Although maintaining a healthy diet and exercising consistently are excellent ways to eliminate fat, they don’t always work as well as we’d like them to. Sometimes, even if you’re doing everything right, there can be stubborn areas of fat on your body that you can’t seem to shed. If this is a situation that you’re experiencing, then you may want to consider liposuction.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a popular surgical procedure used to remove deposits of excess fat. Rather than actual weight-loss surgery, liposuction is primarily meant to eliminate stubborn fat pockets in patients somewhat close to their ideal weight.
How Does Liposuction Work?
Although there are several liposuction versions, the surgery's basic process typically remains the same. One or more specific pockets of excess fat are targeted for the procedure. The fat cells in those areas are loosened using either a tumescent liquid solution or ultrasound waves, making them much easier to remove safely. Then, the liquefied fat is removed through a narrow cannula attached to a surgical vacuum.
Where Can Liposuction Be Done?
Liposuction can be used to remove stubborn fat from many different areas of the body. These include:
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Thighs
- Obliques
- Upper arms
- Chin and neck
- Calves and ankles
- Back
- Buttocks
- Chest
Benefits of Liposuction
Liposuction offers patients all of the following benefits:
- Permanently removes stubborn fat
- Increased self-esteem
- Safe, simple surgery
- Slimmer, more attractive figure
- Improved overall health
- Short recovery downtime
What Should I Expect During the Surgery?
If you’re considering liposuction surgery, the process will start with a consultation at Dr. Shafa’s luxurious office. During the consultation, Dr. Shafa will help you determine whether or not liposuction is the ideal option. He’ll have questions about your hopes and expectations for the surgery, your medical history, and any medications you take.
If you smoke cigarettes, you must stop for at least two weeks before the surgery. To begin the procedure, you will be given either general anesthesia or local anesthesia to prevent you from feeling any pain during the surgery. Next, Dr. Shafa will make small incisions in the places where fat is being targeted. He will inject a tumescent solution into these areas to loosen the fat cells. Finally, he will use the narrow tube or cannula to suction the fat from your body gently.
When the liposuction process is finished, Dr. Shafa will close the incisions, bandage the treatment areas, and fit you with a compression garment to reduce swelling. Depending on the patient, liposuction can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
How Long Is the Recovery Time?
After a few hours of monitoring, you should be able to return home the same day as your surgery, but someone will need to drive you. Dr. Shafa will give you detailed instructions for your recovery, and you will need to rest frequently for the first few days. After that, you can return to work or light activities, but you should wait about two weeks to resume your routine. It will be essential to abstain from strenuous exercise for four to six weeks, and you may need to wear your compression garment for a couple of months.
Am I a Candidate for Liposuction?
Despite diet and exercise, adults struggling to eliminate areas of excess fat may be good candidates for liposuction. To be an ideal candidate, you should meet these requirements:
- Be in generally good health
- Be relatively close to your perfect weight
- Have areas of excess fat that you’d like to remove
- Be a non-smoker or willing to stop smoking temporarily
- Have realistic expectations
How Long Will It Take To See Results After Liposuction?
Liposuction results may be noticeable immediately, but it will take some time to see the full effects. Typically, the swelling subsides within a few weeks of the surgery, and the final results should be visible in no longer than a few months.
Why Choose Dr. Shafa?
You deserve the best treatment available for your liposuction, which you’ll get from Dr. Shafa. Dr. Shafa is an exceptionally talented plastic surgeon who believes strongly in personalized care. He and the rest of the Brian Shafa Plastic Surgery team will work closely with you to ensure you have a comfortable experience and receive the desired results.
