What Type of Liposuction is Right for Me?
Summer’s coming. And that means warmer temperatures, less clothing, and more… you. You might have made a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier and exercise more, but despite months of effort, you still have stubborn areas of fat that WILL. NOT. LEAVE. That fat has become an unwanted houseguest, sprawling all over your hips, thighs, stomach, and more, and spoiling your dreams of an idyllic summer. It’s time to send that pesky fat packing. Stubborn fat: meet liposuction.
Traditional liposuction is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery in the United States. It slims and reshapes specific areas of your body by removing excess fat deposits and improving your body shape and contours. Liposuction is most commonly performed on the tummy and love handles and can also be performed on the hips and buttocks, thighs, upper arms, back, chest area, inner knee, calves and ankles, and cheeks, chin, and neck.
Liposuction is typically done as an outpatient procedure. After receiving local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, along with a solution to minimize pain and bleeding, your surgeon will insert a small, hollow tube called a cannula, through a small incision. The cannula’s attached to a vacuum, and your surgeon moves the cannula around to break up the fat, which is suctioned out.
Another option, VASER® Liposelection, uses ultrasound energy to gently break apart fat cells before they’re removed, which ultimately makes the fat easier to remove. Because this method can help break up more dense fat, it’s ideal in some areas where the fat can be more stubborn to remove.
Each type of liposuction will result in pain and swelling and require you to wear a compression garment for several weeks to control the swelling and help with skin contraction. In most cases, you can be back to work and daily life within a couple of days.
And while liposuction isn’t a substitute for proper diet and exercise or a treatment for obesity, it does eliminate fat cells in the targeted area for good. That means as long as you maintain your weight, you should maintain most of the contours from your procedure – making you good to go for many summers to come.
Fortunately, you don’t have to try to figure out on your own which liposuction method is best for you. Your CAPS board-certified plastic surgeon will get to know you during your one-on-one consultation and recommend a course of action based on your aesthetic goals and body type. It’s possible you’ll want to combine your liposuction with a tummy tuck, breast surgery, or a facelift – that’s very common, very doable, and something else you and your surgeon can discuss at your consultation. After all, it’s all about you. If you’re ready to send your pesky fat packing, we’re ready with suitcases (and more importantly, minimally invasive tools). Schedule your consultation today – we can’t wait to help you put your beauty in all CAPS!