Liposuction (Lipoplasty)
Consultations offered at our three convenient locations in Toledo OH, Oregon OH and Taylor MI
An active lifestyle and balanced diet are the best ways to achieve an ideal, toned physique. Unfortunately, for many of us, no matter how well we eat or how hard we work out, certain fat deposits will be impervious to diet and exercise. Whether you have lost a significant amount of weight but are now struggling to lose your remaining few pounds, or are an otherwise fit person who has stubborn fat deposits in a specific area of their body, such as your arms or stomach, liposuction can safely and effectively help eliminate your unwanted fat.
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure designed to remove targeted fat cells from the body. During a liposuction procedure, the fat cells are suctioned out of the body. This procedure is ideal for those who find that their fat is concentrated on certain areas of the body and does not respond to diet or exercise. The procedure is minimally invasive, FDA-approved, and delivers natural-looking, slimming results.
Our patients find that liposuction provides a way to achieve a more proportionate body by directly treating their problem areas.
To learn more about how you can slim and contour your body with liposuction, call our offices today to schedule your private consultation.
Contents
Before and After Photos
About Liposuction
A liposuction procedure not only eliminates fat from a targeted section of the body, it also smooths and shapes the treated area to achieve a tighter, more contoured appearance. Liposuction can make the subtle changes a patient needs to finally achieve his or her ideal slimmer, shapelier figure.
The doctor will perform liposuction by creating a small incision, which will allow them to insert a miniscule cannula into the treatment area. The cannula introduces a saline-based liquid known as tumescent fluid into the subcutaneous white fat. The tumescent fluid also contains lidocaine, an anesthetic, which will help keep the patient comfortable during their fat extraction. This fluid breaks the fat away from the surrounding tissue. The dislodged fat is gently and safely extracted. Your surgeon will take care to remove fat strategically in order to deliver the most toned and aesthetically-pleasing results possible. This procedure can additionally remove the fat responsible for dimpling in the patient’s skin, improving the smooth appearance of the dermis.
Liposuction is a safe, effective fat elimination method. However, it is not intended to be used as a weight loss alternative. Patients who are not within range of their target weight are advised to complete the majority of their weight loss before undergoing liposuction.
If you have questions about your candidacy for a liposuction procedure, call our office to schedule your complimentary consultation.
Is Liposuction Right for Me?
Liposuction is most often used to treat the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, love handles, saddlebags, and arms although it can be used to treat almost any body part, including the face. This procedure is a great fat-elimination option for both men and women.
Ideal patients for liposuction have the following characteristics:
- Are less than thirty pounds overweight
- Find that their fat is deposited in one or just a few body areas
- Have no serious medical conditions or concerns
- Have skin that is firm and elastic and that will respond well to changes in body contours
- Feel ready for and open to the results of a body-contouring procedure
If you are at or near your goal weight but find that there are still stubborn pockets of fat remaining, liposuction may be right for you. Our surgeons advise patients not to think of liposuction as a weight loss procedure but as a way to create a more proportionate silhouette by removing five pounds of fat or less.
During liposuction, the surgeon sculpts the remaining layer of fat; this is as much an art as a science, and you should be able to trust your surgeon to sculpt your body contours in a way that you will find aesthetically pleasing.
Consultation
When you arrive for your consultation, come prepared to share your medical history and current medication use with your surgeon. Your surgeon will examine and photograph the area or areas where you would like to eliminate your stubborn remaining fat. It is important as well to share any pre-existing conditions that you have with your surgeon, especially those which could interfere with your recovery process.
Make sure that you share your body image goals with your surgeon, as well as ask any questions you may have concerning liposuction at this time. Every patient is a unique case: your surgeon will make sure that your treatment plan is right for you. If your surgeon believes you are not a candidate for liposuction, or would achieve better results with an alternative procedure, they will discuss your options with you.
Liposuction is a great option for people who are looking to lose the fat from a specific area of their body that refuses to respond to diet and exercise. To schedule your consultation for liposuction, call our helpful staff today!
Before Your Liposuction Procedure
While a liposuction procedure is minimally invasive, recovery can take several weeks. It is important to prepare your body, as well as your home, for a successful recovery. Consider buying all the food and recovery-related items you may need after your procedure, such as bandages, before your surgery date. Stop smoking for two months before undergoing liposuction. Take only the medications approved by your doctor. Do not eat the night before your liposuction.
Arrange for a friend or family member to give you a ride home after your liposuction appointment, as driving yourself can put too much strain on your treated area(s). It is also advisable to ask someone to stay with you during the first night of your recovery, in order to assist you with tasks and enable you to begin your recovery comfortably.
Procedure Details
Liposuction surgeons perform liposuction under local anesthesia. During this procedure, a hollow tube (cannula) is inserted underneath the skin, into the underlying layer of fat. This tube is used to inject a solution of lidocaine (an anesthetic) and saline, which will break down the fat cells so that they are easier for the surgeon to remove. Then, a device creates slight suction while the surgeon moves the tube back and forth in the fat layer. Slowly, the surgeon removes fat while leaving natural contours in the tissue left behind. This procedure can take anywhere from one to five hours depending on the body part and the amount of fat removed.
After a patient has completed their liposuction procedure, they will be monitored until they are approved by the surgeon for release. A friend or family member should drive patients home after a liposuction procedure. Patients should not drive themselves home.
Recovery after Liposuction
After some patients get liposuction in Toledo they are able to return to work in as little as two or three days. Other patients stay home for about a week. Mild to moderate physical activity can be resumed after the third week of recovery. Typically, larger body parts require a longer recovery time. During this period, you can expect some soreness and bruising. These conditions may take up to six weeks to subside completely, but this is normal. In about a week, the results of liposuction will begin to be apparent. You may need to wear a compression garment for a week or two to support the tissues in their new contours.
You should avoid submerging yourself in water during the entirety of your recovery period. This means that pools, bathtubs, and the ocean should be avoided.
Patients who experience discomfort can speak to their surgeon regarding approved pain-relief medications. Recipients of liposuction should avoid blood thinning, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications during their recovery.
It is important to follow any instructions your surgeon gives you regarding your recovery. If you have questions at any point after your liposuction procedure, do not hesitate to call our office.
Results
The result of your liposuction procedure will begin to be apparent a week into your recovery, and will continue to improve as your swelling subsides. Once the swelling has fully abated, the treated area or areas will be noticeably slimmer and have a more toned appearance. Any fat that was responsible for skin dimpling will be removed, resulting in smoother skin in addition to the improved contour of the body.
Recipients of liposuction find a restored confidence with their more proportionate, attractive figure. In order to maintain the longevity of the results, patients are advised to maintain a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Unfortunately, major weight gain can affect the results achieved by the liposuction.
Pricing
The price of a liposuction treatment will depend on the area or areas of the body where the patient would like to eliminate fat, as well as on the degree of work your surgeon must do to achieve your desired results. After your initial consultation, your surgeon will put together a plan for your unique liposuction procedure. Our helpful staff will be able to give you a cost breakdown of your anticipated liposuction based on your individualized treatment plan.
Liposuction can be the final, transformative step your body needs to finally defeat the stubborn fat concealing your underlying physique. If you want to see a slimmer you, but have not been able to burn away a stubborn pocket of fat, consider scheduling a consultation to learn more about your options with liposuction today.
