Are you dealing with excess pockets of fat that you cannot seem to lose even with diet and exercise? Certain areas of the body are more prone to becoming fatty than others, including the stomach, hips, thighs, upper arms, and love handles. While diet and exercise can help reduce some of the amount of excess fat in our bodies, most of us have fat deposits in certain areas that simply will not go away, no matter what we try.
If you are committed to achieving a smoother, more toned figure, but your body does not seem to change, regardless of how much you exercise, you may be a good candidate for liposuction.
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is a popular, minimally-invasive cosmetic surgery procedure that involves stubborn fat being removed from specific areas of your body. It is not a weight loss procedure. Most patients choose to focus liposuction on the parts of their body that they feel most self-conscious about, for example, their love handles or thighs.
The actual procedure is performed using a general anesthesia so that you will not be awake or feel significant pain throughout the procedure. Once you are asleep, Dr. Clark will inject saline and epinephrine into the parts of your body where the liposuction is to be carried out. This procedure is called “tumescence” and will help loosen the fatty deposits, so they can be sucked out of your body using a thin metal tube attached to a vacuum with minimal bleeding.
The cannula is inserted into your body through a number of incisions that are so small, they do not require sutures to heal them. Each time the cannula is inserted, Dr. Clark will need to use a back and forth motion to loosen the fat and suction it out. The fat will then travel through the cannula down to a special container so that your surgical team can monitor how much fat is removed. He will also need to drain any excess fluid and blood before concluding the procedure.
The entire process usually takes between one and three hours depending on how many areas are treated. Most patients should expect to return home the same day of surgery.
Recovering from liposuction
Although liposuction is not painful while it is being performed, you will almost certainly feel bruised and sore for up to a week after your procedure. Pain medications may be prescribed to help with your discomfort. You will also need to wear a compression garment over the part of your body where you had liposuction performed for at least 6 weeks to achieve optimal cosmetic results. The garment minimizes swelling, molds the tissue as desired as well as keep the incisions clean while they heal.
Most patients find they need up to a week away from work while they go through the recovery process. Physical activity may need to be abstained from for up to six weeks. Dr. Clark and your surgical team will give you specific aftercare advice to follow, which will support you in making a quick and successful recovery from your liposuction procedure.
If you have been trying to tone up through exercise without adequate results and are feeling disheartened at your lack of progress, liposuction could help you achieve a tighter, more toned body. Our board-certified surgeon, Dr. Steven Clark, has the experience and skill needed to deliver both outstanding results and superior patient care. To schedule your confidential consultation, please telephone our offices today at 469-675-3659.
