What is liposuction?

Liposuction is the permanent removal of fat cells to improve body contours.

Who is not a good candidate for liposuction?

Obese patients, those with poor skin elasticity and those with serious medical problems are not ideal candidates for liposuction.

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

The ideal candidate is a person with localized collections of fat with good skin tone and elasticity above the area or areas to be treated. It is not a treatment for obesity or diabetes. However, many people who are overweight (i.e. most of us adult Americans) can be reasonable candidates for liposuction assuming they are in good health otherwise and don't have an excessive number of stretch marks which indicates loss of skin elasticity.

What are the risks associated with liposuction surgery?

Most of the common risks are of a cosmetic nature such as occasional asymmetry of results, skin indentations or irregularities, residual fat pocketing. As with any surgery, infection or bleeding can occur. Other more serious risks are rare, but should be reviewed during a comprehensive consultation that patients have with a board certified plastic surgeon. Probably 10-15% of patients who have liposuction may request a "touchup " procedure.

What technique will the surgeon use to perform the liposuction?

There are numerous liposuction techniques available to patients and their surgeons in 2010. Among the choices are regular liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction, laser assisted liposuction, power assisted liposuction and others. Each physician has his or her favorite method and the skill and experience of the doctor is probably more important than the actual tool or technique they use. Most plastic surgeons use the tumescent or "super wet " technique which involves infusing a special solution of a local anesthetic combined with a type of IV fluid and a chemical which shrinks the blood vessels into the fatty compartment before the suctioning begins. This technique can be used as part or all of the anesthesia choice in selected cases. It also cuts down on bleeding, facilitates the suctioning process and aids in discomfort relief in the early recovery period.