1. What is liposuction?

The liposuction procedure involves making small, inconspicuous incisions to insert a hollow tube, called a cannula. Fluid is added to the areas to be treated with liposuction (called tumescent solution) to reduce bleeding and discomfort. Fat cells are then removed through the cannula tube using suction and a back and forth motion. This allows a surgeon to contour an area by decreasing the fatty deposits found there.


2. How long is the recovery period?

Recovery from liposuction is relatively quick. A compression garment is worn by the patient following liposuction for a period of about six weeks. Usually patients will feel swollen and clothes will be tighter due to fluid retention by the body. The swelling decreases over a period of 1-2 months and at that point the results of the procedure start to become visible.


3. Are the results of liposuction permanent?

While the liposuction procedure will permanently remove fat cells from a particular area, some fat cells remain behind and these can accumulate excess fat eliminating the contour improvements from the procedure. A patient must realize that if an excess of calories are taken in over what the body expends, that those excess calories are stored as fat and will be deposited by the body in the area or areas it hormonally directs it to go.


4. How much does liposuction surgery cost?

The fees for liposuction vary. Liposuction in our office is performed under a general anesthetic in a fully accredited operating room. There are fees for the anesthesia and fees for the operating room in addition to surgeon' s fees for the procedure. The time involved and the number of areas to be treated are also factors that will affect the total cost of the procedure, which can be as little as $4000 or as much as $10,000+. Costs vary from facility to facility and state to state.


5. Can exercise get rid of specific areas of fat without liposuction?

Exercise is always important and can aid in the reduction of total body fat, but there is not a specific exercise that can target specific areas alone. Liposuction has the ability to target and reduce a specific area.


6. Will liposuction tighten up loose skin?

Liposuction will decrease the amount of fat in a specific area, but will not tighten loose skin. The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight men and women with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in undesired areas. Loose skin can only be tightened effectively by excision (surgical removal).


7. What is the "tumescent technique"?

The tumescent technique indicates the use of tumescent solution during the liposuction procedure. The surgeon uses a mix of sterile normal saline, local anesthetic, and adrenaline and pre-treats the areas with this fluid prior to the removal of fat with the liposuction cannula. The tumescent fluid helps to loosen the fat to be removed as well as decrease the bleeding and bruising from the liposuction procedure.