Liposuction (or fat suctioning) has become the number one cosmetic surgical procedure performed by plastic surgeons today. It was first used in the U.S. in 1980. Patients who elect to have liposuction are both male and female, and range in age from 20 to 60.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Liposuction is not a weight reduction procedure -- rather, it is a body contouring procedure meant to treat specific areas of the body with stubborn, excess fatty deposits. One of the goals is for patients to look and feel better in clothing and swimwear. Therefore, patients who are more than 20% over their ideal body weight are not good candidates for liposuction.

Gender Differences

Both men and women request liposuction, but the areas they want treated are usually different. Women most often request treatment for their abdomen, hips, thighs, knees, chin, and neck. Men typically want to treat their neck, chest, abdomen, and flanks, or "love handles."

Complexity of Procedures

It is helpful to characterize a planned liposuction procedure as either small, medium, or large. Small-volume cases, such as procedures performed on the neck, can be done safely in an office with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Medium cases, such as treatments for the abdomen or thighs, are best performed in a hospital's ambulatory surgery center under general anesthesia. Patients can usually go home the same day.

Large procedures, in which multiple areas of the body are treated and large volumes of fat are removed, should be performed in a hospital setting with plans for the patient to stay overnight. Large procedures make it necessary to monitor a patient’s fluids and vital signs after surgery.

In most procedures, the presence of an anesthesiologist is recommended to ensure optimum safety, and to allow the surgeon to concentrate fully on the procedure at hand.

Recovery

The recovery period for liposuction varies according to the extent of the procedure. Generally, patients should plan not to return to work for three to ten days; a more specific recommendation would be given by the plastic surgeon during an initial consultation. Patients should refrain from exercising for at least two weeks.

Results

As a group, liposuction patients are very satisfied with their results after surgery. Significant improvement is seen in the treated areas within the first two weeks. Maximum results are visible two to three months after surgery.

Safety Concerns

If the planned liposuction surgery is conservative, and is performed by a trained plastic surgeon in a safe setting with an anesthesiologist, the chances of complications are very low. These odds are similar to those of other elective procedures, such as hernia repair.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has published guidelines to its membership for safe liposuction surgery, to which MKMG adheres strictly. It also publishes information to help individuals learn more about procedures and select qualified surgeons.

For more information on liposuction or other plastic surgery procedures, visit our website at www.mkmg.com, or stop by the Aesthetic Surgery Center at MKMG for literature. If you think you are a good candidate for liposuction and want to arrange a consultation, contact Dr. Douglas Roth at 242-5609.