Introduction to Liposuction

Also known as lipoplasty, liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body. It does this by removing excess fat deposits. This process improves your body contours and proportion. Ultimately, it enhances your self-image. Dr. Thomassen performs liposuction in Fort Lauderdale in his Chrysalis Surgery Center.

Body contouring — Liposuction can improve your body contour, especially stubborn lovehandles

Some people may still have a body with disproportionate contours, even with good health and a reasonable level of fitness. This is due to localized fat deposits. These areas may be due to family traits rather than a lack of weight control or fitness.

Liposuction surgery treats stubborn fat pockets in many parts of the body. In some cases, the treatment is performed alone. In other cases, it is used with plastic surgery procedures such as a facelift, breast reduction, or a tummy tuck.

What liposuction won’t do:

Liposuction surgery is not a treatment for obesity and is not a replacement for regular exercise and good eating habits. People with stubborn areas of fat and who exercise regularly are the best candidates for this procedure.

Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Some minor procedures can be performed in the office under local anesthesia. This is particularly the case for revisions.

Basics of the Procedure

First, a sterile liquid solution is infused. It consists of saline, local anesthetic, and epinephrine. The infusion is done through a small incision near the area to be treated. This solution helps to reduce bleeding, bruising, and swelling. Then a thin hollow tube, or cannula, is inserted through these incisions. The tube is used to loosen excess fat with a controlled back and forth motion. The dislodged fat is removed from the body. This is done using a surgical vacuum or by applying negative pressure to the cannula.

Most Commonly Treated Areas

Submental Area or Neck

Liposuction is commonly applied to the submental region of the neck to remove stubborn fat deposits in this area. It is frequently added to facelift procedures for a better defined neck line.

Submental lipo results — Slimmer neck profile with liposuction

Abdomen and Love Handles

The most common body areas treated with liposuction are the anterior abdomen, waist, and flanks.

Abdominal lipo — Lower anterior abdomen with minimal excess skin treated with liposuction

Abdominal lipo results — The goal is a slimmer contour with more defined muscular surface

Circumferential or 360 Liposuction

Circumferential lipo results by Dr. Thomassen in Fort Lauderdale — Liposuction of Abdomen and Waist (360 Liposuction) with Breast Augmentation

For a more comprehensive treatments, liposuction of the anterior trunk can be extended to the sides and back to treat love-handles, back rolls, and saddlebags

Circumferential liposuction treatment areas — A circumferential liposuction treatment of the back rolls, waist, and saddlebags

Circumferential liposuction results — This results in a tighter waist, loss of back folds and slimmer thighs

Lateral thigh liposuction plan — The inner and outer thighs are also a frequent target for liposuction

Liposuction Results

It may take several months for the swelling to fully dissipate after surgery. Compression garments are used during the first 4-6 weeks to help accelerate the resolution of this swelling. Lymphatic massage is also added for areas that have stubborn swelling, called edema develop. Dr. Thomassen can recommend where to go for this postop therapy.

Learn more about this procedure at the American Society of Plastic Surgery website.