Liposuction

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to shape or contour various parts of your body that lack definition. During liposuction, your surgeon targets and removes pockets of body fat that give you unappealing proportions or are difficult to lose without surgical intervention.

Before performing liposuction, your surgeon gives you anesthesia. They make small incisions to minimize bleeding and scarring. Then, they insert a hollow tube called a cannula through an incision and move it back and forth to loosen fat cells in the area. Then, they suction those fat cells out through the cannula before closing the incision with sutures.

Cosmetic surgery can greatly alter your appearance in ways that you desire, and liposuction doesn’t have to be your only procedure. The surgeons at Luminary Dermatology can create an individualized treatment plan that includes liposuction and other surgeries like a tummy tuck, facelift, or breast reduction.

Your surgeon may make a second, circular incision around your belly button. If this is the case, they make sure your belly button still looks normal and is in a natural-looking position when they suture the incisions back together.

What are some common areas to target with liposuction?

Your fat distribution is unique to you. There are some areas that might look very defined and others that look very large in contrast. If you feel that any of the following areas look disproportionate because of your fat distribution, liposuction can help:

• Cheeks
• Chin and neck
• Thighs
• Hips
• Buttocks
• Back
• Upper arms
• Knees
• Calves
• Ankles

You can target one area or more than one according to your personal preferences and goals. As long as you maintain healthy eating habits and fitness, the fat is gone for good.

Am I a candidate for liposuction?

Your initial consultation is an opportunity for your surgeon to evaluate your health, ask about your goals, and determine whether you’re a good candidate for liposuction at Luminary Dermatology.

The surgical team might determine you’re a good candidate for liposuction if you:

• Are within 30% of your ideal weight
• Have strong, firm, and elastic skin
• Have good muscle tone
• Do not smoke
• Don’t have medical conditions that could impair healing after surgery

Even though liposuction treats some excess body fat, you shouldn’t use it as a replacement for healthy weight loss strategies like adopting a healthy diet and exercise routine. It’s also important that your expectations are realistic: Liposuction can’t treat obesity and won’t make much of a difference for cellulite or sagging skin.

To find out more about liposuction and what to expect from the results, call Luminary Dermatology today or schedule your surgical consultation online.