Tired of seeing excess fat around your tummy or thighs? Exercise and dieting can only do so much, especially when it comes to stubborn fatty tissue. Liposuction is an effective way to remove stubborn fat cells and get a trimmer and shapelier body.

Exercise is a way of causing fat cells to shrink. Unfortunately, this means that they are still there and can grow again over time. Liposuction is a method of permanent fat removal. When the fat cells are gone, they will not reappear.

Liposuction: A Versatile Procedure

Liposuction is an incredibly versatile procedure and can be used to remove excess body fat from a number of different trouble areas:

  • Abdomen
  • Thighs
  • Buttocks
  • Waist
  • Upper arms
  • Chest
  • Neck
  • Back

Liposuction can help you get rid of unsightly love handles, bat wings, or a spare tire. If you’re interested in removing fat from an area and want to know if liposuction can get the job done, speak to your plastic surgeon about it during a consultation.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

If you are over 18 years of age and are in good health, you are a candidate for liposuction. Because liposuction is used for body contouring and not weight loss, you should be within 30% of your ideal body weight for your age and height. Ideal candidates are non-smokers, since smoking can negatively affect the health of the skin.

What Steps Are Involved in Liposuction?

Scheduling a consultation with your surgeon at Marietta Plastic Surgery is the first step in the liposuction process. Your expectations and aesthetic goals will be discussed in detail during this session. Your medical history will also be recorded by your surgeon, as will any allergies you have.

Pre-operative instructions will be given by your surgeon as part of this consultation. You may be directed to stop smoking and to limit alcohol intake. You may also be asked to stop taking certain medications or supplements that could increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

Liposuction is usually performed under a general anesthetic. Your surgeon will help decide what kind of anesthetic is the best option for you. Sometimes, local anesthesia with sedation will be used instead of general anesthesia.

The surgical procedure involves marking the areas that are targeted for fat removal. Small incisions are made in these areas to allow for insertion of a thin tube called a cannula. The surgeon loosens the stubborn fat cells with a forward and backward motion of the cannula. The loosened fat is then suctioned out of the areas using vacuum pressure.

The Healing Process

You can typically return home the same day as your liposuction surgery. The surgeon will give you a list of precautions to take, and painkillers may be prescribed.

You can most likely get back to your work within a week or so. Although it can take a few weeks to fully recover, you may be able to resume your normal day-to-day activities and your exercise routine within two weeks.

Contact Our Office to Get Started

Are you ready to contour away those unwanted inches? If so, it’s time to contact Marietta Plastic Surgery and schedule an informative consultation. Our skilled plastic surgeons have the experience needed to get you the results you deserve.