Body Contouring Procedures

LIPOSUCTION

You may be a good candidate for liposuction if you have localized excess fat or if you desire contouring in any of the following areas:

• cheeks, jowls and neck hips and buttocks
• upper arms inner and outer thighs
• breast or chest areas inner knee
• back calves and ankles
• abdomen and waist

Liposuction may sometimes be used to treat a condition called gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement, which frequently occurs among both teenage and adult males.

Liposuction should not be considered a substitute for overall weight loss, nor is it an effective treatment for cellulite, a condition that gives the skin an uneven, dimpled appearance. Alternative treatments may be considered, in some instances, to improve this problem.

Liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body at the same time, and it can also be done in conjunction with other aesthetic plastic surgery.

Your Personal Consultation

Because of individual physical factors, not everyone will achieve the same results from liposuction. Your plastic surgeon will take into consideration your unique characteristics in determining the most effective treatment. During the consultation, you will be asked to point out the exact areas which you would like to see improved. This will help your surgeon to understand your expectations and determine whether they can realistically be achieved.

How will my plastic surgeon evaluate me for liposuction?

You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions you may have such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. Your surgeon will want to know about previous surgeries, medical treatments and medications that you currently take. It is important for you to provide complete information.

How much you currently weigh and whether you plan to lose or gain weight in the future will be factors in evaluating you for liposuction. Your plastic surgeon may ask you about the effects of prior weight loss on the appearance of those areas which you have indicated for contouring. He or she will assess the elasticity of your skin and estimate the amount of fat to be removed for optimal results.

How Liposuction is Performed

Fat is removed by first inserting a small, hollow tube, called a cannula, through one or more tiny incisions near the area to be suctioned. Incisions are usually less than one-quarter inch in length and are placed as inconspicuously as possible, often within skin folds or contour lines. The cannula is connected by tubing to a vacuum pressure unit. Guided by the surgeon, the suction device literally vacuums away the unwanted fat.

What are some variations to the liposuction technique?

Prior to performing liposuction, fluid is instilled into the areas to be suctioned. Plastic surgeons may use a "dry" technique, a "tumescent" technique that introduces large amounts of fluid, or other variations. Your surgeon will discuss with you the particular method that he or she recommends for treating specific areas of your body.

Other options may involve the type of instrumentation used or whether suctioning is performed on the deep or more superficial layers of fat. These considerations are based in large part upon the goals that you and your plastic surgeon have set for your body contouring surgery.