Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure whereby fat between the skin and muscle layers is removed from the body through small skin incisions.

You may be a candidate for liposuction if you:

Have areas of your body that are not in proportion to the rest of your body
Have areas of stubborn fat that do not go away with regular exercise and a healthy diet
Have skin that is firm with good elasticity
Desire to contour and tone up your body in certain areas

Initial liposuction consultation

The first step in liposuction surgery is to visit our clinic for a consultation. You will spend quality time with Dr. Tran, a board-certified plastic surgeon, who will address all your questions regarding the surgery, and the post-surgery recovery.

During consultation we will evaluate and discuss:

Your goals and desires
Your physical examination and anatomy
Medical history, medications and allergies

Our staff will show you before and after photos of past patients who have undergone liposuction treatment so you will have a better understanding of the results you can expect to attain.

Preparing for Liposuction surgery

Before liposuction surgery, our team at Dr. Alan T. Tran Plastic Surgery will provide you with a set of instructions:

Pre-operative lab testing and medical evaluation
Prescriptions for medications
Postoperative care and follow up
Cessation smoking before after surgery
Avoid any kind of anti-inflammatory drugs 2 weeks prior to the procedure; please see list of other medications to avoid
Arrange for personal transportation to reach home after the procedure as you cannot be sent home unaccompanied in an Uber type service or taxi

Dr. Alan Tran has the qualifications and experience necessary to perform your liposuction treatment with safety and effectiveness. Liposuction is usually performed on an outpatient basis.
Your liposuction procedure may be formed in office (small or limited areas and volumes) or at a surgical center. If your procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, you will need to make arrangements for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least one night following surgery.

PROCEDURE

Incisions placement

Liposuction is performed through small, inconspicuous incisions. Before any incision is made, local anesthesia is injected to numb the skin. These tiny skin incisions are placed in the targeted areas where fat deposits will be removed.

Removing fat

Through the skin incisions, a sterile liquid solution will be infused to numb the areas to be treated and reduce bleeding. A thin hollow tube, called a cannula, will be inserted through the incisions and advanced underneath the skin to loosen excess fat using a controlled back and forth motion. The fat may be broken up with power oscillation. The dislodged fat will be suctioned out of the body using a surgical vacuum or syringe attached to the cannula, removing them permanently from your body.

Fat Grafting (optional)

Unlike SmartLipo (laser), Coolsculpting (freezing fat), or UAL (ultrasonic) that destroys fat cells rendering them useless;

PAL (power assisted liposuction) gives the patient the option of grafting viable fat to other areas of the body such as face and/or buttocks for enhancement.

RECOVERY TIME

After your liposuction surgery is completed, your body may be wrapped with foam and elastic binders/bandages to help minimize swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours.
Postoperative pain: many patients state that the area feels sore, as if they underwent a vigorous work out, but prescribed medication will help lessen these symptoms. The recovery time for liposuction varies for each person. Most patients can return to work after about a week but should refrain from any strenuous activity or exercise for two to three of weeks
During the first 48 hours following surgery, patients experience varying degrees of swelling and bruising. The swelling persists longer. Bruising typically disappears within seven to ten days.
Your weight may temporarily increase immediately after surgery due to swelling and fluid retention. This phenomenon usually dissipates over the next several weeks.
The small incisions used for access of the suction cannula will fade over a few months usually becoming barely visible.

RESULTS

The results of your liposuction procedure will become noticeable over the weeks and months after surgery as the swelling subsides. Patients are usually very happy with the outcome of their procedure and have an increase in self confidence. Often, patients find that they can wear certain clothing that was not possible before liposuction.

The results of liposuction surgery are technically permanent because the fat cells have been removed. However, your body shape and contours might be affected by weight gain, aging, pregnancy, family genetics, and lifestyle factors. It is crucial to maintain healthy habits and a stable weight to prolong the results from liposuction.
To learn more about Liposuction and whether you are a candidate for this procedure, schedule a consultation today.