Who is not a good candidate for liposuction?

Liposuction is not designed for weight loss. People who are very overweight or who have large areas of fat deposits are not good candidates. It is best to lose weight first and reduce the fatty area through diet or exercise before considering liposuction. Liposuction should be used in conjunction with a good diet and exercise, not as a substitute for them.

What is liposuction?

Often used in conjunction with other plastic surgery techniques, liposuction removes pockets of fat from troublesome areas such as the thighs, hips, abdomen, and upper arms. Liposuction procedures vary depending on what your ultimate cosmetic goal is, and whether you are combining liposuction with other plastic surgery procedures.

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

Liposuction can be performed on anybody who has excessive pockets of fat and has a proper skin tone. This is not necessarily directly related to the age of a patient. If the skin is loose and inelastic, some additional procedures such as an abdominoplasty or face lifting may be necessary. Liposuction can result in a permanent recontouring of almost any area of the body such as the neck, chest, abdomen, arms and legs. This can offer a new shape for people who never thought it was possible, giving a psychological boost and the incentive to exercise even more than before to improve the rest of their physique. However, liposuction is not a weight loss technique, and is not a cure for obesity.

What are the risks associated with liposuction surgery?

Liposuction carries the same risks as any other surgery. In general, this is a very safe procedure if performed by an experienced and well-educated surgeon.

What technique will the surgeon use to perform the liposuction?

A very small incision is made near the area of fat to be removed. A tumescent solution (a mixture of local anesthetic and epinephrine) is first injected. This solution allows not only for pain control but also minimizes blood loss occurring during this procedure due to the action of epinephrine, which constricts surrounding blood vessels. Then a thin, smooth hollow tube (a cannula), about the size of a small straw, is inserted and connected to a negative pressure vacuum. The vacuum sucks the fat out leaving the skin, nerves and blood vessels intact. This allows me to carefully sculpt the area into a new, improved contour. Depending on the magnitude of the procedure it can be performed under local anesthesia or intravenous sedation. In some cases, general anesthesia might be the best option.