Liposculpture

Target Your Problem Areas

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States. Liposculpture (body sculpture by liposuction) can be a dream come true for some patients who have localized accumulations of fat that seem impossible to eliminate by diet and exercise. This fat can now be effectively removed by liposuction safely and easily. Here at our office, there are liposuction experts to help you get rid of the problem areas in various parts of your body.

The Tumescent Technique

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States. Liposculpture (body sculpture by liposuction) can be a dream come true for some patients who have localized accumulations of fat that seem impossible to eliminate by diet and exercise. This fat can now be effectively removed by liposuction safely and easily. Here at our office, there are liposuction experts to help you get rid of the problem areas in various parts of your body.

Tumescent liposuction is a procedure that has been developed and refined by dermatologists. In the past, the liposuction surgery required blood transfusions because blood loss was significant. However, since the advent of the “tumescent technique“ by Dr. Jeffrey Klein, a dermatologic surgeon, liposuction can now be performed with the patient under local anesthesia to minimizing blood loss and the risks of general anesthesia. The tumescent technique is clearly the greatest advance in liposuction since the introduction of the procedure in 1976. During this type of liposuction, a saline solution, lidocaine, and small amounts of epinephrine are infiltrated into the desired area(s).

What are the Main Benefits?

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States. Liposculpture (body sculpture by liposuction) can be a dream come true for some patients who have localized accumulations of fat that seem impossible to eliminate by diet and exercise. This fat can now be effectively removed by liposuction safely and easily. Here at our office, there are liposuction experts to help you get rid of the problem areas in various parts of your body.

• The disadvantages and risks associated with general anesthesia and intravenous sedation are eliminated.
• Much less blood is lost.
• Much less bruising occurs.
• The procedure yields faster healing.
• Intravenous fluid replacement is not necessary.
• Bacteriostatic lidocaine decreases the risk of infections.
• Tumescence magnifies defects, making them easier for the surgeon to correct; therefore, the likelihood of needing a secondary procedure may lessen.

Who Should Consider Liposuction?

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States. Liposculpture (body sculpture by liposuction) can be a dream come true for some patients who have localized accumulations of fat that seem impossible to eliminate by diet and exercise. This fat can now be effectively removed by liposuction safely and easily. Here at our office, there are liposuction experts to help you get rid of the problem areas in various parts of your body.

Liposuction patients should be in good physical health and have realistic expectations of liposuction. There are neither specific age, nor weight limits for liposuction candidates. Most of our liposuction patients have localized accumulations of fat; therefore, it is important to emphasize that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure or a treatment for generalized obesity. However, an overweight person whose weight has remained stable for many years and has specific problem areas may be an excellent candidate. The appearance of cellulite may improve, but it should not be expected to be completely resolved after the procedure. Patients who are fixated on getting rid of their last little “bulge” may adversely affect the quality of their life by excessively dieting or exercising. Time that could be spent with their family, with their friends, or at work is lost. Also, excessive exercising can cause facial atrophy, loss of facial fat from areas where it is associated with youth. Liposuction could provide instantaneous relief.

A healthy, well-balanced diet is important in maintaining the postoperative results as well as ensuring excellent healing. Crash diets immediately prior to the surgery may increase the risk of complications as a consequence of electrolyte imbalances or nutritional deficiencies.
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F.A.Q.s

What are the common areas for liposculpture?

• Upper/lower abdomen

• Flanks (love handles)

• Inner and outer thighs

• Inner knees

• Arms

• Back

• Neck

Is liposuction safe?

Dermatologic surgeons performing tumescent liposuction have had an unprecedented comfort and safety profile. Complications of liposuction performed with a pure tumescent technique have been infrequent and minimal. In a recent survey of 261 dermatologic surgeons having performed 66,570 tumescent liposuction procedures, no deaths were reported.

What should I expect during the treatment?

After consent is obtained, preoperative photographs are taken. Our liposuction professionals prepare the skin with a disinfectant. A sterile marking pen is used to draw a topographic map of the areas to be suctioned while the patient is standing. The insertion sites are marked.

The patient is placed on sterile drapes and towels, and the standard tumescent anesthesia solution is infiltrated into the area(s) being suctioned through tiny entry nicks made with a small skin blade. Once complete anesthesia is achieved, Dr. Balshi will use a delicate, stainless steel, hollow micro-cannulas – hooked up to a medical suction devise – to remove the desired amount of fat.

Once the desired result is obtained on the surgical table, Dr. Balshi may have the patient stand up to judge the satisfaction of the results (not possible in patients under general anesthesia).

Dr. Balshi may then have the patient immediately return to the table to complete the surgery if necessary. This technique has decreased the number of secondary procedures compared to techniques using general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.

Will the procedure be painful?

Anesthetic effects may last as long as 24 hours, significantly reducing postoperative pain. Patients are comfortable during and after surgery.

What should I expect post-op?

Tumescent liposuction is an outpatient, office-based procedure. Overnight stay or hospitalization is not required. Our liposuction patients are observed in recovery until it is determined that they can safely return home, usually within 30 minutes. With this technique, there is virtually no blood loss and rarely any nausea or vomiting.

Compression garments and absorptive pads are applied for the immediate postoperative period. The absorptive pads are removed 48 hours later, and the compression garments are worn for at least two weeks. Garments tend provide excellent comfort for most patients.

There is immediate swelling related to the anesthetic solution. As this decreases, surgical swelling related to the liposuction procedure is noted in the first 2 weeks.The size of the garment decreases as swelling resolves.

Return to physical activities may be within a few days, depending on the patient’s comfort levels. Mild activity during the first couple postoperative days is better than bed rest, as it allows for improved drainage and resorption of fluids.

What is the downtime like?

Recovery is rapid and patients return to normal activities quickly. Most patients are finding that bruising is almost entirely absent one week after surgery; therefore, patients are able to return to normal physical activity within several days.

There is no limitation to physical activities other than what common sense would dictate. Walking, jogging and other light exercise are even encouraged within one week of your surgery.

The type of labor you perform will ultimately determine how quickly you will return to work. The majority of patients needing to return to work can do so after 48 hours, when the initial absorbing post-op garments are discarded.