Liposuction

What is liposuction?

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes fat from your body using suction. The procedure is a great way to refine your trouble areas, enhancing your muscle tone and showing off your curves in their very best light. 

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia, although general anesthesia may be a better fit if you’re having a significant amount of fat removed. You’ll likely be able to go home after your procedure, although you always have the option of spending the night in one of the state-of-the-art recovery suites or have a recovery nurse accompany you home for the first night. 

What happens during liposuction?

Once your numbing medication takes effect, Dr. Cabrera makes several small incisions to gain access to the layer of fat that lies just beneath the surface of your skin. A sterile saline solution containing a local anesthetic and vessel-constricting medication is pumped into the treatment area to help break down the targeted fat cells.

Those fat cells are suctioned from your body through a thin surgical tube called a cannula, which can also be manipulated to further break down fatty deposits. Some liposuction platforms incorporate ultrasound or laser technology to make it easier to remove treated fat. 

If you’d like to increase volume in other areas of your body, Dr. Cabrera can transfer a portion of the suctioned fat through a procedure called liposculpture. This can create beautiful results and give you a more balanced, proportioned figure. 

Will liposuction help me lose weight?

Liposuction does permanently remove fat from your body, but it isn’t an effective weight loss solution. The process doesn’t remove enough fat to significantly alter your weight. 

There’s also the fact that your remaining fat cells will still be able to expand and contract to accommodate more or less fat as you gain or lose weight. That’s why liposuction is best suited for men and women who’ve achieved and been able to maintain a healthy weight for at least a year prior to their liposuction procedure. 

If you have questions or concerns about liposuction, call or schedule an appointment online today. Dr. Cabrera can sit down with you to discuss the pros and cons of this procedure and give you an idea of what you can accomplish through liposuction or liposculpture.