Liposuction

Liposuction is the most common cosmetic surgery procedure performed nationwide, for both men and women. Liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat. The procedure leaves minimal scars and may be used to improve the contour and proportion of both the face and body.

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

Liposuction is a safe, time-tested method for sculpting the body, and should not be considered an easy way to lose weight. Liposuction is very effective at removing pockets of fat that can persist despite diet and exercise.

By itself, liposuction is more effective in patients whose skin has more elasticity, which is better able to reshape itself after liposuction. Procedures that remove excess skin may be more appropriate in patients with poor skin tone.

What happens during liposuction surgery?

The basic concept of liposuction is fairly simple. A hollow, slender stainless steel tube called a cannula is inserted through a small incision and massaged through the tissue to loosen the fat deposits. This is generally combined with liquid anesthetic, and an epinephrine compound to contract blood vessels to minimize bleeding. The loosened fat is then removed from the body with suction.

As fat cells are removed from the body, it is important to understand that this is permanent. Your body only has so many fat cells and those removed will not grow back. If you’re at a stable weight, removing fat cells carefully can be an effective and permanent means to sculpt the body. Bear in mind however, that if you gain weight, the remaining fat cells can enlarge and your contour gains may be lost.

Liposuction will not remove more than 5 to 10 pounds of fat. However, as the fat cells are removed, the change to your contour is much more drastic than with weight loss through diet and exercise alone.

Be realistic regarding your goals and understand that Dr. Horowitz can change your form in dynamic ways, but cannot give you an entirely new body.

How long does it take to recover from liposuction?

After liposuction, you may be able to return to work in as little as two days. Dr. Horowitz will prescribe a pain medication to alleviate any pain or discomfort. Some bruising and swelling is also normal, and will usually subside in two to eight weeks.

The final results may not be evident for up to three months, although changes will be noticed as soon as the swelling starts to subside. It will take time for your skin to adjust to your new body shape. However, once recovered, and so long as a stable weight is maintained, results can be permanent and dramatic, eliminating problem areas and toning your shape.