Sometimes diet and exercise just won’t get rid of the fat in
certain spots on your body—no matter how hard you try. This
is when you should consider liposuction at the Sinno Center for Plastic
Surgery. Dr. Sinno's extensive experience and artistic eye has made
this procedure one of the most popular and rewarding techniques for
body contouring.
What is liposuction?
Who should have liposuction?
How is liposuction done?
What results can you expect with liposcution?
How can you prepare for liposcution?
What can you expect when you are healing?
How long will results last?
What are the possible limitations and possible risks?
Are there other procedures that can be done along with
liposuction?
Will insurance pay for the procedure?
Next steps …
WHAT IS LIPOSUCTION?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes unwanted deposits
of fat which have accumulated under the skin in different areas of
your body. Liposuction gives you a better appearance because it changes
your body contours.
Since fat cells do not have the ability to regenerate, the results
of liposuction are very long lasting.
Back to Top
WHO SHOULD HAVE LIPOSUCTION?
If you have areas of increased fat deposits in your body, you may
be a good candidate for liposuction. Liposuction will reshape your
body by eliminating the fat accumulation in specific areas. Common
areas for liposuction include
- Under the chin (“turkey neck”)
- Upper arms and armpits
- Stomach area and waistline
- Hips and thighs
- Inner knees
- Calves, ankles
- Back and flanks
- For men, excess fat on chest or breasts
While liposuction is a very effective body contouring procedure,
it should not be considered a weigh loss operation.
Back to Top
HOW IS LIPOSUCTION DONE?
Liposuction
is done at the Sinno Center for Plastic Surgery on an outpatient basis
using accredited facilities exclusively. If more then 5000cc (approximately
10lbs) of fat is expected to be removed, then the procedure is scheduled
in the hospital with overnight stay. We commonly give you general
anesthesia to make sure you are as comfortable as possible during
the procedure. Local anesthesia or intravenous sedation are also possible
alternatives, depending on the extent of the liposuction.
To remove your unwanted fat deposits, small suction tubes are inserted
through very short incisions made in inconspicuous locations in the
area to be treated. The excess fat is sucked out (“aspirated”)
through the tubes.
Dr. Sinno frequently uses the ultrasonic liposuction technology that
"liquifies" the fatty tissue while it is aspirated. It allows
easier aspiration of fat from difficult locations and promotes better
tightening of the skin after the treatment.
Back to Top
WHAT RESULTS CAN YOU EXPECT?
Liposuction will give you a more flattering figure. You can expect
to look better in – and out of – your clothes. Final results
usually take shape over 2-3 months.
Back to Top
PREPARING FOR LIPOSUCTION
The best way to prepare your body for surgery is to make healthy lifestyle
choices in the weeks beforehand. Exercise regularly. Get adequate
sleep. Eat right. Take vitamin supplements. Reduce stress. If you
prepare your body for surgery, your “back-to-normal time”
is often reduced.
Back to Top
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE HEALING
Swelling
You will go home wearing a compression garment on the treated areas.
Extra pressure created by the compression helps reduce your swelling
and discomfort after surgery. You should not remove the compression
material at all for the first few days after surgery. After that,
you can take it off to bathe yourself and to wash the garment, but
you should put it back on afterwards.
We advise you to use compression for 4-6 weeks after surgery. Dr.
Sinno may suggest you switch to an exercise garment made with Lycra
or Spandex if you find that more comfortable.
Much of the swelling goes away completely within a month, but don’t
be surprised if it takes as long as 6-9 months for all swelling to
completely disappear.
Your final results from liposuction are evident more quickly when
compression is used.
Pain and bruising
You will have some discomfort right after the procedure that is easily
managed with oral pain medication.
You also can expect a lot of bruising which can last for 2-3 weeks
after the procedure. Bruising can sometimes increase slightly right
after the surgery. Bruising usually goes away completely within 3-4 weeks.
Use ice packs to help reduce swelling and pain. Keep the bruised
areas out of the sun until they fade completely.
Numbness
Sometimes patients experience numbness in the area treated. It will
go away within a few weeks.
Fatigue
You may feel tired or “washed out” for a few days after
the surgery. This is due to the loss of fluid and blood that happens
with the procedure.
Resuming normal activity
You must start walking immediately. You can take a shower or bath
the day after the surgery. Resume your daily activities as you feel
ready. However, do not do any strenuous activity, including aerobic
exercise or weight lifting, for at least 2-3 weeks after surgery.
Diet and Nutrition
Good diet and nutrition will help your body heal better, and faster,
after a surgical procedure.
- Drink plenty of water or clear fluids; up to 64 ounces a day is
recommended
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables with every meal
- Eat small amounts of protein with every meal
- Eat every 4-5 hours; do not wait longer to eat
- Eat more frequent meals, with fewer calories per meal
- Eat breakfast within an hour after you get up
- Use vitamin supplements, especially antioxidants, to promote healing
and renew energy
Back to Top
HOW LONG DO RESULTS LAST?
Results of liposuction are generally permanent.
Back to Top
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBLE RISKS?
Changes in skin condition
- The superficial skin condition does not change much with the liposuction.
So if you have dimpling, loose, or wrinkled skin in the area to be
treated, it will not go away after liposuction, and in some cases,
may become slightly worse. If your skin is firm beforehand, you can
expect it to stay tight afterwards.
- During the healing phase, it’s normal to feel firmness or
lumpiness under the area treated for several weeks after the surgery.
- If you have liposuction on two sides of your body, you may notice
that the results are not exactly the same for both sides. This is
very common. Few people have totally symmetrical results. At Sinno
Center for Plastic Surgery, we can perform a touch up procedure to
help reduce notable unevenness, if necessary.
Infection
Infection following liposuction is highly unusual. Dr. Sinno will
prescribe prophylactic antibiotics and will give you instructions
on skin hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.
Back to Top
ARE THERE OTHER PROCEDURES THAT CAN BE DONE ALONG WITH LIPOSUCTION?
You may want to consider additional plastic surgery procedures to
enhance your liposuction treatment. At Sinno Center for Plastic
Surgery we also offer the following procedures to help contour your
body:
Back to Top
WILL INSURANCE PAY FOR THE PROCEDURE?
Liposuction is an optional treatment and considered cosmetic. Therefore,
it is not covered by insurance. You are responsible for payment.
Back to Top
NEXT STEPS . . .
Please feel free to contact us for a consultation with Dr Sinno to
talk about your specific needs. We can answer your questions and create
a customized plan that will work best for you and your body
Back to Top
