Liposuction

Liposuction is surgery, so it is approached with the greatest respect and care. Modern techniques, however, have minimized many of these risks and made the procedure quite safe for good candidates. Surgeons minimize risk by insisting on the highest safety standards and controlling the amount of fat removed in a single surgery. However, there are always risks involved with any surgery and liposuction is no exception. Aside from the normal liposuction side effects like swelling, bruising, and discomfort, possible complications can include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Anesthesia complications
• Loose skin/uneven
• Skin discoloration
• Nerve/skin damage

Liposuction is not used to treat obesity. In reality, very little weight is lost during the procedure. The main goal is to remove stubborn pockets of fat that will not go away despite diet and exercise. Liposuction is a body contouring surgery, not a weight loss surgery.

Everyone is different, and it can be difficult to know which liposuction technique is appropriate for you. Fortunately, our highly trained plastic surgeons are adept at assessing patient needs and can help you design a treatment plan that works best for you and your needs. Studies show that all types of liposuction can work well, and that results are more dependent on your body characteristics and the surgeon's skill. At the Emory Aesthetic Center, we often combine ultrasonic and traditional liposuction for our patients.

The fat cells that are removed during liposuction surgery will not grow back after the procedure. With that said, other fat cells in the body can certainly expand for weight gain, which tends to happen all over the body. There may be fewer fat cells in the treated areas that can expand following liposuction, but weight gain can occur anywhere there are fat cells to expand. Therefore, it is so important for patients to be dedicated to their results and motivated to keep their weight stable following surgery.

A tummy tuck and liposuction are two very different procedures, although liposuction is often a component of the tummy tuck procedure. While liposuction of the stomach targets only the fat in this area, a tummy tuck is a comprehensive procedure used to remove fat and excess skin from the tummy area, tighten the abdominal muscles, and even recontour/reposition the belly button if need be. Tummy tuck procedures are most common in women who have had children and in people who have lost a significant amount of weight.

Liposuction is a very versatile procedure, and some common areas that are treated include the stomach, hips, thighs, “love handles”, arms, knees, ankles, face, and neck. Liposuction is also a component of many other cosmetic surgical procedures.

While liposuction can remove fat and improve contour in many areas of the body, cellulite is caused by fat cells pressing up against fibrous tissue and causing a dimpled appearance in the skin. Because of this, even slender people often have cellulite, and fat removal alone won’t solve the problem.

Weight gain during pregnancy varies tremendously from woman to woman. While pregnancy won’t “ruin” the results of liposuction necessarily, some women shed weight following childbirth faster than others. Some women reach their pre-pregnancy weight quite quickly and do not see any changes to their results. Other women have more of a struggle re-gaining their shape after pregnancy, and may see some changes to the liposuction results following pregnancy weight gain. Women may want to consider waiting until they are done having children to undergo body contouring surgery for the best, longest-lasting results.

While liposuction often offers the most dramatic body contouring results available, we do offer a liposuction alternative: CoolSculpting®. This procedure is a non-invasive treatment that cools unwanted fat so the body can dispose of it gradually following the procedure. Patients can undergo multiple treatments for enhanced results. The amount of fat that can be removed through this method is less than with liposuction, but many patients need only subtle body contouring, making CoolSculpting® an excellent choice for some.

Technically the "tumescent" technique involves placing large amounts of fluid - typically 3-4 times the volume of the fat to be removed - into the area being treated with liposuction. These days a ratio of ‘fluid in’ to ‘fat out’ is about 1:1, and has been shown to give great results. Placing fluid in the liposuction site helps to more effectively remove the fatty deposits and minimize side effects like bruising and swelling during recovery.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Lipectomy is an advanced liposuction technique that uses sound waves to break up fat cells, which are then removed. UAL can be used to remove large volumes of fat and to enhance the results for difficult areas or following previous liposuction. For both techniques, several areas can be treated during a single operation, though your surgeon may limit the amount removed at one time for safety reasons.