Liposuction in Excess Fat Removal in Duluth, GA

Liposuction is a surgical procedure ideal for those who are healthy but have trouble contouring their body. As one of the most popular procedures throughout the United States, the results liposuction varies among patients and it is best to consult with one of our Atlanta area plastic surgeons here at Prima Center for Plastic Surgery. Our surgeons work carefully with each patient to educate them on the process as well as discuss the contouring of the body and outcome. The average cost for liposuction will vary depending on your needs and the targeted body areas. If you are someone who seeks to contour areas of the body and get rid of undesired fat deposits, contact our office and determine if liposuction is a viable option for you.

All liposuction procedures, no matter the method actually used, first begin with the injection of a tumescent solution into the fatty layer to be treated.  The tumescent solution is typically composed of either a saline solution or a Ringer's lactate solution mixed with epinephrine (to reduce bleeding.  If the procedure is to be performed under local anesthesia then lidocaine is added to the mixture.  Tumescent solution does two things for us.  Fisrt the epinephrine in the solution helps to control bleeding.  Second the solution helps to widen the fatty layer space giving the surgeon greater control over removal of fat.  With all liposuction procedure it is not about how much fat is removed it is about how much fat remains because you need a certain thickness of fat to have the proper contour.  After the tumescent solution is infiltrated into the fatty layer a small hollow tube called a cannula is inserted to suction out the fat.   During a standard liposuction procedure a vacuum pump is attached to the cannula and the fat is aspirated  This is known as Suction Assisted Lipectomy or SAL.  The fat is basically removed in cores and once enough cores are created the layer compresses.  Our plastic surgeons at Prima Center for Plastic Surgery are skilled at all forms of liposuction and body contouring.  By removing the appropriate amount of fat from each area you can expect to see a nice improvement in your body shape and contour.  We are often asked, how much does fat weigh.  Fat weighs 2.2 pounds per liter so if 3 liters of fat is removed you can expect your weight to decrease by approximately 6.6 pounds. 

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction, also know as "ultrasonic liposuction" is a technique used on areas where there is a greater amount of dense or fibrous fat (such as the upper back).  It is a dual process using ultrasonic energy to destroy the fat cells and suction to remove these destroyed fat cells.  First, ultrasound waves are transmitted down a solid titanium rod.  This causes the end of the rod to vibrate back and forth.  Since the energy is tuned only to fat the other tissues remain unharmed.  This transmitted energy helps to loosen and melt the fat.  This liquid fat is then suctioned out using a cannula.  The plastic surgeons at Prima Center for Plastic Surgeon are skilled in using UAL and will recommend this method to patients who require it.  It is important to understand that UAL is just a tool and will be used when necessary.  Our patients should not have to worry about what instruments are used to get rid of the fat.  The job remains the same to contour the body and remove the appropriate amount of fat using the appropriately selected devices. 

Smartlipo™ is laser assisted liposuction.  The plastic surgeons at Prima Center for Plastic Surgery are skilled an using many different forms of liposuction.  These included standard suction assisted liposuction, Smartlipo and Ultrasonic assisted liposuction.  After your evaluation your plastic surgeon will determine the best method to be used in your particular case.  No matter what you may hear there is no one form of liposuction that is absolutely superior to any other form.  They all have there place in body contouring.  While the majority of patients will do will with the traditional suction assisted liposuction works well for most patients some areas will respond better to Smartlipo or Ultrasonic assisted liposuction.  Typically these are areas of fat that are more fibrous and these devices help to break up this resistant fat.  It is not unusual for us to combine two of the technologies together to achieve the best result.  SmartLipo™ is also referred to as laserlipolysis and used laser energy to essentially melt the fat cells then this melted fat must be aspirated using the traditional liposuction cannulas. 

Liposuction is generally performed under general anesthesia in either our AAAASF accredited Office Operating Suite or in the  outpatient area of the hospital.   When the procedure is performed in our office operating room suite we have a fully equipped operating room and use only board certified anesthesiologists.  Liposuction is typically performed as an outpatient procedure.  On average, each body part (i.e. abdomen, thighs, hips, etc.) will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.  After surgery patients will wear a compression garment on the treated area.  It takes about a full week for the bruising and swelling to subside.  It can take several months for you to see the final result.  In general you will be 50% of the way there at 6 weeks and 80% of the way at 3 months.  Liposuction will produce scars where the cannula incision was made, but these are usually small (3 - 4 mm) and will fade over time.  Every attempt is made to strategically place the access points in areas that are easily covered by your clothing or bathing suit.  The scars wil typically fade by 6 to 12 months. 

While today’s surgical techniques are safe, patients can experience poor results from inexperienced surgeons. It is important for patients to do their research, and find an experienced surgeon that can help them achieve the best, most natural-looking results.  Liposuction is a tool that a skilled plastic surgeon uses to contour the body.  It is important that your plastic surgeon is skilled not only in liposuction but in all methods of body contouring such as tummy tucks and body lifts.  During your consultation we will discuss the procedure in detail and you will be examined in order to understand if you are a good candidate for liposuction or if you would be better served by some other method of body contouring.  The key to liposuction is skin elasticity.  If you have poor skin elasticity you will typically not achieve as good of a result as a person with good skin elasticity.   Today's liposuction techniques are safer and more predicable than ever before, but the surgeons experience and skill remains the number one factor to achieving a great result.  The goal is to create a beautiful contoured body profile. 

The results of liposuction can be seen for many years following surgery if the patient follows a healthy diet and exercise program. If your weight was stable prior to liposuction surgery and remains stable after surgery you should have long lasting result.  The good news is that fat cells do not reduplicate and do not reform after liposuction, but it is important to understand that the fat cells that remain behind can and will get fatter if you return to poor habits and gain weight following surgery.  Liposuction is never intended as a weight loss procedure.  It is intended to contour areas of the body where the fat is diet and exercise resistant.  

The amount of fat removed really depends on the size of the patient and their aesthetic goals.  From a safety standpoint, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends that liposuction should be limited to approximately 5 liters (11 pounds)  if the procedure is performed as an outpatient.  When large volumes of fat are removed there is a risk of excessive blood loss.   Patients are advised to be near or at their ideal weight before undergoing liposuction.  As with any procedure the risks vs. the benefits will always be considered.  During your consultation you will be thoroughly examined to determine if you are a good candidate for liposuction.  At this time we can generally estimate the amount of fat that will be removed during the surgical procedure.  Remember the goal is to contour your body not just remove fat. 

While liposuction removes fat and improves contour and shape, it does not address sagging or drooping skin. If skin laxity is a concern, patients can talk to the surgeon during the consultation to discuss their options for improving skin texture, such as a tummy tuck, thigh, neck, arm or butt lift.