Liposuction
What is liposuction?
Also known as lipoplasty, liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits, improving your body contours and proportion, and ultimately, enhancing your self-image.
Despite good health and a reasonable level of fitness, some people may still have a body with disproportionate contours due to localized fat deposits. These areas may be due to family traits rather than a lack of weight control or fitness.
Liposuction surgery can be used to treat stubborn fat pockets in many parts of the body including the thighs, arms, neck, hips, waist, back, inner knee, chest, cheeks, chin, calves, and ankles. In some cases, liposuction is performed alone, in other cases it is used with plastic surgery procedures such as a facelift, breast reduction, or a tummy tuck.
What liposuction won't do
Liposuction surgery is not a treatment for obesity and is not a replacement for regular exercise and good eating habits. People with stubborn areas of fat and who exercise regularly are the best candidates for this procedure.
How it works
Traditional liposuction, one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery in the U.S., typically begins with the administration of some form of anesthesia, either local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia, accompanied with the infusion of a saline solution into the area of the body where liposuction will be performed. The solution contains medication to minimize pain and bleeding. Then, a small hollow tube attached to a vacuum is inserted through a small incision into the fat layer beneath the skin. It's moved around to break up the fat, which is then sucked out of the body.
Where is liposuction performed?
Liposuction is performed on an out-patient basis, at a nearby fully accredited surgery center.
Anesthesia and Medication
This procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
What to expect
Once your procedure is completed, a compression garment or elastic bandages may cover treatment areas. These help to control swelling after liposuction and compress the skin to your new body contours. In addition, small temporary drains may be placed in existing incisions beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluid.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site(s), medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
A special note: Secondary procedures may sometimes be recommended to reduce excess skin. Special considerations are needed when large amounts, usually more than 5 liters of fat, are suctioned.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.
Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
Are stitches removed? When?
When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
When do I return for follow-up care?
Recovery
Depending on the liposuction procedure performed, most patients recover well enough to return to the work and most normal activities, including moderate exercise, within 7 - 10 days.
Laser Liposuction
What is laser- and ultrasound-assisted liposuction?
Laser- and ultrasound-assisted liposuction, like traditional liposuction, aren't a weight control method or a fix for obesity. They are used to help contour your body in those areas that are not responsive to diet and exercise such as saddlebags or a paunchy stomach. Also like traditional liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction is most often used to reduce fullness in your:
Abdomen
Ankles
Arms
Buttocks
Cheeks
Chin
Hips
Knees
Neck
Thighs
Upper arms
Waist
How Laser Lipo works
Laser assisted liposuction takes advantage of the power and technology associated with medical laser beams to liquefy the fat cells, which are then sucked out of the area.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses a special cannula (plastic tube) that vibrates very rapidly and gives off ultrasound energy. As the cannula passes through the fat cells, that energy liquefies the fat cells, which are then suctioned out. The ultrasound can be administered either above the skin (with a special emitter) or below the surface of the skin (with an ultrasound cannula).
Medical devices are used for a variety of medical procedures, but only certain devices are FDA approved or cleared for liposuction. Before considering laser or ultrasound assisted liposuction, it is important to determine that the device being used is cleared by the FDA.
Where is laser-assisted liposuction performed?
Laser-assisted liposuction is performed on an out-patient basis, at a nearby fully accredited surgery center.
Recovery
Most patients recover well enough to return to the work and most normal activities, including vigorous exercise, in 5 to 7 days.
Body Contouring
What is post-bariatric body contouring?
Body contouring after major weight loss improves the shape and tone of your underlying tissue that supports fat and skin and removes excess sagging fat and skin.
What to expect
The success and safety of your body contouring procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You will be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle. Be prepared to discuss:
Why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome
The options available in body contouring surgery
Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
Previous surgeries
Where is it performed?
Post-bariatric surgery can be performed at a nearby fully accredited surgery center, with an overnight stay for observation.
What to expect
After your body contouring procedure is completed, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow-up with Dr. Glafkides.
Anesthesia and Medication
Post-bariatric surgery most commonly requires general anesthesia, especially if the procedure is combined with other procedures like liposuction.
Recovery
Most patients recover well enough to return to the work and most normal activities, including vigorous exercise, in 2 to 3 weeks.