What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a body-contouring surgery performed by Dr. Serebrakian to remove excess fat cells and, ultimately, to improve the proportions of the body. If the excess fat cells that are detracting from your natural beauty have been resistant to your healthy lifestyle, liposuction may be the answer you’ve been looking for. Using meticulous technique, Dr. Serebrakian smooths the curves of your body to reveal a slimmer, more sculpted you.
Common Areas Treated With Liposuction
We perform liposuction on the following body areas:
- Abdomen
- Flanks and hips
- Back
- Buttocks
- Thighs
- Knees
- Arms
- Chest
- Neck and chin
Who is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Liposuction is an excellent procedure for adults who are generally healthy and interested in improving the shape of their body. This surgery intends to remove mild to moderate areas of fat. Patients should be within 20 or so pounds of their ideal weight prior to liposuction. It is important to also understand what is possible with this procedure, and have a strong commitment to weight management following treatment.
How Should I Prepare for My Liposuction Procedure?
During your planning process, you will be provided with a comprehensive guide to help you ready your body and your home for your body-contouring procedure and the subsequent recovery period.
It is important to disclose medication use, including supplements, as well as lifestyle habits, to our staff so we may make appropriate recommendations to facilitate the safest, most pleasant experience for you.
Liposuction Surgery Procedure
Dr. Serebrakian will first placemarks on your body with a marker, signifying the exact locations in which fat removal will occur. Once sedated, Dr. Serebrakian will commence by making tiny incisions in the area areas. These incisions are very small, about 2-3 mm in size. A tumescent solution of natural saline, epinephrine to help minimize blood loss, and lidocaine to numb the area is pumped into the fat removal area via the small incisions. Using a hollow tube called a cannula, Dr. Serebrakian will perform a back and forth motion to suction out the fat pockets.
Your incisions will be sutured with stitches, and your sites will not be noticeable once the body heals. Tight surgical compression garments will surround the liposuction site to help encourage the skin to retract around the treatment area. Most patients must wear compression garments for 4-6 weeks until the swelling resolves.
How Long Will My Liposuction Procedure Take?
Your liposuction procedure may take just a few minutes or it may take a few hours. This depends on the size of the treatment area and the number of areas we will sculpt. In addition to your actual surgery time, you can expect to be in the office or surgery center for a bit longer. Beforehand, we are focused on reviewing your procedure and administering anesthesia. Afterward, you will rest comfortably in a recovery area while the effects of your anesthesia wear off. Depending on the type of anesthesia you receive, you may be at the surgery center for several hours.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Liposuction?
Liposuction is one of the most conservative cosmetic surgery procedures performed today. However, it is still surgery, so there is a small degree of risk involved. Risks associated with this procedure include:
- Infection
- Contour irregularities
- Internal puncture
- Nerve damage or prolonged changes in skin sensation
- Fluid accumulation in the subcutaneous tissue
It is rare for complications to occur after liposuction surgery when a reputable physician performs the procedure. If an adverse side effect were to occur, it can be treated with prompt medical care.
How Long Will It Take Before My Liposuction Results Settle?
While you will see the effects of your liposuction procedure right away, even as soon as the day of your surgery, these are not indicative of your final outcome. Swelling and bruising will obscure your new body contours for a week or two. After that point, it can take up to three months for your body to completely settle into its beautiful new shape.
Will I Have Any Scars After My Liposuction Procedure?
The liposuction procedure is performed through very small incisions. They usually measure no more than half an inch in length. While you will have scarring, the skin usually heals so nicely that they are indiscernible. Once the incisions have closed completely, you may apply topical scar remedies to help your skin heal as optimally as possible.
How Can I Maintain My Liposuction Results?
We understand that you want to enjoy your new shape for as long as you possibly can. Fortunately, it doesn't take a lot to do so. Chances are you were already mindful of your diet and exercise habits before having liposuction. After your procedure, it is best to avoid fad diets and excessive working out. Instead, focus on moving your body in ways that feel good, strengthen your muscles, and help you burn fat. On the diet front, it is beneficial to balance fiber, protein, healthy fat, and lots of fresh vegetables that supply vitamins and minerals to support metabolism and physiological function. Sleep and stress management are also crucial for weight stability over time. It is impossible to avoid the effects of aging, but it is very possible to sustain your liposuction results for years!
What is the Liposuction Recovery Process?
Recovery from liposuction is somewhat dependent on the extent of fat-removal that occurs during the procedure. Most patients experience mild discomfort and tenderness, which is manageable with pain medication. Post-operative pain does not typically inhibit a patient from walking as recommended within the first 24 hours following surgery.
Most patients are able to resume normal activities gradually after liposuction. Patients may return to work depending on the type of procedure in 24 hours to several days after the procedure. Mild swelling and bruising continually subside during the two-week period after surgery. After the second week, most patients are able to resume mild exercise. Keep in mind that a compression garment will need to be worn for several weeks. We will lift activity restrictions typically as early as one week or two into recovery.
Is Liposuction Painful?
We perform liposuction under local tumescent anesthesia in a majority of the areas. In rare cases where a very large volume is needed to be removed, general anesthesia may be needed. The best description of post-operative pain is “sore but functional.” The most intense soreness is present for the first few days after surgery and lightens significantly after that time.
What Other Body Contouring Treatments Are There Besides Liposuction?
In recent years, we have seen a number of non-surgical body sculpting treatments become available. Some use heat or radiofrequency, while others melt fat with cold. Such procedures work in concert with the body’s metabolism of fat, reducing circumference gradually over time.
Liposuction is a safe and effective procedure that achieves more noticeable results in a shorter period of time and with just one procedure, versus the need for multiple treatments. It is more cost-effective than the majority of some alternative procedures and even with fewer complications.
Can I Get Liposuction and a Tummy Tuck in the Same Surgery?
The procedure that is most often combined with liposuction is an abdominoplasty. This secondary procedure tightens the muscular structure of the abdominal wall so the appearance of the midsection is maximized through both reduction and sculpting. Because liposuction is performed in many more areas than the midsection, we also see this procedure combined with others, such as:
How Long Will My Liposuction Results Last?
It is possible to remain in your sculpted body for several years after liposuction or even permanently. The longevity of results is largely in your hands. A healthy diet and exercise regimen combines to support weight on an ongoing basis.
Schedule A Consultation
To schedule a personal consultation for your liposuction procedure or to learn more to see if Liposuction is right for you, contact us today at 415-461-5755 for our Larkspur, CA (North Bay) office or 510-724-8282 to reach our Pinole, CA (East Bay) office!