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Liposuction & Body Contouring

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Liposuction Overview

Liposuction dramatically improves the appearance of different areas of the body by removing excess fatty tissue. Many people find that no matter how hard they try, certain areas of the body just don’t respond to diet and exercise. Stubborn fat deposits can make the body look disproportionate and unattractive. While no amount of diet and exercise can target a specific part of your body, liposuction can.

Preparation

Liposuction works best in patients who are at a normal healthy weight, so weight loss may be necessary prior to the surgery. Generally, patients should be within 10 percent of their ideal weight or have a BMI of 25 or below before liposuction should be performed. Patients will typically need to get lab testing done to verify that they are in overall good health and are strong enough for the surgery. Before the surgery, patients need to give their doctor a list of all current medications, including prescription and nonprescription drugs. Some medicines, especially anything that causes blood thinning, should be stopped prior to the surgery. Smokers should stop smoking prior to liposuction surgery. Smoking can interfere with the healing process.

Procedure

Liposuction can take several hours depending on the volume of body fat being extracted. The liposuction procedure will start by administering anesthesia. Once the patient is comfortable, small incisions will be made according to the treatment plan.

The area to be treated is accessed with cannulas via small skin incisions. The isolated area of excess fat is then artfully removed to leave behind a pleasing contour. This is why some plastic surgeons refer to liposuction as “liposculpture.” If there are areas of volume deficiency, fat transfer can be done to add volume to those areas of deficiency.

Assistance

You will be able to walk around, feed, and bathe yourself. Depending on your pain medication requirements, you may not be able to care for others or drive a car. You may be able to hire a healthcare professional to assist you during your recovery if friends or family are unavailable.

Walking After Surgery

You are encouraged to walk around the house as much as possible to help reduce the risk of DVT and thromboembolism.

Work

Most patients can return to work 24-72 hours after surgery, depending on your type of work.

Inherent Risks & Complications

Contour irregularities, Bleeding, Seroma, Numbness, Infection, Need for revision, Fat emboli, Damage to deeper structures, Complications related to anesthesia.

Showering

You may shower immediately after surgery. Instructions will be provided after the procedure. 

Contact Our Office

Liposuction is an effective solution for removing the excess fat that’s difficult to get rid of with diet and exercise alone. If you’re interested in learning more about how lipo can help you, contact Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation today!

Facts About Liposuction

Typical Timing/Age

20-60

Cost

The cost of liposuction varies according to the areas treated. For example, lipo to outer thighs is about $3050 if done in the office or around $4300 if done in OR under general anesthesia. Liposuction to the abdomen runs about $3050 in the office or about $4500 if done in the operating room. This is an estimation & prices may vary. Patients are given an exact price at their consultation appointment.

Problem

Isolated areas of excess stubborn fat that cannot be eliminated through proper diet and regular exercise.

Goal

To safely and effectively remove fat from areas of excess and improve body contour.

Facility

Surgery Center or Hospital for larger areas. Office/Clinic for smaller areas. Our facilities are more than capable of handling various cosmetic procedures, including liposuction.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia for larger areas. Local anesthesia for smaller areas. The anesthesia will be chosen when creating the treatment plan for the liposuction procedure.

Recovery

Liposuction is performed as outpatient surgery, meaning you won’t have to stay in the hospital after the procedure. Patients are safe to return home the same day to rest and recover. You can expect to experience some swelling and bruising after the procedure but this is temporary and will subside.

Patients should wear elastic post-surgical compression garments to minimize the swelling in the area and help the skin conform to the new body shape. During the recovery period, small drains may be inserted to remove excess fluid from the body. This helps to prevent seromas and hematomas.

Medications will be prescribed, including antibiotics and pain-control medications. Recovery instructions will be provided to the patient for a safe and effective healing process. A follow-up visit will be scheduled to check on the progress of healing and the initial results of the liposuction procedure.

Exercise

You must avoid overexerting yourself, especially in the first few days after your liposuction surgery, to avoid complications. Light exercise is ok 1 week after surgery. Regular exercise after 2 weeks.

Sex

Wait 1 week because you don’t want to increase your blood pressure during the early healing period.

Swelling

Usually, it peaks around 3 days and gradually goes away.

Bruising

Should subside within 1-2 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Liposuction is well known as a fat removal method — but there are also a lot of unanswered questions that you may have. Here are the top FAQs about liposuction from Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery patients.
Am I a good candidate?

A good liposuction candidate is generally someone who is in their target weight range, but who has stubborn fat in certain areas. Liposuction isn’t intended as a weight loss surgery, but rather as a contouring surgery for trouble spots. If you have stubborn pockets of belly fat, thigh fat, arm fat, or fat in other areas, even after diet and exercise, liposuction may be right for you. The best liposuction candidates are those who have good skin tone and very elastic skin, without any sagging in the planned treatment area.

Am I a good candidate?

A good liposuction candidate is generally someone who is in their target weight range, but who has stubborn fat in certain areas. Liposuction isn’t intended as a weight loss surgery, but rather as a contouring surgery for trouble spots. If you have stubborn pockets of belly fat, thigh fat, arm fat, or fat in other areas, even after diet and exercise, liposuction may be right for you. The best liposuction candidates are those who have good skin tone and very elastic skin, without any sagging in the planned treatment area.

Will I have loose skin?
Your Doctor has the skill and expertise required to give you the very best results with the fewest complications, so loose skin isn’t typically a problem after liposuction. Because liposuction removes fat but not skin, loose skin could result if you don’t have good skin elasticity to start with. Your doctor will make sure that you’re a good candidate for the procedure and will do everything in his or her power to ensure smooth skin and beautiful results afterward.
What type of results should I expect?
After liposuction, you can typically expect to enjoy a significant reduction in fat in the treatment area. You’ll still feel numb for a day or so after liposuction thanks to the anesthetic used during the procedure. You’ll generally feel well enough to go back to work after a few days to a week. Total recovery time is usually only about two weeks, but you do need to avoid strenuous exercise for around six weeks in total.
How many areas can be done at one time?
Depending on your individual needs, your doctor can perform liposuction in up to three or four areas during a single surgery. For example, some patients have liposuction in the thighs, abdomen, and hips during the same surgery. This allows you to save money by having just one longer procedure rather than multiple shorter ones. It also allows you to avoid undergoing anesthesia more than once.
How does liposuction differ from a tummy tuck?
In liposuction, only fat is removed from the body. In a tummy tuck, both skin and fat are removed. Liposuction is for specific problem areas while a tummy tuck can create a major change in the whole abdominal region. The recovery time for liposuction is generally much shorter than that of a tummy tuck, and there’s usually less pain because it’s a less invasive procedure. If you’re unsure about whether liposuction or a tummy tuck is the better choice for you, your doctor is happy to discuss your options with you.

Liposuction Techniques

There are a number of different liposuction techniques today. In fact, the many varied approaches can be a bit confusing for liposuction candidates. The best way to determine which technique is right for you is a personal consultation and exam with your doctor. Every patient has a unique body and unique goals, and for this reason, your doctor strongly believes that every liposuction surgery must be customized to the patient for optimal results. Most liposuction surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis. The two most common techniques are Tumescent Liposuction and Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction.
In Tumescent Liposuction, your doctor will make designate small access points in the area where fat needs to be removed. A mixture called tumescent fluid, made of lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and epinephrine (adrenaline,) is then injected into those access points. The tumescent fluid will cause a reaction in the body fat that makes it easier to suction. A cannula, a very thin tube device, is then used to remove the excess fat. Tumescent fluid also causes the constriction of capillaries, thus helping prevent blood loss during surgery. The lidocaine helps numb the body after being treated.
With Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction, the same tumescent fluid is injected into the areas where fat removal is needed. A cannula is then placed in the access points. After that, a probe is used to send ultrasonic waves via the cannula. That ultrasound energy liquefies the fat. Once liquefied, the fat can be easily suctioned out via the cannula.

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Before & After Gallery

Procedures are performed by board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Butler, Dr. Leveque, and Dr. Patterson in Pensacola, FL.

Liposuction before and after photos
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At Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery, we understand that the selection of a plastic surgeon is an extremely important decision for any prospective patient. We believe communication, education and individualized patient care are the foundation for creating a strong and trusting patient-physician relationship. Our entire staff is absolutely committed to providing compassionate, personalized, individual attention before, during, and after surgery. We work together to deliver the best possible aesthetic outcomes in a setting that embodies the standards and lifestyle you seek.

 

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Dr. Butler, Dr. Leveque, and Dr. Patterson all from Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery

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