body’s fat distribution to change. This can create a bulky appearance in places you may not expect. By maintaining your weight, the effects of liposuction can be permanent, though it is natural for the skin to lose some firmness with age.
Choosing a board-certified cosmetic surgeon with a reputable surgical facility can improve your chances of attaining the results you want with liposuction. When you take the time to find a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, you can feel confident you are receiving top-quality care from the consultation to the surgery and beyond. Your surgeon will discuss treatment options and the results of liposuction depending on your situation and aesthetic goals.
Ready to Achieve Your Aesthetic Goals with Liposuction?
Liposuction is a customizable and versatile cosmetic surgery treatment option that can help you attain a sleeker physique. Liposuction can also help your self-esteem soar. Because it can be applied to a number of areas from head to toe, you have quite a few ways to reach the goals you have for your body.
If you are self-conscious about your pockets of stubborn body fat and would like a more toned appearance, board-certified cosmetic surgeon Doctor Babak Moein can help. With several decades of experience, he has performed liposuction permanent fat removal on countless patients such as yourself, helping them achieve their aesthetic goals while improving their confidence. To learn if liposuction is right for you, schedule a consultation today by calling us in Los Angeles at (310)694-4486.