Liposuction is the most frequently performed aesthetic cosmetic procedure performed in the United States.
The best candidate for this procedure is a patient that has areas of localized fat that does not respond to reasonable diet and exercise.
Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, and several areas can be treated at one time. The most frequently treated areas include the abdomen, hips, thighs, and back. Occasionally a chin or neck procedure is performed. The best results are obtained using general anesthesia in which the patient is put to sleep for the 1 to 1.5 hour procedure. Patients go home after the procedure under the care of a responsible adult.
The procedure is performed through very small incisions, the number of which depends on the number of sites reduced. Some postoperative swelling and bruising can be expected but the majority of this has dissipated after two to three weeks. Most patients require oral pain medications for only two to three days.
The majority of the final result is present after three weeks. The improvement gained with liposuction should be quite long lasting if a patient maintains their weight and exercise program. If weight is gained after liposuction it may be gained in a different place than the procedure addressed. Most patients may expect their skin to accommodate the removal of fat in a natural way just as if we were losing weight.
Occasionally patients that have lost considerable weight may need surgical procedures to remove skin.
Things to Consider
- Sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas.
- Abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck.
- Reduce fat deposits that do not respond to
diet & exercise.
- The most commonly performed cosmetic
surgery procedure.
- New techniques are helping to provide more precise results and quicker recovery times.
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James Green, MD | Plastic Surgery, Santa Fe | Phone (505) 988 2215