Facial and body sculpture by liposuction is the most common cosmetic surgery world wide because it is like a dream come true. Genetically inherited, localized accumulations of fat are often impossible to eliminate by exercise or dieting. They can now be removed permanently by liposuction, never to plague you again. Our center combines the new Vaser® ultrasonic and tumescent techniques for the best results and optimal safety.
Our techniques, performed with local anesthesia, are by far the safest forms of liposuction. Safety is maximized by extensive pre-operative patient education; providing the safest form of anesthesia; delivering state-of-the-art surgical techniques, and extensive post-operative education, translating into the most optimal and rapid post-operative course.Our physicians and staff are committed to helping you achieve your goals of self-improvement. We want you to achieve the best possible aesthetic outcome while we maintain the gold standards for safety and effectiveness.
- Reduce unwanted fat bulges from the abdomen, hips, thighs, knees, love handles, face, chin and neck
- The tumescent technique is considered the gold standard for safety in liposuction
- Vaser® ultrasound device allows more fat extraction with less side effects
- Usually minimal sore muscle-type tenderness after the procedure
- Fast healing (most patients are back to work in two days)
- Minimal risk
- Female breast reduction
- Male breast reduction
- Fat transfer commonly performed
Exercise, Diet, Medications for Weight Loss, or Gastric Bypass Surgery
Liposuction is a procedure that improves the body's contour by removing excess fat located between the skin and muscle. The basic concept of liposuction is surprisingly simple. A small stainless steel tube, called a cannula, is connected to a suction pump. The removal of fat is accomplished as the cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fat, which collapse, resulting in an improved body contour. Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not generally grow back. As long as the patient does not gain excessive weight, the new, more pleasing silhouette is permanent.
Today, this local anesthesia approach is widely recognized as the safest form of liposuction in the world, with virtually no serious complications. The tumescent technique was developed by dermatologic surgeons in the late 1980's and has become the standard for safety. A very diluted lidocaine solution is infused into the fatty tissue which becomes tumescent (swollen or firm) allowing the surgeon to extract it easily, with minimal blood loss. Previously, general anesthesia was performed resulting in more vasodilation of blood vessels and the possibility of loss of blood during the procedure.
The Vaser® ultrasonic device is a major technological advancement over earlier devices. It uses low-energy ultrasound waves to gently liquefy the fat allowing the surgeon to suction away a greater volume with less side effects after the procedure. The ultrasonic waves break up fat cells trapped in fibrous areas, such as love handles, upper abdomen, back and flanks, permitting a greater volume of fat to be extracted during the procedure. The new Vaser® device uses much smaller probes and lower energy compared to older ultrasonic devices, reducing the risks of burns, scars and seroma formation previously experienced.
Our physicians only use small microcannulas during the liposuction procedure. The advantages of these smaller suction tubes are that the fat is removed slowly and gradually allowing for a much more even and flat surface to the overlying skin. The smaller instruments do not create the pain that the larger instruments do, allowing our physicians to perform the procedure with the patient completely awake. Many patients choose to be sedated lightly to avoid any unpleasant pressure sensations. Many surgeons use large-bore suction cannulas which extract fat more quickly, resulting in a greater likelihood of hills and valleys of the overlying skin. Such large instruments inflict considerable pain, requiring patients to undergo the risks of general anesthesia.
Our physicians make small incisions in the skin through which he suctions fat with microcannulas. After the suction procedure, most incisions are left open to promote drainage of any blood-tinged fluid. This minimizes fluid accumulation, swelling and bruising after the procedure. The open drainage system does require patients to wear absorbent dressings for a few days after the procedure to prevent staining of one's clothes. Most surgeons use large cannulas requiring longer incisions in the skin, which then need to be stitched up. Closing these larger wounds results in fluid retention, excessive swelling, bruising, and larger scars after the procedure.
Almost anyone with unwanted fatty deposits can consider liposuction. Our physicians will consider the patient's medical history and physical exam prior to making any recommendations.
Liposuction improves the silhouette of the body and face and allows one to achieve a thinner appearance. Areas most commonly treated are the following:
- Body Liposuction: upper/lower abdomen, hips, waist, outer/inner thighs, anterior/posterior thighs, knees, buttocks, arms, and back.
- Facial Liposuction: chin, neck, jowls and cheeks.
- Breast Reduction through liposuction for both women and men.
- Fat Transplantation Micro-lipo-transfer improves facial and body contour concerns.
Safety is of paramount importance and today, the tumescent technique is the world-wide gold standard for safety in liposuction. Notably, this local anesthesia approach completely eliminates the dangers of general anesthesia. It should be recognized that virtually all deaths associated with liposuction have been associated with the use of general anesthesia. The safe tumescent approach uses a large volume of very dilute anesthetic solution which is infused into the fatty tissue, resulting in a tumescent (swollen or firm) and numb surgical zone, allowing us to perform the procedure under local anesthesia. Twilight anesthesia is most often added by a board-certified anesthesiologist to avoid any feelings of pressure discomfort. In this way, we are able to avoid the risks inherent when liposuction is combined with general anesthesia.
Fast post-operative recovery is achieved with our technique through a number of different principles. The microcannulas that our physicians use require only small incisions which allow for drainage of any blood-tinged fluid after the procedure minimizing swelling and bruising. By limiting these side effects, patients have much less discomfort, allowing them to return to normal activity in short order. Smoother results can be achieved with the use of elastic compression garments which should be worn under the patients own clothes for at least one to two weeks following the procedure.
The majority of our patients take only Tylenol after their procedure, rather than narcotics which are routinely required after the general anesthetic approach. Reduced pain is typical with the tumescent technique totally by local anesthesia. Additionally, the avoidance of anesthetic gases virtually eliminates the side effects of nausea after the procedure. Lastly, the local anesthetic provides for a sustained anesthetic effect for approximately 18 hours after the procedure, allowing patients to return to their routine activity in short order. In fact, most of our patients return to work after 48 hours after their procedure.
Avoidance of blood thinners such as aspirin, Motrin, Alleve is suggested for two weeks before the procedure.
Compression garments are worn under clothes for a few weeks. Our physicians leaves most incisions open to promote drainage. Closing incisions with stitches requires extended use of elastic compression garments to enhance the absorption of the blood-tinged fluids that are trapped under the skin after liposuction. Though closing incisions with stitches has the advantage of avoiding the extra-hassle of wearing absorbent pads under the garment, the elastic compression garments are worn for a much longer time when the incisions are closed with stitches than if the incisions are kept open. We are able to cut in half the time required to wear elastic compression garments simply by maximizing drainage through tiny incisions that are left unstitched.
Our physicians with assistants.
Today, Vaser® Ultrasonic and Tumescent Liposuction provides a breakthrough method to reduce breast size and weight. It is no longer necessary to suffer horrific scarring from breast reduction surgery. Patients achieve natural results and heal faster without the risks associated with conventional surgical approaches.
Tumescent liposuction is performed completely by local anesthesia and is by far the safest form of liposuction. Our physicians and staff are committed to helping you achieve your goals of self-improvement so that you can achieve the best possible aesthetic outcome, while maintaining the gold standards for safety and effectiveness.
Safety is maximized through a number of steps:
- extensive preoperative patient education
- providing the safest form of anesthesia
- delivering state of the art surgical techniques
- extensive postoperative education which translates into the most optimal and rapid post-operative course
- Reduces the female breast
- Reduces the male breast
- Minimal to no scars
- Faster healing than conventional breast surgery
- Less risky than conventional breast surgery
- Reduces unwanted bulges of fat from the body, face, neck and chin
- Fat can be transferred to other more desirable areas
Breast Reduction Surgery, Exercise, Diet, Medication for Weight Loss, or Gastric Bypass Surgery
Breast reduction via liposuction is a procedure that removes excess fat from deposits located between the skin and muscle. The basic concept of liposuction is surprisingly simple. A small stainless steel tube, called a cannula, is connected to a suction pump. The removal of fat is accomplished as the cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fat, which collapse, resulting in an improved body contour. Our physicians use tiny microcannulas which require smaller incisions and provide for smoother results than larger cannulas used by many surgeons. Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not generally grow back. As long as the patient does not gain excessive amounts of weight, the new, more pleasing silhouette is permanent.
The Vaser® ultrasonic device is a major technological advance over earlier devices and uses low energy ultrasound waves to gently liquefy fatty tissue during the liposuction procedure. By liquefying this fatty tissue, we are able to suction more fat with less expended energy. This is particularly important for liposuction performed on fibrous breast tissue, where the presence of extensive fibrous tissue limits the amount of fat one is able to suction away with the more traditional techniques. Additionally, the small probes and low energy of the Vaser® device has greatly reduced the complications seen with older ultrasound systems such as seroma formation, burns and scars. Lastly, by first gently liquefying the fat, less trauma is inflicted to the underlying tissue, resulting in reduced bruising and tenderness after the procedure.
Our physicians use microcannulas (less than 2.7 mm in diameter) for procedures which limit pain and make it possible to perform liposuction under local anesthesia. The smaller size provides a smoother skin tone and reduced chance of depressions in the skin. Surgeons who use microcannulas can be more confident of extracting even more fat during the procedure, while having less of a concern of causing ripples or skin irregularities often seen with larger instrumentation. Many surgeons use larger cannulas with general anesthesia which can extract fat too rapidly, resulting in irregular skin tones and depressions.
Our physicians make small incisions with 1-2 mm holes or slits in the skin through which he suctions fat with microcannulas. After the procedure, most incisions are left open to promote drainage of any blood tinged fluid which minimizes fluid accumulation, swelling and bruising. Many surgeons make larger incisions which then need to be stitched up, causing fluid retention, excessive swelling and bruising after the procedure. The open drainage system does require patients to wear absorbent dressings for a few days after the procedure to prevent staining of one's clothes.
Breast reduction by liposuction typically requires a more youthful and firmer breast. Those with pendulous breasts or less firm breast tissue would be better served through more conventional breast reduction surgery. Our physicians will consider the patient's medical history and physical exam prior to making recommendations.
In addition to reduction of the size and weight of the breast, liposuction also can improve the silhouette of other body and facial areas.
Treatments available:
- Body Liposuction: lower and upper abdomen, hips, waist, outer and inner thighs, anterior thighs, knees, buttocks, arms and back.
- Facial Liposuction: chin, neck, jowls and cheeks.
- Fat Transplantation (Micro-lipo-transfer): Corrects both facial and body imperfections.
Optimal liposuction safety is of paramount importance. The tumescent technique is widely considered the safest form of liposuction today. This technique is performed with local anesthesia completely eliminating the dangers of general anesthesia. It should be recognized that virtually all deaths associated with liposuction have been associated with the use of general anesthesia. A large volume of very dilute anesthetic solution is infused into the fatty tissue which causes the area to become tumescent (swollen or firm) and numb, allowing us to perform the procedure under local anesthesia. Twilight anesthesia is most often added by a board-certified anesthesiologist to avoid any feelings of pressure discomfort. In this way, we are able to avoid the risks inherent when liposuction is combined with general anesthesia.
With our technique, fast post-operative recovery is achieved through a number of different principles. The microcannulas that our physicians use are much smaller suction cannulas that require only small incisions, which allows for enhanced drainage of any blood-tinged fluid retained under the skin after the procedure. When left open, these incisions permit unwanted fluid to drain onto the absorbent dressings, minimizing any swelling and bruising. By limiting these side effects, patients have much less discomfort, allowing them to return to normal activity in short order. Smoother results can be achieved with the use of elastic compression garments which should be worn under the patients clothes for at least one to two weeks following the procedure.
Reduced pain is typical with the tumescent technique totally by local anesthesia. The majority of our patients take only Tylenol after their procedure, rather than narcotics which are routinely required after the general anesthetic approach. The avoidance of anesthetic gases virtually eliminates the side effects of nausea after the procedure. Lastly, the local anesthetic provides for a sustained anesthetic effect for approximately 18 hours after the procedure, allowing patients to return to their routine activity in short order. In fact, most of our patients return to work after 48 hours after their procedure.
Avoidance of blood thinners such as aspirin, Motrin, Alleve is suggested for two weeks before the procedure.
Compression garments are worn under clothes for a few weeks. Our physicians leave most incisions open to promote drainage. Closing incisions with stitches requires extended use of elastic compression garments to enhance the absorption of the blood-tinged fluids that are trapped under the skin after liposuction. Though closing incisions with stitches has the advantage of avoiding the extra-hassle of wearing absorbent pads under the garment, the elastic compression garments are worn for a much longer time when the incisions are closed with stitches than if the incisions are kept open. We are able to cut in half the time required to wear elastic compression garments simply by maximizing drainage through tiny incisions that are left unstitched.
Our physicians with assistants.
In addition to breast reduction via liposuction, facial and body sculpture by liposuction can also be a dream come true. Localized accumulations of fat may be the result of a genetically inherited body type. These difficult areas that are often impossible to eliminate by exercise or dieting can now be removed permanently by liposuction, never to plague you again. Our center combines the Tumescent Technique, the new Vaser® ultrasonic technology together with microcannulas, all of which provide for immense safety while permitting greater fat extraction with smoother results than any other technique.
The most frequently treated areas in women are breasts, abdomen, hips, thighs, knees, neck and chin. In men, the most commonly treated areas are breasts, love handles, abdomen, neck and chin.
Different techniques of liposuction differ dramatically in effectiveness and risk. One possible risk factor is combining liposuction with general anesthesia, which may promote blood vessel dilation and blood loss. Our physicians reduce this risk by utilizing the Tumescent technique, pioneered by dermatologic surgeons in the late 1980's. It was developed so that the surgeon could perform liposuction without general anesthesia, thus greatly reducing the risk of blood loss. Though many practitioners claim to use the Tumescent technique, they combine it with general anesthesia for convenience and speed of the procedure. Our physicians will exclusively perform this procedure under local anesthesia, most often with mild "twilight" sedation.
To facilitate the liposuction process, Our physicians employ the new Vaser® Ultrasonic approach, allowing fat to be emulsified or melted slowly before suction has started. The results of the Vaser® technique allow for more fat extraction with even less trauma to the skin and blood vessels, reducing bruising and tenderness. In fact, it is rare for our patients to have much bruising if any after this procedure. When it comes to adding ultrasound to the procedure, the Vaser® device is the safest in the industry. Unlike older ultrasonic devices, this lower energy device has never been associated with burns or scars.
It is the safety of the Tumescent technique that makes it stand apart from the general anesthetic approach, resulting in virtually no blood loss. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no serious complications using the Tumescent Technique for liposuction by using the proper local anesthetic approach. Over the years, Our physicians have treated many patients who previously had liposuction with general anesthesia. Virtually every one of these patients has found the Tumescent technique provides better and smoother results, and a more rapid healing and recovery.
