Liposuction
Did you know that liposuction is the number one surgical procedure in the U.S. for both men and women? Nearly one-half million liposuction procedures are performed by Board Certified plastic surgeons each year and this number increase by about five percent each year. At Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery, we offer traditional liposuction as well as the minimally invasive SmartLipo technique. Whatever you choose, you will leave our care with the beautiful, more slender contour you’ve been working to achieve.
Diet and exercise can only get you so far when you are trying to slim down problem areas like a muffin top or love handles. Despite what fitness articles claim, there isn’t a truly effective way to get rid of excess fat in one spot – sometimes because of genetics and physiology, you just tend to hold onto fat in certain parts of your body. Luckily, liposuction can solve that problem.
Ideal Candidates for Liposuction
Ideal candidates for liposuction have a BMI under 30, and are maintaining a stable weight. It is an excellent choice to get rid of bumps and bulges almost anywhere on your body, including:
- Cheeks, chin and neck
- Upper arms
- Chest area
- Back
- Abdomen and waist
- Hips and buttocks
- Thighs
- Back of the knee
- Calves and ankles
Liposuction is a treatment designed to contour your body, and is not meant to be used as a weight loss tool. You will see a difference in the way you look and how your clothes fit, however, there is not much change in the number on the scale.
Traditional Liposuction
Traditional liposuction has been around for over 40 years, and while there have been tweaks to the procedure, the basic technique has remained the same. It is performed using either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation. Dr. Terrasse will mark the places on your body targeted for treatment, and make small incisions to allow for the insertion of a thin, narrow tube known as a cannula. The cannula is used to gently dislodge the fat, which is then suctioned out of the body.
You will have some bruising and swelling around the areas that were treated using liposuction, as well as some minor discomfort, but this is typically managed with over-the-counter pain medication. You will need to wear compression garments and rest and limit your activities for a few days, but can usually return to most normal activities by about two weeks after your surgery.
SmartLipo
Advances in technology have led to several less invasive options for body contouring, including the advent of SmartLipo. SmartLipo is a laser-assisted lipolysis procedure that uses thermal energy to dissolve fat, allowing it to be easily suctioned out of your body. The laser energy not only melts the fat, but coagulates the blood vessels in the surrounding tissue, and stimulates collagen formation which naturally tightens your skin. This is the added bonus of SmartLipo as the replenishment of collagen is what helps keep your skin smooth, strong and taut. SmartLipo is performed right in our office, using local anesthesia, and usually takes about two hours. You will see some results immediately, and they will continue to improve over the next three to six months.
Results of both traditional liposuction and SmartLipo are long-lasting, provided that you maintain a healthy, stable weight. If you are ready to tackle stubborn, excess fat, call Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery today at 847-234-2400 to schedule a consultation.