Liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery that helps improve the shape and contours of the body by breaking up and removing localized fat deposits from areas such as the hips and thighs, buttocks, abdomen, arms, around the knees—even the neck and back.
While liposuction can remove a lot of localized fat, it is not a method of weight loss. It’s ideal for those who are close to or generally at their ideal weight but struggle with problem areas that won’t go away with diet and exercise alone. Often, these are the “love handles” on the hips, “saddlebags” on the thighs, the chest, upper arms and under the chin.
Liposuction can be done using local anesthesia, local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. After a wetting solution is used to numb the areas addressed, small incisions from different angles are made in each area to remove the fat and obtain optimal results. Most incisions are closed with just a few sutures, while some may need some drainage. Compressive garments are worn for up to six weeks to control swelling and inflammation and help with shaping.
After surgery, patients are asked to take it easy and not do strenuous physical activity or heavy lifting. In combination with compression, rest helps to avoid bleeding or fluid collection, especially in the first week. Most can return to work in just a few days as long as they don’t have a demanding job. Usually, after one week, patients can proceed with low-impact cardio activities and continue to gradually ramp up to normal activities over the next several weeks.
Once the swelling goes away, improvements can be seen in six to eight weeks, with even more tightened and contoured results as the contoured areas continue to heal.
If you are interested in liposuction to give you the shape you desire heading into the New Year, schedule a consultation with Dr. Rick Silverman at our Boston office by calling (617) 965-9500.
