Excess fatty tissue can be embarrassing – and stubborn. You’ve tried regular visits to the gym and constant dieting, but all they do is wear you out and frustrate you. To get the spot-reduction results you’ve been looking for, the best solution is liposuction surgery.
Liposuction at the Philadelphia area’s Chapin Aesthetics is a cosmetic procedure performed to remove excess stubborn fat. Also known as body contouring, this procedure improves your body’s shape and proportions.
Liposuction is a way to remove excess fat from many different parts of the body, such as the abdomen, buttocks, upper arms, hips, and thighs. Once the procedure is complete, your body will be sculpted and shaped, and the targeted areas will be reduced in volume.
We employ various techniques for performing liposuction, including the tumescent method and laser-assisted liposuction.
TUMESCENT LIPOSUCTION, OR FLUID INJECTION
Tumescent liposuction has become the go-to liposuction technique for most plastic surgeons. A tumescent solution is administered to the treatment regions via injection. This will be done before the excess fat is removed. The medicated tumescent fluid is a mixture of a salt solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic), and epinephrine. It has the effect of contracting the blood vessels before surgery.
The amount of tumescent fluid that will be injected has to be around three times the amount of fat that is to be taken out of the target area. The lidocaine in the solution is used to make the area numb so that the procedure can be comfortable for the patient, and the salt solution makes for easier fat removal. Epinephrine minimizes the amount of bleeding, which leads to a reduction in the amount of swelling and bruising as compared to traditional liposuction. Less swelling and bruising will make the overall recovery time much shorter.
SMARTLIPO
In this procedure, fat cells are melted with the help of laser energy in order to ease the removal process. Once the fat cells have been melted, cannulae (tubes with sharp ends) are used to suction them out of the area.
SmartLipo is particularly effective when performed on smaller areas on the body. These areas include the jowls, the chin, and other areas of the face. The cannulae used are very small, so they work best in small areas.
This technique also offers tighter skin, unlike other liposuction techniques. When the laser energy makes contact with the tissues, it stimulates collagen growth. The more collagen protein the skin tissues contain, the more elastic and firm the skin is.
THE RECOVERY PROCESS
Following your liposuction procedure, the plastic surgeon may insert small drains into the recently treated area. Drains are tubes that drain out any excess fluid or blood. A buildup of blood or fluid can cause post-surgical health complications.
Your doctor will give you a compression garment to wear for some time after the surgery. This elastic garment is quite useful in controlling post-surgical swelling and bruising. It helps the skin tissues conform to their new position.
CONTACT OUR OFFICE
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Scott Chapin, a board-certified plastic surgeon, if you would like to find out more about liposuction and the right technique(s) for your aesthetic goals. Contact our office to set up an appointment.