San Diego Tumescent liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure in which bulges of fat are reduced and removed in order to refine your figure. It is a safe and effective means of permanent fat removal, and can be performed on any area of the face or body where there is fat.  Liposuction of the cheeks, liposuction of the jowls, and liposuction of the neck are popular office procedures.  Liposuction of the waist, liposuction of the back, liposuction of the bra-line, liposuction of the arms, liposuction of the hips, liposuction of the flanks, liposuction of the abdomen, liposuction of the mons pubis and labia, liposuction of the thighs, liposuction of the buttocks, and liposuction of the legs are also performed as desired for bulges or extra fat in those and other areas.  Fat removed during liposuction may be transferred to the buttocks as needed if enlargement and filling of the buttocks is desired.  Before beginning treatment, we will listen to understand your vision of what you want, and explain the treatment plan that will accomplish your goals.

NO, liposuction is generally painless during the procedure with mild discomfort for several days or longer afterward.  Depending on how much fat is removed, how many areas are treated, the size and location of each area, and whether or not that fat is transferred somewhere else, a variable amount of post-treatment pain may require narcotic or non-narcotic analgesics.  Liposuction is performed under local anaesthesia for small areas like the face and neck, or small bulges elsewhere.  General anaesthesia offers more comfort and safety for liposuction of large areas, large volumes, multiple areas, and for fat transfer.  You will not feel any pain during liposuction (we specialize in painless liposuction technique), but because nerves passing through the treated area are affected, most men and women experience discomfort for days to even weeks after liposuction.  Swelling of treated areas is normal, and dissipates over days, weeks, and even months after liposuction.  Dr. Laverson supplies a custom fitted compression garment to smooth skin after liposuction.  Gentle compression by the garment is recommended for ten days or so after liposuction.  Some like the shape of post-surgical garments and the feeling of stability they offer, and wear them for longer during recovery from liposuction.

Liposuction is popular for both men and women.  Liposuction is indicated for non-obese  patients with localized bulges or fullness in specific body areas from extra fat.  Liposuction is truly a body shaping, body thinning, and body contouring procedure.  Skin quality influences the final result of liposuction.  If large amounts of fat are removed from an area with loose skin, the skin in that area, after it is deflated by fat removal, may sag.  The judgment of whether liposuction (fat removal alone) or dermolipectomy (removal of excess skin AND fat) is better will be part of the pre-surgical discussion.

This is our most common question, and the answer depends on your situation.  We recommend a POWERFUL EFFECTIVE  medical weight loss program that is guaranteed, provided you are otherwise healthy and follow the program.  The best part:  It’s not that difficult.  Some details explained at 10x.diet.  We’re available 24/7 for support.  You should have the body you want, not only for your best appearance, but for your overall health.  Excess fat is associated with chronic medical problems.  Changes in your routine habits required to lose weight are well worth the effort.  Weight loss is more a mental than a physical battle, and we’re here to help.  Liposuction works best if you’re normal or near normal body weight.  If you remain overweight after liposuction, you may not be happy.  Patients who are overweight request liposuction in multiple areas.  If you lose weight first, liposuction may only be needed in one or two areas instead of five or six, or maybe not at all!

Tumescent liposuction reduces post operative bruising, swelling and pain.  Blood loss is minimized during tumescent liposuction due to the effects of medication in the tumescent solution.  Tumescence indicates that excess fat is suffused with a large amount of sterile salt water containing medications during a preliminary step prior to removal of your fat by suction.  Injected fluid swells fat compartments.  They become  firm, or “tumesced.” Expanded fat compartments allow the liposuction cannula to travel smoothly beneath the skin as fat is extracted.  Benefits of tumescence before liposuction (the “tumescent technique”) include added precision in fat removal and body contouring, facilitation of larger volumes of fat removal, diminished blood loss, and with local anesthetic, extended pain relief after surgery. Dr. Laverson has evaluated several other techniques for liposuction.  He prefers tumescent because of the predictability of results, his ability for both debulking larger volumes and for sculpting finer contours, and the improved safety profile by avoiding unnecessary discharge of ultrasound or laser energy beneath the skin surface near nerves, blood vessels, and organs that can be directly or indirectly affected.

Swelling and often some bruising are expected after liposuction.  Dr. Laverson will measure your body in advance of your procedure, and order a high quality custom fitted compression garment to control swelling, stabilize the treated area, and facilitate smooth fat distribution for your best possible body shape.  Wear the garment around the clock (except when showering) for two to three weeks following your liposuction procedure.   Many patients see little difference, or are even larger during the first one to three months after liposuction.  Between two and six months afterward, you will progressively see better results, provided you’re not gaining body fat from overeating.  Improvement continues until about one year after liposuction when all of the swelling should be gone.

We are born with a certain number of fat cells. During liposuction, fat cells are removed with the surgery. The remaining fat cells get bigger when you get bigger and get smaller when you get smaller. If you maintain your weight, the fat should not come back to the liposuctioned areas. If you put on weight, it will more likely be distributed evenly over the body and less likely to go to your ‘trouble zones’.

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure to improve the shape, size, and appearance of your body.  This includes a smooth skin surface.  Your age, skin elasticity, history of weight loss, the amount, area, and location on your body of liposuction all influence the final outcome.  Dr. Laverson incorporates judgment and techniques to avoid “cellulite” and rippling, but as swelling resolves and the treated area deflates after liposuction, rippling, wrinkling, skin sagging, and surface irregularities develop.  Often, this is mild, and not problematic.  The development of loose skin over an area of liposuction can be difficult to predict, and even more so if ultrasound (e.g. VASER®) or laser energy (e.g. SMART-LIPO®) is performed.  No promises can be made in advance regarding cellulite. Liposuction improves the overall shape of the body in addition to making it smaller, but if significant rippling and skin sagging develop, secondary procedures such as dermolipectomy (surgical removal of excess skin and fat) may be indicated.

There is no way to accurately predict your healing speed, but most patients will see 80% of their liposuction results within 1 to 6 months following surgery. Final results vary from patient to patient and depend on age, areas treated, and the amount of fat removed, as well as individual healing speeds. Some patients see immediate results that improve steadily while others have weeks of swelling. Both of these outcomes are normal.

You will have small scars wherever instruments were inserted, which will vary by the patient in their appearance.  The area being treated can also potentially develop scar tissue. A good surgeon will take great care in making small, discrete incisions; however, potential scarring should be discussed with your surgeon prior to the procedure. If you have a large area or many sites being treated, he or  she will have to pay extra attention to incision placement and size. Your skin type and pigmentation may make your scar thicken or more visible. 

Liposuction is a surgical procedure and requires time for recuperation. Your stitches will come out approximately 7 to 10 days after your procedure. While most people can go back to work or school a few days after surgery, strenuous activity must be avoided for four or more weeks.

With realistic expectations and proper body maintenance, you can be satisfied with the results of your plastic surgery for many years to come.

There is NO charge for post surgical visits.