Liposuction (Lipoplasty)
Body sculpting with liposuction, the gold standard for fat removal
To this day, liposuction continues to be the gold standard in surgical body contouring, and is one of the most popular procedures year after year nationwide. A commonly sought-after cosmetic procedure among Maryland men and women alike, liposuction (also known as lipo) offers safe and effective sculpting for a toned, sleek look.
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that removes excess fat deposits from specific areas of the body to improve body contours and proportions.
Sometimes, no matter how much you diet and exercise, stubborn fat pockets can affect your physique. They can collect in your abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, upper arms, and other problem areas. By using a narrow cannula to remove unwanted fat cells, liposuction offers targeted contouring for an improved body appearance. Frederick cosmetic surgeon Dr. Henry Garazo offers precise body sculpting with liposuction to his patients in the Hagerstown and Frederick Maryland areas, as well as the Martinsburg, WV area.
Tumescent technique: no anesthesia needed
Using tumescent liposuction, Dr. Garazo provides optimal liposuction results with minimal discomfort and reduced recovery time. Tumescent liposuction uses a diluted solution of local anesthetic and other medications in the target areas to remove excess fat without the need for general anesthesia. This time-tested technique offers unsurpassed safety, excellent control, and optimal cosmetic results.
“Such a warm-welcoming place from the moment you walk in the door! The staff and Doctor are friendly and knowledgeable, they provided step by step for the procedure I was getting done which caused me to be calm and excited for it rather than nervous, everything has been going perfect from the surgery to the healing! They went beyond of what I expected. They followed up and were easy to contact when needing assistance with something. Definitely recommend getting cosmetic surgery and the other services they provide, done here! You won’t be disappointed! I can’t say enough good things about this place.”
—Real patient review, June 2023
Benefits of liposuction
The benefits of tumescent liposuction include:
- It has the ability to remove fat deposits and sculpt an improved shape to most areas of the body—chin, neck, or knees as well as the tummy—with excellent precision.
- It is a gentle procedure that typically requires local anesthesia only.
Am I a candidate for liposuction surgery?
The best candidates for liposuction surgery include men and women unhappy with stubborn fat deposits. They are healthy, have good skin elasticity, and are within 30% of their ideal weight. Liposuction is not a weight loss plan, but a positive body contouring tool. Liposuction provides a smoother, more shapely look to those problem body areas.
“I recently had Neck/Chin liposuction with Dr. Garazo and I could not be more thrilled with my results and it has only been 2 weeks. Dr. Garazo and his entire staff were amazing, kind, and caring. If you have been on the fence about doing a procedure, just go for it, you are in great hands!”
—Real liposuction patient review, June 2023
What areas can liposuction treat?
Liposuction can safely and effectively remove fat from the following areas of the body:
- Hips
- Thighs
- Abdomen
- Buttocks
- Upper arms
- Calves
- Ankles
- Under the chin
Results
One of the benefits of liposuction is that it offers fat removal results that are permanent, provided the patient maintains a stable weight. For a more complete rejuvenation, liposuction can be performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures, such as breast augmentation, or body contouring procedures, such as a tummy tuck. Hagerstown mommy makeover patients can also complete their mommy makeover with liposuction.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Targeted Fat Reduction: Liposuction precisely targets and removes stubborn fat deposits in specific areas, offering a solution where diet and exercise fall short.
- Improved Body Contour and Shape: By removing unwanted fat, liposuction enhances the body’s natural contours, resulting in a more toned, hourglass appearance.
- Versatility: Liposuction can be performed on various parts of the body, including the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms, and neck, offering comprehensive cosmetic enhancement.
- Can Be Combined with Other Procedures: Liposuction is often combined with other cosmetic surgeries, such as tummy tucks or breast augmentation, for more comprehensive body reshaping.
- Anesthesia: Medication used to prevent pain during liposuction; may include local, regional, or general anesthesia depending on the extent of the procedure.
- Body Contouring: A range of surgical procedures, including liposuction, that reshape and refine various areas of the body to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing figure.
- Cannula: A thin, hollow tube used during liposuction to break up and suction fat from the body.
- Chin Lipo (Chin Liposuction): A cosmetic procedure targeting the removal of excess fat under the chin to enhance jawline definition and reduce the appearance of a “double chin.”
- Compression Garments: Specialized clothing worn after liposuction to minimize swelling, provide support to the treated areas, and help the skin adjust to the new body contours.
- Fat Cells: Cells in the body that store fat; liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the targeted area, reducing its ability to store fat.
- Liposuction (Lipo): A cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess fat from specific areas of the body to improve body contours and proportion.
- Local Anesthesia: A type of anesthesia used to numb only the area to be treated, allowing the patient to remain awake during the procedure.
- Manual Liposuction: Traditional liposuction technique where the surgeon uses physical movement of the cannula to dislodge and remove fat.
- Mommy Makeover: A combination of cosmetic procedures designed to restore a woman’s body shape following pregnancy and breastfeeding, often including liposuction, tummy tuck, and breast surgery.
- Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL): A liposuction technique that uses a motorized cannula to break up fat tissue more easily, potentially reducing procedure time and patient discomfort.
- Recovery Period: The time needed to heal after liposuction, during which patients may experience swelling, bruising, and need to limit physical activities.
- Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL): A standard liposuction method where a vacuum device is attached to the cannula to suction out dislodged fat.
- Tumescent Liposuction: A widely used liposuction technique that involves injecting a large volume of a dilute solution of local anesthesia and other medications into the fatty tissue before fat removal, reducing pain and bleeding.
- Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): A surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles, often performed in conjunction with liposuction for enhanced body contouring.
- Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL): A liposuction technique that uses ultrasonic vibrations to liquefy fat cells before removal, often used for fibrous areas.
- VASER Liposuction: A variation of ultrasound-assisted liposuction that uses a device to improve the breakdown of fat cells for removal, offering more precise contouring.
Liposuction FAQs
How is liposuction performed?
Dr. Garazo makes strategical liposuction incisions within the treatment area to place a thin tube called a cannula. The cannula breaks up fat deposits and suctions them out using a vacuum or syringe
What types of liposuction are available?
There are several techniques, including tumescent liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), laser-assisted liposuction (LAL), and power-assisted liposuction (PAL). Tumescent liposuction is Dr. Garazo’s preferred method for greater patient comfort and results.
Are the results of liposuction permanent?
Yes, the fat cells removed during liposuction do not regenerate. However, significant weight gain can cause the remaining fat cells to expand. If you maintain a stable weight, you should expect to enjoy your results for years to come.
Does liposuction leave scars?
Yes, but most will not be nearly invisible. Dr. Garazo places liposuction incisions to be concealed within natural body creases or shadows when possible. And because these incisions are so short—about the length of a pencil top eraser, they are extremely hard to detect once healed. You can further minimize their appearance by following all aftercare instructions and protecting your scars from UV exposure.
How much fat can be safely removed in one session?
The safe limit for fat removal in a single session is about five liters, or about 11 pounds. The goal is not to remove as much fat as possible, but rather to remove enough to create the ideal contour. Removing too much fat can look unnatural or potentially result in sagging skin in the treated area.
Can liposuction be combined with other procedures?
Yes, liposuction is almost always combined with other body contouring procedures to enhance the results. For example, adding liposuction to breast augmentation can remove bra bulges for a seamless transition from the breasts to surrounding areas for the most natural look possible.
What is the difference between liposuction and a tummy tuck?
Liposuction removes fat deposits but does not address excess skin or muscle laxity. A tummy tuck removes both excess fat and skin and tightens the abdominal muscles. Both of these procedures together can completely transform the midsection of both men and women.
How soon can I exercise after liposuction?
Light activities can usually be resumed within a few days depending on the treatment area, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least 4-6 weeks to allow proper healing. You’ll feel like yourself soon after surgery, but your body needs time to process expected swelling and too much activity too soon can slow this process down.
Will liposuction help with cellulite?
Liposuction can improve body contours but is not an effective treatment for cellulite, as it does not address the underlying structures that form cellulite dimples.
Can liposuction be performed under local anesthesia?
Yes, especially with tumescent liposuction. If liposuction is part of a procedure combination, it wil likely be performed under general anesthesia for your safety and comfort.
What is the difference between liposuction and non-surgical fat reduction methods?
Non-surgical methods like CoolSculpting use various technologies to reduce fat without surgery. These treatments can be less predictable and require multiple treatments to achieve noticable fat reduction. Liposuction, on the other hand, is a surgical procedure that provides immediate and significant results.
How soon will I see results after liposuction?
Some improvement can be seen immediately after surgery, but swelling and bruising will obscure the final results for a few weeks. It can take several months for the swelling to fully subside and the final contours to become apparent.
Will I need to wear a compression garment after liposuction?
Depending on the treatment area, probably. Wearing a compression garment helps reduce swelling, support the new contours, and improve the overall healing process. It is typically worn for several weeks after surgery.
Can men undergo liposuction?
Yes, liposuction is popular among men for treating areas such as the abdomen, flanks (love handles), chest, and neck.
Meet Dr. Henry Garazo
Dr. Garazo is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience offering aesthetic procedures in the greater Hagerstown, MD area. Known for his thorough, expert, and friendly care, Dr. Garazo is a 6x winner of “Best Plastic Surgeon” in the Herald-Mail Tri-State’s Best Community’s Choice Awards. He prides himself on offering comprehensive, informative consultations and ensures every patient always meets personally with him.
Diet & exercise not giving the results you want? Maryland plastic surgeon Dr. Garazo is here to help
For those considering liposuction to treat stubborn areas of fat, board certified Maryland cosmetic surgeon Dr. Henry Garazo invites you to explore your fat removal options through a patient consultation. To schedule a consultation at Plastic Surgery Services, contact us online or call (301) 791-1800.
References »
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