Liposuction

Liposuction, or “lipo,” slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat to improve body contour and proportion. Liposuction has become a precision art as it has evolved over the past half a century and is now safer and more effective than ever before. Choosing the right surgeon is key in obtaining excellent results, and our double board-certified plastic surgeon and team are here to guide and educate you on the procedure.

Which Areas can Liposuction be Used on?

Liposuction can be performed alone or along with other plastic surgery procedures, such as a facelift, breast reduction or a tummy tuck for enhanced contours to compliment the fat removal. Liposuction techniques may be used to reduce localized fat deposits on the:

Thighs
Hips and buttocks
Abdomen and waist
Upper arms
Back
Inner knee
Chest area
Cheeks, chin and neck
Calves and ankles

What Liposuction Won’t Do

Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise. It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite – the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips, and buttocks – or loose, saggy skin. At Rashid, we offer added treatments for these issues.

Am I a Candidate for Liposuction?

Many people can benefit from liposuction, as it targets those stubborn fat deposits that don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise. Whether you are taking fat from the face, thighs, arms, tummy or breasts, liposuction can aid in the re-contouring of your figure. Ideal Candidates are typically:

Adults within 30 percent of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone
Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
Non-smokers
Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body sculpting
If you are bothered by excess fat deposits – located anywhere on your body – that don’t respond to diet or exercise, liposuction may be right for you.

What is the Liposuction Procedure?

During liposuction you will receive an anesthetic in the area being treated or undergo general anesthesia if liposuction is being combined with another procedure such as a tummy tuck. For basic liposuction, a small incision is made for the small tube, called a cannula, which is inserted below your skin. The cannula extracts fat with suction and can be used to skillfully reshape the area.

After the procedure, the area treated is bandaged. Tubes may be left in some of the incision sites to allow fluid to move out of the healing area so as to minimize swelling and aid in recovery. These will typically be removed a few days after surgery in a follow-up appointment.

Liposuction Recovery

During your liposuction recovery, a compression garment or elastic bandages may cover the areas treated after the procedure is completed. These help to control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours.

Schedule

Schedule a consultation

What are Some of the Post-Op Care Instructions Should I Expect?

The post-op instructions will help you speed your recovery and minimize risks of infections or complications while you are healing.

Dr. Rashid and staff will be closely monitoring your recovery and will provide you with aftercare instructions to speed healing. Our instructions include:

How to care for liposuction incision sites (which are very small)
When you can return to your usual exercise routine, and what physical activities are allowed in the early stages of recovery
Specific concerns to watch for
How to reduce any residual swelling and bruising

When Will I See Results from Liposuction?

Results are noticeable fairly quickly depending on the area that was treated and how much fat was removed. Healing requires varying amounts of time depending on the age of the person, their genetics and how much liposuction was performed.

Your improved body contour will be apparent when the swelling and fluid retention commonly experienced following liposuction subsides. The results of liposuction will be long-lasting, provided you maintain a stable weight and care for your body with a healthy diet and exercise. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness, but your more sculpted figure should be apparent for the long term.