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Home | Body | Liposuction

Orange County Liposuction

Dr. Andrew Smith performs liposuction, a surgical technique that improves the body's contour. Liposuction works by removing excess fat from deposits located between the skin and muscle from various parts of the body. At Dr. Smith's practice in Orange County, liposuction is used to sculpt areas that do not improve through eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. The procedure is not designed to remove very large amounts of fat and is not a treatment for obesity or significant weight loss.

During the liposuction procedure, Dr. Smith will use a small stainless steel tube called a cannula to break up and remove the unwanted fat cells. The cannula is connected to a suction pump and inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. While liposuction can dramatically improve overall body shape, cellulite is not usually improved by traditional liposuction methods. In fact, it may appear slightly worse following surgery, as liposuction can add to skin laxity.

If you are considering a liposuction procedure, the best way to learn about your unique options for removing unwanted fat deposits is to request a FREE surgical consultation with Dr. Andrew Smith, a board-certified plastic surgeon. You can also call our Irvine and Corona plastic surgery offices at 949.653.7000 .

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• Liposuction
• Liposuction Alternatives
• Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
• Body Lift
• Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
• Thigh Lift
• Mommy Makeover

Results

Dr. Smith uses the tumescent technique because it enables him to achieve smoother cosmetic results. He is also able to use a smaller cannula with this technique. Traditional liposuction cannulas (stainless steel tubes) have a relatively large diameter. While these cannulas can remove fat quickly, they also pose an increased risk of causing skin irregularities. A smaller cannula allows the fat to be removed in a smoother and more uniform fashion.

After liposuction, the new shape of the body is for the most part permanent. If weight is gained after the procedure, the figure will become a larger version of the new body shape. The body does not produce new fat cells following liposuction. Without weight gain, the new silhouette is permanent, except that the usual changes to the body that occur with aging will continue.

For enhanced body contouring results, many patients choose to complement their liposuction procedure with a "mommy makeover" including breast enhancement or a Orange County tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).

Risks and Complications

Dr. Smith takes the time to explain the risks of liposuction to all of his prospective patients. The tumescent technique is widely used in liposuction today in part because of its safety record. There have been no reported deaths associated with tumescent liposuction totally by local anesthesia. Even when using general anesthesia, tumescent liposuction is very safe, provided the volume of fat removed and the number of areas treated during a single surgery is not excessive. The dilute epinephrine contained in the tumescent anesthetic solution substantially shrinks capillaries, reducing surgical blood loss and easing recovery.

Visit Dr. Smith's Blog

Visit Dr. Smith's blog on Cosmetic Surgery Chronicle to learn more about if liposuction or tummy tuck is appropriate for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose weight after the procedure?

Usually, patients do not lose a dramatic amount of weight after liposuction. However, because fat is removed from cosmetically important areas, liposuction should produce significant improvements in aesthetic appearance. Although liposuction should not be regarded as a method for weight loss, in appropriate patients it can produce significant cosmetic improvements.

What happens if I gain weight after liposuction?

The more weight a patient gains after liposuction, the less dramatic the results of liposuction will be.

If I gain weight, does fat come back in the treated areas?

Fat usually does not come back in treated areas provided the patient does not gain a significant amount of weight after the surgery. If the patient gains a significant amount of weight, then fat can return to an area previously treated by liposuction. With increasing weight the degree of fat accumulation in a previously treated area is proportionately less than in untreated areas. After liposuction, relatively less fat accumulates in treated areas compared to untreated areas.

If you have liposuction questions, Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Smith has answers. You can easily request a FREE surgical consultation or call our Irvine and Corona cosmetic surgery offices at 949.653.7000 .