Liposuction
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What is liposuction?
Liposuction is a very common procedure in which fat cells are permanently removed through tiny incisions. This can be performed in the abdomen, back, arms, thighs, bra line or neck area. It is one of the most common aesthetic surgeries and is popular due to the low downtime, minimal scarring and permanent results.
What is large volume liposuction?
Large volume liposuction describes a liposuction procedure when a higher number of liters of fat are removed. This is generally over 5-6 liters. This procedure can dramatically shape the body and is generally performed in a hospital to maximize safety. Dr. Ramineni very commonly performs large volume liposuction either as a stand alone procedure, or in combination with abdominoplasty.
What is lipo 360?
Lipo 360 describes a holistic liposuction procedure to shape your entire torso. Instead of just suctioning 1 region, the entire abdomen, upper and lower back, mons pubis and bra line areas are all suctioned. This creates a more uniform and natural appearance.
Do I need to go to sleep for liposuction?
Although liposuction can be done awake with local anesthetic, the results that can be delivered are much more significant and more fat can be removed. This is due to better patient comfort, ability to monitor fluid shifts and blood counts. For small areas such as the neck, lateral thighs, buffalo hump area, touch up surgery, etc, the procedure can be done in the office under local anesthetic.
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
A good candidate for liposuction is someone with extra fat deposits, good skin tone and an overall healthy lifestyle. Although you can lose several pounds, it is not a weight loss surgery. Since liposuction does not directly excise skin, optimal results depend on your body contracting your skin after the procedure. Older patients, post pregnancy and massive weight loss patients may not have enough skin contractility for the skin to bounce back after the procedure.
Liposuction is appropriate for patients who have not been able to address excess body fat through regular diet and exercise alone.
Candidates must achieve a stable weight before the surgery, and they must have no plans to gain or lose significant weight or get pregnant. This will help preserve the quality of their liposuction results.
Ideal lipo candidates do not have any pre-existing conditions that could increase the chance of complications.
The best candidates are non-smokers. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit smoking several weeks before the procedure. This will lessen the risk of complications during and after surgery.
Are the results permanent?
Liposuction will permanently remove fat cells from the treated areas. When you lose weight, fat cells just get bigger and smaller, but do not disappear. Liposuction and direct fat excision are the only ways to permanently surgically remove the cells.
Will I get fat somewhere else?
Liposuction is a fantastic contouring operation that can dramatically reshape a body. It is designed to be a surgery for patients that are able to maintain their weight and is part of a healthy lifestyle. If someone gains a significant amount of fat after surgery, the body still needs to store the calories. A much lower percentage will be stored in the areas that are suctioned since there are many less fat cells. This can lead to some increased fat storage in non-liposuctioned areas and will be distributed throughout the body in untreated areas.
If patients want to preserve the quality of their results, it will be best to fully commit to maintaining their ideal body weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
How is the procedure performed?
Several tiny incisions are made in discrete areas or in areas that will be covered with clothing. Fluid containing a medication to shrink the blood vessels and numb the area is then injected. A cannula (a hollow tube of varying shapes and sizes that is attached to suction) is inserted and the fat is broken up and removed.
The areas are smoothed and you are placed in a compression dressing at the end of the surgery. The duration of the liposuction procedure will depend on the techniques involved in the treatment plan and the amount of body fat removed.
What is recovery like?
After liposuction, you will have swelling for several weeks to several months. You may see improvements up to a year. Many patients return to work within a few days to a week ,and patients with only small areas suctioned may even return to work a day or two later. After surgery you are placed in compression garments which will be provided as part of your surgical package. These are to be worn at all times except showering to compress the areas and to expedite the resolution of swelling. You will have some leakage for the first few days that will resolve by itself. Because the incisions are very small, there is no possibility of disrupting a surgical repair and you can return to the gym/work whenever you feel ready. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to ensure that the liposuction recovery process is going as expected. Most patients are beach ready in 6 weeks, although you may have improvements up to a year.
How much does liposuction cost?
The cost of a liposuction procedure will depend on the size and number of areas treated and the volume of excess fat removed. Other factors like total surgical time and the exact techniques used may also impact the overall cost of the procedure.
Risks
- Bleeding – some oozing is common after surgery, significant blood loss requiring transfusion is extremely rare
- Infection – extremely rare in liposuction
- Loose skin – liposuction does not remove skin and depends on a person’s body to contract the skin, patients who are older, have had previous weight loss or pregnancy are more at risk
- Contour issues – skin indentations or lumps usually resolve spontaneously, but in some cases can be permanent. This is more common in patients who have undergone previous procedures or who have loose skin
- Injury to underlying structures – although extremely rare, cases have been described where liposuction cannulas have damaged organs.
- Need for revision – in some cases, revision has to be done for smoothing or to treat areas that have had incomplete resection
- Asymmetry/poor cosmesis – a risk of any aesthetic procedure
- Numbness – common immediately after surgery, but generally resolves within a few days to weeks
Schedule a Consultation
If you have any questions about liposuction in Washington, DC or would like to book a consultation with Dr. Praful Ramineni, please contact District Plastic Surgery today. Our skilled team can help you get the sculpted body you have always desired.
Your Liposuction will be performed in Dr. Praful Ramineni‘s surgery center located in Washington, DC.
Before & After
Dr. Praful Ramineni
Plastic SurgeON IN WASHINGTON D.C.
Dr. Ramineni is the founder of District Plastic Surgery. He is board certified and has over 15 years of experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He started his career as one of the busiest surgeons at Medstar Washington Hospital Center with a focus on complex reconstructive surgery including cancer and trauma reconstruction, microsurgery and aesthetic surgery.
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