Liposuction

For stubborn areas of fat deposits that resist dieting and exercise, liposuction may be the answer for you. It can give you the new body contours you've always wanted. But, it is not a substitute for weight reduction in an obese individual.

Liposuction sculpts hips, thighs, the abdomen and love handles, knees, ankles and necks. It can also treat large breasts in men. Often several areas can be treated during a single operation.

Your surgeon will mark the areas to be sculpted prior to the surgery. A small incision is made in the skin. Through this incision the surgeon will inject a special solution, sometimes called tumescent fluid. It consists of saline (salt water) and other medicines to help minimize bleeding, swelling, pain, and provide for easier and more efficient fat removal. A thin hollow stainless steel tube, called a cannula, is inserted through this same small incision. The other end is connected to a vacuum pump machine that suctions the fat and tumescent solution while the cannula is moved in a back and forth pattern under the skin. There is usually significantly less bleeding and bruising with the tumescent technique.

After surgery you will be sore as if you had worked out too much at the gym. You will wear a special medical compression garment to reduce swelling and bruising and to help the skin shrink to its new contours. The garment will be worn for about four weeks and is not noticeable under your normal everyday clothes. Any discomfort can be controlled with pain medication prescribed by your surgeon.

Recovery is fairly rapid after your surgery. You may return to work in two to three days and resume your normal exercise routine in two weeks. The final result of you surgery will be apparent in about six to eight weeks when most of the swelling is gone. Most men will drop one or two pant sizes after surgery.