Liposuction

Liposuction is the gold standard when it comes to removing stubborn pockets of fat. Some liposuction procedures can be done with the patient awake with only local anesthesia. However, for larger liposuction areas or liposuction done at the same time as other procedures, for your safety and comfort you will need to be asleep under general anesthesia.

Yes, if you are overweight, you can still have liposuction. The best candidates for liposuction, are patients who are concerned with specific pockets of fat instead of wanting all their body fat remove with surgery. Ideally, we advise our patients to reach their ideal body weight as best they can and be at a stable weight for 6-9 months prior to undergoing liposuction. Patients who are obese with a BMI of 30 or above must know that liposuction is not as effective, as there is typically a significant amount of intraabdominal fat (internal fat around their organs) that cannot be removed with liposuction.

Visceral fat, also called intra-abdominal fat, is fat that is located around the internal organs like the stomach, intestines, and liver. This means it is behind the muscles and cannot safely be removed with liposuction.

In addition to removing excess skin, a tummy tuck will also remove excess fat and tighten the abdominal muscles. Most, if not all, of the fat from your belly button to your pubic hairline will be removed. Fat above the belly button and off to the sides can also be removed at the time of tummy tuck through liposuction. In fact, liposuction is a fundamental part of a tummy tuck for most patients and we include it in the procedure.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure which permanently removes fat from the body, this fat will not return. However, the fat that remains in the body will continue to change with your body’s metabolic changes. This fat can hypertrophy with increased caloric intake and is the cause of weight gain after liposuction surgery. Therefore, it is important to commit to a healthy lifestyle in terms of eating nutritious meals and exercising to maintain a healthy body composition after liposuction surgery.

While liposuction is a wonderful solution for discrete unwanted fat collections that wont go away with diet and exercise, it makes very little impact on cellulite. Cellulite is a genetic condition and very difficult to address, and unfortunately, we do not have effective methods to remove it.

Liposuction works, no question. It takes a few weeks for the swelling to settle and for you to really see the results. While the skin may lose some firmness as you age, liposuction results are generally long-lasting. Fat will not return, and the result will remain intact if you are able to maintain a stable weight. Unfortunately, it is possible for fat to return after liposuction if you do not maintain your weight.

Gaining weight after surgery is, to some extent, normal. Fluid retention, swelling, inflammation and limitation of activities can lead you to gain a few pounds in the first few weeks. You can minimize this by drinking plenty of water, eating well (healthy diet with high fiber, whole grains and fresh fruit and vegetables while minimizing comfort foods high in fat or sugar) and walking distances.

If there was easy way to lose tummy fat fast, no one would have any. Diet and exercise are the most effective methods but take several months to lose a significant amount. Non-surgical options like CoolSculpting are less predictable, require many treatments to see any result, and usually do not work well in patients who want to lose a significant amount of fat. In addition, CoolSculpting has been associated with paradoxical fat hypertrophy which means the fat increases in response to treatment. Liposuction is the gold standard for removing stubborn tummy fat. However, if there is any loose skin, liposuction will only make that worse and you may be best suited with a tummy tuck that removes both fat and skin.

Liposuction is now the 2nd most common cosmetic surgery (breast augmentation is #1) in the US with over 250,000 people having it done every year. Here at Tucson Plastic Surgery, we prioritize patient safety above all else, and ensure the procedure is performed with the highest safety standards to minimize risk of surgery and aesthesia related complications. Dr. Kurtovic and Dr. Mahabir are board-certified plastic surgeons with specialized fellowship training in cosmetic surgery and expertise in performing liposuction. We make sure to review every patient’s medical history and risk factors for liposuction surgery and optimize patient selection and medical health prior to recommending the surgery. Finally, we perform liposuction in a safe surgical environment under general anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist in our state certified Wyatt Outpatient Surgery Center.

First, dont use any tobacco or nicotine products or take aspirin, drugs, supplements that increase the risk of bleeding. Second, try to get some exercise in the weeks leading up to surgery. Even just walking for 30-45 minutes can make a difference in your recovery. And finally, have patience. You and your surgeon will discuss what you hope to achieve with surgery. Remember, that it will take months before you can start to see the final result as you will have to wait for the swelling to subside.

After liposuction, you will be able to shower normally within a few days. In the rare case where you have a drain after surgery, we ask that you wait until the drain comes out to shower. After that, you can remove any dressings or compression garments and shower like usual.

Fat transfer or grafting uses liposuction to take fat from one area where you dont want it (for example the tummy or thighs) and adds it to another area of the body that you feel needs more volume such as your face, hands, breasts or buttocks. The fat is transferred in very small drops so that it can re-establish blood supply from the surrounding tissues. And, because it uses your bodys own fat, the extra volume is permanent.

Liposuction removes fat from the subcutaneous tissue using a tumescent solution that makes the fat easier to remove and helps minimize bleeding. A special liposuction cannula is then used to mechanically disrupt the fat from the skin and is then suctioned out from the body into a canister.

Depending on the amount of liposuction you have and the location you may require a drain for a few days to a few weeks. The reason for this is that when the fat is removed from the skin and body tissue, there will be a significant amount of empty space left behind. The body’s response to liposuction is that it creates inflammation and fluid buildup which collects in those empty spaces. A drain helps remove the fluid effectively, which will enhance your overall recovery and results.

It usually takes about several weeks to fully recover from liposuction. Depending on your job and the extent of the liposuction, you may be able to return to work in just a few days, though typically it is a few weeks. More extensive liposuction, or when it is combined with other surgeries means you will need to be off for several weeks depending on the procedure. You will also need to avoid heavy physical labor / exercise for 6-8 weeks. You should expect bruising, swelling and soreness for the first two weeks after liposuction and your surgeon may require you to wear a garment for a few months after surgery to minimize the swelling. You will receive specific instructions from your surgeon as to when it is safe to return to work.

The cost of liposuction varies greatly depending on how much fat you want removed and how many different areas you want treated. Our prices are all inclusive: the consult, all pre-operative visits, the surgery, anesthesia and surgery center, as well as all post-operative visits and garments. It ranges between $5,000 for one area to $20,000 for 360 lipo (lipo of the front and back). We pride ourselves on an unsurpassed patient experience, natural results and clinical excellence. Please call us or click here to contact us regarding a private consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons as we look forward to meeting you soon.

Insurance will not cover cosmetic liposuction. The cost of liposuction varies greatly depending on how much fat you want removed and how many different areas you want treated. Our prices are all inclusive: the consult, all pre-operative visits, the surgery, anesthesia and surgery center, as well as all post-operative visits and garments. It ranges between $5,000 for one area to $20,000 for 360 lipo (lipo of the front and back). We pride ourselves on an unsurpassed patient experience, natural results and clinical excellence. Please call us or click here to contact us regarding a private consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons as we look forward to meeting you soon.

There is a limit to how much fat lipo can remove in one setting. The current safety recommendation from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is 5L when done as an outpatient. More liposuction can be performed in a single surgery; however, you would then need to stay in hospital overnight. Five liters of liposuction can be close to 10 pounds of fat!

The amount of liposuction performed will determine the level of discomfort experienced in the first few weeks after the procedure. Small amounts or small areas results in less post-operative pain and rarely requires medication other than Tylenol. Larger areas and larger volumes of liposuction can result in more intense discomfort that requires prescription pain medication (we will prescribe that). The pain is greatest two to four days after the procedure and gradually lessens. Tenderness at the area will eventually fade and gentle compression helps to expedite this.

Yes and no. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and you can only safely remove a few pounds at a time. It is meant to address problem areas that simply will not respond to diet and exercise. By treating those stubborn areas that you have been working so hard on, you may find yourself motivated to maintain or even improve your new look with a renewed enthusiasm for a healthy lifestyle. The refreshed commitment may help you lose a few more pounds.

Yes, the results of liposuction are permanent. The fat cells are permanently removed with liposuction and do not grow back. However, you can gain weight after liposuction as the remaining fat cells can get larger. Typically, this happens in different areas of your body where the number of fat cells has not been altered. To minimize this and maintain your results long-term, follow a diet with lots of lean protein, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. And of course, exercise regularly.

By far, the vast majority of liposuction is done as an outpatient procedure in our state certified and accredited outpatient surgery center. We prefer our patients to have the highest level of comfort during their procedure and for our surgeons to be able to do their best work. This means a general anesthetic. There are rare occasions where we will perform large volume liposuction cases and these will require an overnight stay.

No, there is not a specific weight requirement for liposuction. Liposuction is a tool to address focused, stubborn areas of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise. It is not a weight-loss tool. You can expect an easier recovery and better, more noticeable results with a healthier pre-operative weight.

To help maintain your results after liposuction, consider adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein into your diet, while reducing the intake of sugars, simple carbohydrates, and saturated fats. Intermittent fasting or eating several smaller meals throughout the day or two different options will help maintain your energy levels and keep you from feeling deprived between meals. Drink plenty of fluids as it helps control hunger, maintains a healthy metabolism, and aids in digestion. Protect your investment by incorporating healthy eating habits and choosing a healthy lifestyle and you will enjoy your new look for a long time.

The short answer is that it depends. Oftentimes, patients with too much fat in one area do not have enough in another. The best example is the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) where fat is taken from the abdomen and upper/lower back and then injected into the buttocks. Another example is fat injections for breast enlargement/enhancement. Its a win-win in that you take it from where you dont want it and use it where you do. If not being re-injected, the fat is labeled as medical waste and disposed of according to county and state regulations.

AirSculpt Liposuction is essentially laser liposuction with one main difference. At the time the tumescent fluid (local anesthetic) is injected to numb the area to be treated, air is also injected. The exact benefit of this is unclear and has not been well studied. While our board-certified plastic surgeons pride themselves on being cutting edge, they also dont experiment with unproven technology and so we do not currently offer AirSculpt liposuction.

Before the fat is removed with liposuction, it can be treated by a variety of techniques and devices. Laser lipolysis or lipo is a common device and uses heat from various wavelengths to melt the stubborn fat in your problem areas. It is particularly useful in areas like the knees, neck and ankles. There are several machines including SmartLipo, iLipo, TriSculpt, Zerona 2026 but essentially, they all do the same thing. One downside is that the fat may be damaged and not ideal to be injected into other areas like the breast or buttocks.

The most important choice in liposuction is choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon trained to perform liposuction safely and not so much the \u201cright type\u201d. Tumescent liposuction is considered the gold standard for removing fat and reshaping your body with liposuction. Your surgeon injects a sterile solution of salt water, lidocaine and epinephrine into the fatty tissue areas before removing it. This enhances the safety of the procedure, decreases bruising and swelling, reduces discomfort and minimizes downtime.

Vaser (ultrasonic liposuction) utilizes ultrasound energy to target the fat cells specifically. The surrounding tissues are left intact. The results are impressive. Less discomfort, less swelling, less downtime and enhanced skin retraction or shrinkage. In fact, we believe so much in this technology that we provide it to all of our liposuction patients at no extra charge.

There are several types of liposuction. Dry liposuction, meaning no fluid is injected into the tissue prior to the procedure, and has fallen out of favor because this has the highest rates of bleeding complications. The most common methods now include injecting tumescent fluid into the tissue first which contains local anesthetic, saline, and epinephrine to minimize bruising and bleeding. There is standard liposuction which uses a long metal cannula to mechanically remove the fat. You can use a traditional vacuum suction assisted liposuction (SAL), a cannula that moves rapidly, power assisted liposuction (PAL), or one powered by hand. There are energy devices which melt the fat prior to suction removal, these are called laser liposuction or ultrasound ultrasonic liposuction (UAL). High-definition liposuction (HDL) refers to the technique of selectively removing fat in some areas and adding it to others to enhance underlying muscular definition.

The ideal candidate for liposuction is a healthy, non-smoker with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind that they want to achieve with liposuction. Individuals with firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone that are within 30% of their ideal body weight will see the most dramatic and satisfying results. That said, if you are bothered by excess fat deposits anywhere on your body that dont respond to diet or exercise, liposuction may still be right for you. Come and see one of our board-certified plastic surgeons so they can help you realize your new look.

You may feel some mild to moderate discomfort after the liposuction procedure, but it’s entirely manageable with prescription and over-the-counter pain medication.

The initial recovery time takes about 2-3 weeks, but the full recovery is about 6-8 weeks.

Absolutely! If you’re struggling with excess fat you’d like to get rid of, liposuction is completely worth it. It can give you the slimmer body you’ve been looking for remove unwanted pockets of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise.

Liposuction removed fat from the body and in those areas after surgery there will be swelling and bruising. The swelling and bruising are the source of discomfort and improve with time. You will be prescribed pain medications to help with this, and recommended to have lymphatic drainage of the areas to help minimize swelling and improve pain.