Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the world. In the hands of a plastic surgeon, the procedure is very safe, with few complications.

Liposuction involves the removal of fat by small tubes, or cannulas, attached to a vacuum aspiration device. Only fat in the subcutaneous layers of the body are accessible for liposuction. Therefore, those with fat inside their abdomens, for example, are not helped by liposuction, but instead must resort to weight loss through dieting, exercise or stomach reduction surgery. Liposuction is not performed for weight loss purposes.

Liposuction reduces the net number of fat cells permanently, thus making it theoretically more difficult for you to regain fullness in the treated area. The overall effect is to improve body contour. Both men and women tend to accumulate fat in characteristic areas. These areas, such as the hips and thighs in women and the flanks and abdomen in men, are typically less responsive to weight loss. Liposuction treats these areas effectively.

The First Office Visit
A comprehensive assessment of each patient on an individual basis is essential to the development of a specific treatment plan directed at identifying those specific areas that may be responsive to liposuction. In many instances, patients seek consultation for what amounts to a desire to lose weight. A stable weight of less than 50% over the ideal body weight is necessary to be considered a candidate for liposuction. The ideal candidates have very specific areas of their bodies which cause them concern and seem to be unresponsive to dieting and/or exercise. Liposuction affords the surgeon the ability to sculpt those specific areas with very small incisions (and thus very inconspicuous scars), thus bringing the patient into proportion with the rest of his or her features.

In the initial consultation, Dr. Parson will gather a medical history, including the patient's weight gain and loss pattern, diet and exercise regimen, and goals for the procedure. If Dr. Parson finds you are 100lbs. or more overweight, he may suggest a gastric bypass procedure to provide permanent and significant weight loss. Any previous medical conditions need to be identified prior to assessing the patient for surgical candidacy. Height and weight measurements are taken and a physical examination is done to assess the skin tone and texture, skeletal abnormalities such as scoliosis, and muscle bulk and tone.

Risks of Liposuction
Serious medical complications from liposuction are infrequent, but include bleeding, infection, skin irregularities, numbness, asymmetry, lumpiness, looseness or darkening of the pigmentation of the skin, blood clots that block blood flow, excessive fluid loss that can lead to shock, excessive fluid accumulation that must be drained (seroma), perforation injury to the skin or other organs, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. Scars from liposuction are small, but can sometimes be prominent, particularly in patients with dark pigmentation. Some cosmetic problems may require additional surgery for correction. These complications, though infrequent, may result in additional expenses to you.

1 | 2 | Next