Liposuction

Do you have areas of fat that just will not disappear, no matter how much weight you lose or how hard you exercise? You are not alone because this is a common problem, at any age. Liposuction is a straightforward way for Memphis patients to get rid of unwanted fat deposits and slim your belly or any other area of your body.

Dr. Sarah Hammond, board-certified plastic surgeon at Restore Plastic Surgery, uses liposuction (commonly known as “lipo”) in a variety of ways to help you reach your aesthetic goals. It is an effective and popular body sculpting procedure for removing excess fat while expertly contouring a specific area of your body. image/webp

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical method of removing small pockets of unwanted fat, and is currently one of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in the United States. Liposuction can be used in many areas of your body, including:

  • Chin and neck
  • Upper arms
  • Back and sides (like bra rolls and love handles)
  • Abdominal wall
  • Hips, thighs, and buttocks

Once unwanted fat is removed, the remaining fat and tissues can be molded into a better, more attractive contour for that area. Memphis patients should never use liposuction as a method of weight loss. In fact, you should be at, or very close to, your desired weight before you have liposuction. For your safety, only a limited amount of fat can be removed at any one time.

What to Expect with Liposuction Surgery

Most patients do quite well with tumescent anesthesia with mild sedation. This is a form of local anesthesia that involves injection of a sterile fluid that contains low concentrations of a local anesthetic and epinephrine into the target area. The epinephrine will cause local blood vessel constriction to decrease bleeding while the operation occurs.

Liposuction is normally done as an outpatient procedure, so you will go home a few hours after it is finished. Due to the sedation, you will need someone to drive you home afterwards. Depending on where the lipo was performed, you may have movement limitations, which may mean you will need help until you can regain normal motion.

Liposuction does have some potential risks you need to know about. These include:

  • Excessive bleeding during or after the procedure
  • Infection in the area where liposuction was performed
  • Minor nerve damage in treated areas that can present as areas of numbness
  • Risks of anesthesia, such as a bad reaction to a medication that was used

We take every precaution so that the absolute risk of having a serious complication is very low, and we will provide you with all post-operative instructions during your consultation so you can prepare.

Results After Liposuction

Memphis patients should be able to see initial results of liposuction immediately after surgery. You will have some swelling in any area where liposuction was performed, which can temporarily obscure the results. Mild swelling can linger up to three months so you may need to wait a bit to see how a specific area will look.

Fat cells removed by liposuction cannot return. They are gone forever, but you still need to be careful: if you do not follow a healthy lifestyle and end up gaining weight, the remaining fat cells can grow. At that point, you will need to decide if you want to have liposuction again to remove the newly enlarged fat cells.

It is important to note that liposuction does not involve the removal of excess skin or the tightening of lax, stretched muscles. It is not unusual for patients to have liposuction as a part of their complete surgery plan that also includes a tummy tuck to address skin and muscles. Lipo can also be combined with a breast augmentation or other procedures for even greater results.

Improve Your Body Contours with Liposuction in Memphis

If you have areas of stubborn fat that will not disappear with a good diet and exercise plan, we urge you to visit Restore Plastic Surgery and learn what liposuction can offer our Memphis patients. Make an appointment soon and see Dr. Sarah Hammond to discuss your aesthetic concerns and goals. She will consult with you, hear your concerns, and make a plan that suits your needs and helps bring out the best version of yourself.