Liposuction to correct areas of excess problem fat (Lipodystrophy) is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States today. Areas commonly treated include the abdomen, flanks, hips, arms and neck. The surgery requires very few scars and recovery is relatively rapid.
Patients often present to my office and state “I have been going to the gym for two years and I have been dieting faithfully, but my stomach has stopped improving.” As we grow into adulthood – our bodies desperately want to store any excess fat into certain areas called “Adult Fat Deposition Sites.” For men, the key sites are the abdomen and “love handles.” For women, key problem sites are commonly the hips, waist, abdomen and thighs. For certain patients with a genetic disadvantage even extreme exercise and dieting can offer only limited improvement of these regions.
It is for these patients who say, “I have done all that I can”, that I feel liposuction offers the greatest benefit.
Liposuction is performed as an outpatient surgical procedure often under general anesthesia. The procedure can also be performed under local anesthetic and IV sedation in select cases. Using very small incisions (3-5mm), fine liposuction cannulas are inserted and excess fat is carefully removed following a pre-operative plan. If desired, the fat that is removed can be transferred to other areas, such as the buttocks that would benefit from augmentation.
Upon completion of the procedure, the patient is placed in a compressive garment. This helps to mold the skin against the underlying skeletal framework in an effort to achieve an optimal post-operative result from the liposuction. Contour improvements in the treated areas continue to be noticed for approximately 12 weeks.