Liposuction As a Body Contouring Solution

We’ve all heard of liposuction and many use liposuction as a body contouring solution. It made its first quick appearance in the 1920s and then emerged as a viable treatment in the United States in 1982. Liposuction, or lipo, as it is commonly referred to, is a procedure that can contour the body by removing excess fat cells.

Who Should Get Liposuction?

As glamorous as liposuction lends itself to be as a magic fat reduction treatment, there is more to it than that. It is dangerous to suck too many fat cells out of the body at once. So, an ideal candidate should be close to their goal weight or possibly already there. One of the most widespread misconceptions about lipo is that it can be used as a weight-loss solution. While fat is being removed, it is not as a full-body solution to get to your goal weight. Liposuction as a body contouring solution works best when targeting specific areas of the body that may have stubborn fat deposits.

Where can you get liposuction as body contouring?

Liposuction can help remove fat deposits almost anywhere on the body. Everyone’s body is unique, and stores fat just a little differently. Liposuction as a body contouring treatment could be the answer for you to clean up and refine the contours of your body. 

Common places patients choose to treat:

• Thighs
• Hips and buttocks
• Abdomen and waist
• Upper arms
• Back
• Inner knee
• Chest area
• Cheeks, chin and neck
• Calves and ankles

Many will pair a liposuction procedure with another plastic surgery treatment to maximize cosmetic aesthetic appeal and minimize downtime from having multiple procedures. Having liposuction done in tandem with a tummy tuck or breast reduction is a great way to condense the recovery time needed. If you must take time off of work or have small children to tend to, this is ideal. 

What happens during treatment?

As the name “liposuction” sounds, during treatment, fat will be sucked out of the body. To do this, you will first be given a general anesthetic for comfort. A hollow surgical tool called a cannula is inserted under the skin through small incisions. Next is the removal of fat, and this can be done in a variety of ways depending on what your doctor recommends.

• Tumescent liposuction: This popular technique involves pumping several liters of a saline solution mixed with lidocaine under the skin. This aids in fat removal as it is sucked out of the skin. 
• Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL): The technique melts fat away by energizing the cannula with ultrasound. The vibrations burst the fat cells, and they are easily sucked out in their liquid form. 
• Power-assisted liposuction (PAS): This method involves a mechanized cannula. The rapid back-and-forth motion of the cannula helps to break up fat, allowing it to be sucked out. 
• Laser-Assisted Lipolysis (LAL): This technique is less invasive than others. A small tube delivers laser energy that heats up fat cells and liquefies them. The doctor can then choose to let the liquid drain out on its own. 
• Dry liposuction: This is an older method not used often today, but it is worth mentioning. This technique uses no liquid to pull out the fat. This method has higher risks for bruising and bleeding, and therefore, is not recommended. 

If you believe you would be a great candidate to contour your body through liposuction, give our office a call! The board certified surgeons at The Lett Center in Mt. Juliet and Lebanon can help you choose the procedure that is right for your weight loss and body contouring journey.