What Are the Limits of Liposuction?
Contrary to what you might think, liposuction is not a weight loss method. You will weigh less after liposuction, but you’ll get your best results if you are at—or near—normal weight. Furthermore, there are safety limits to the amount of fat that can be removed in one procedure, i.e., usually about 5 liters, which weighs about 10 lbs.
How Satisfied Are Patients After Liposuction?
According to several studies, 4 out of 5 patients are very satisfied with their appearance after recovering from liposuction. It stands to reason that having liposuction as a body sculpting method, your clothes will fit better, you’ll have a more balanced appearance and, consequently, you’ll feel happier and more self confident.
One challenge to liposuction satisfaction is the issue of skin quality. For patients who have lost a great deal of weight and, as a result, have hanging, loose skin, liposuction must be combined with skin excision for the best outcome. Otherwise, after the fat is removed, the skin sags more than before the procedure. In fact, that’s often the difference between a patient who is advised to have a tummy tuck versus a patient who needs just liposuction in the tummy area. If you have youthful, taut skin, your skin will “shrink” to fit your new, post-liposuction contours. This is something we’d discuss at your exam during consultation.
How Is Liposuction Performed?
Liposuction is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited same-day surgery center near my Battle Creek and Portage plastic surgery offices. After marking the areas to be treated, I’ll make small incisions that allow the cannula to be inserted once I’ve injected tumescent fluid. After the appropriate amount of fat has been suctioned out, I’ll put steri-strips on the incisions, place you in a compressive dressing that will aid in healing, and you’ll leave the recovery room with a friend or family member to drive you home. Recovery is usually just a few days, during which you’ll feel sore, and will notice bruising and swelling in the treated area(s). We’ll see you in the office routinely to be sure things are healing well. For the complete details of the procedure, visit my liposuction page.
