Liposuction
The concept of liposuction is surprisingly simple. Liposuction is a surgical technique that improves the body's contour by removing excess fat from deposits located between the skin and muscle. Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula. The cannula is connected to a suction pump and inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. Fat removal is accomplished as small tunnels are created through the fatty layers. After surgery, these small tunnels collapse and result in an improved body contour. Liposuction is used to sculpt areas and is not designed to remove large amounts of fat or to treat obesity. Cellulite is not usually improved by traditional liposuction and in some cases may be made worse.
If you are an Irvine, Huntington Beach, or Newport Beach liposuction candidate, the best way to learn about your unique options for removing unwanted fat deposits is to schedule a complimentary surgical consultation with Dr. Smith. Call our Irvine plastic surgery office at 949.450.2755 or 951.734.2500 in Corona or you can conveniently send us an email online.
Risks and Complications
The risks of liposuction must be well understood by all prospective patients. The tumescent technique for liposuction is felt to be the safest form of liposuction. This is a very safe procedure. For example, there have been no reported deaths associated with tumescent liposuction totally by local anesthesia. Even when general anesthesia is combined with the tumescent technique, liposuction is quite 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 profoundly shrinks capillaries and thus greatly reduces surgical blood loss.
Results
The tumescent technique permits the use of micro-cannulas which in turn yields smoother cosmetic results. Traditional liposuction cannulas (stainless steel tubes) have a relatively large diameter and remove fat rather quickly. However, with the use of larger cannulas there is an increased risk of skin irregularities. Micro-cannulas allow fat to be removed in a smoother and more uniform fashion. After liposuction, the new body's shape is more or less permanent. If a patient does gain a moderate amount of weight after liposuction, then the figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape. Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. If the patient does not gain excessive amounts of weight, then the new more pleasing silhouette is permanent. Of course after liposuction, the clock keeps ticking, and advancing age will produce the usual changes in the shape of the body associated with the aging process. Nevertheless, the benefits of liposuction will always be apparent.
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.
For those living in Orange County, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, liposuction questions can be answered by Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Smith. You can easily schedule your free surgical consultation by calling our Irvine cosmetic surgery office at 949.450.2755 or 951.734.2500 in Corona or, if you prefer, you can send us an email containing your liposuction questions.
Dr. Andrew Smith, providing cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery to those in the Orange County area including Newport Beach, Irvine, Huntington Beach & Riverside.