Some people can find it hard to get rid of excess and stubborn fat that is present on the body. Even when they follow a proper diet and exercise routine, some patients just can’t seem to lose the amount of desired fat from the body on areas such as the chin, neck, buttocks, abdomen, hips and thighs. In cases such as these, liposuction comes in handy to contour the body and eliminate stubborn fat that is resistant to natural methods of removal. Liposuction is the removal of isolated deposits of fat that are targeted by a cosmetic surgeon. Liposuction is not a weight loss treatment. It simply removes the targeted areas of fat while also providing a better contour to the body.

Cosmetic Liposuction Techniques

There are multiple liposuction techniques available to patients to break apart the fat in the targeted areas of the body. Once the fat cells are broken apart, they can be suctioned out of the body or they are naturally excreted from the body. There are various liposuction techniques available to patients and they include:

• Traditional Liposuction – In this liposuction technique, a cosmetic surgeon inserts a cannula, AKA a thin tube, into an incision made in the skin of a patient. The cannula is moved back and forth by the doctor to break apart the fat while the cosmetic surgeon is also injecting fluid into the area. The fat that is broken apart is then removed from the treated area using the cannula.
• Ultrasonic Liposuction (UAL) – A form of liposuction that uses a cannula that emits ultrasonic sound waves into the targeted fat deposits. The sound waves that come from the cannula work to liquefy the fat cells and make them easier to remove. This liposuction technique allows the surgeon to remove larger fat deposits as well as tighten the surrounding skin.
• Tumescent Liposuction – This liposuction technique is similar to traditional liposuction. The main difference is that the cosmetic surgeon injects a solution made of lidocaine, salt solution and epinephrine into the targeted areas of fat. The amount of fluid injected by the doctor is about three times the amount of fat that is being removed.
• Laser Liposuction – A liposuction technique that is also known as liposculpture. The cosmetic surgeon uses laser energy to break apart the fat cells so they can be removed using a cannula.
• Super-Wet Liposuction – A variation of the tumescent technique that has less fluid injected into the patient. The amount of fluid that is removed from the patient is normally equal to the amount of fat the surgeon is removing from the patient.
• SlimLipo – A liposuction method that uses a laser to melt the fat cells in the targeted areas.
• Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) – The cannula that is used in this liposuction method has a vibrating tip that breaks up the fat cells.
• Abdominal Etching – This liposuction technique is performed to enhance the abdominal muscles of a patient and give the person an appearance of “six-pack abs”. The cosmetic surgeon will outline the muscles and also outline the thin layer of fat that can often hide these muscles. A liposuction method, that is determined per patient, removes the targeted fat and greatly enhances the look of the abs.
• CoolLipo – A minimally invasive method designed to remove fat from more sensitive areas of the body. CoolLipo removes fat from areas such as the neck, chin, arms and jowls through the use of a laser that breaks apart fat cells in the targeted areas.

Ideal candidates for liposuction include patients that have small pockets of fat that are proving to be resistant to exercise and diet. In addition, men and women that are normally within 30% of their ideal body weight are also good candidates as are patients with good muscle tone and skin that is firm and elastic.

Cosmetic Liposuction Results

The final results provided by cosmetic liposuction are normally seen several months after the surgery. The amount of swelling and bruising after the surgery will hide the final results for several months. The skin of the patient can also be loose in appearance after the surgery because it takes several months for the body to reach its new, more contoured shape.

Any bruising and swelling that occurs after the surgery can last anywhere from one to three months. The final results will appear about six months after the liposuction surgery. Patients will need to follow a healthy diet, as well as exercise on a regular basis, in order to maintain the final results. The fat that is removed by the cosmetic surgeon will not return. However, fat can still appear in other parts of the body and this includes the areas that surround the sections of the body that were treated using liposuction.

Visit a Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon for Liposuction

It can be hard for patients to choose which liposuction procedure to undergo. Each liposuction method results in a contoured look that is tighter and firmer after the targeted fat is removed. In order to achieve the desired results, patients should schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified surgeon that specializes in the different types of liposuction and also performs liposuction on a regular basis. The doctor can perform a thorough examination of the patient and discuss the desired final results with the person. The examination and consultation appointment will help the doctor determine which liposuction procedure will allow patients to achieve their desired final results.

MA