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LIPOSUCTION - Orange County, CA

What Is Liposuction?

Suction lipectomy (better known as liposuction) is a less invasive surgery that utilizes a thin cannula (a hollow metal tube) to suck fat out of the body. Your plastic surgeon inserts the cannula into the body through very small incisions. He then moves it repeatedly across the treatment areas, loosening fat and then suctioning it out with the help of a medical-grade vacuum. Treatment areas generally look skinnier and better contoured after resolution of swelling. It should be noted that you should not use liposuction as a replacement for weight loss, and it usually does not effectively treat cellulite or tighten loose skin.

Ideal candidates for this cosmetic procedure are generally in good health. They typically have several areas of fat that respond poorly to diet and exercise. Dr. Nguyen often uses liposuction to treat the abdomen, thighs, back, arms, hips, butt, and chest. He may use liposuction by itself or combine it with other cosmetic procedures like thigh lifts, brachioplasties (arm lifts), and tummy tucks.

What Is Involved In A Liposuction Procedure?

Liposuction is generally performed as an outpatient procedure. Tumescent solution made up of saline, lidocaine (for numbing), and epinephrine (to reduce bleeding). Dr. Nguyen typically injects it into the areas to be treated for several beneficial effects, including:

• • • • Making the tissue swell, allowing easier access to remove fat
      • Providing local anesthesia, reducing pain from the procedure
      • Constricting the blood vessels to minimize any bleeding

Occasionally, depending on the size of the treatment area and your preference, you may not need general anesthesia or IV sedation at all!

Liposuction can also be combined with a vibrating power source or with ultrasound or laser sources. Power-assisted liposuction uses vibrations help break up the fat and makes it easier to remove. Ultrasound and laser both use energy to liquify the fat before removing it, also making it easier to remove, but potentially increasing the risk of skin burns from thermal energy.

What Is The Recovery From Liposuction?

Patients will typically experience some bruising, swelling, and soreness in the treatment areas after liposuction. Compression garments and/or ACE bandages are worn for several weeks (up to 6-8 weeks) to help with proper healing and to reduce swelling.

Most patients will be able to go back to work within several days; however, patients will vary in when they feel comfortable doing so. Patients should avoid strenuous activities for 3-4 weeks. It is not uncommon to have swelling up to 6 months, and patience as well as diligence with the compression garments will be key to getting a great final result.

To access full postoperative instructions, please click here.

What Are The Risks Of Liposuction?

There are always risks associated with surgery and anesthesia, and the anesthesiologist (if required) will discuss these with you. Every effort is made to minimize them. Risks related to liposuction include:

• • • • Asymmetry
      • Loose or sagging skin (especially if striae are present beforehand)
      • Worsening of cellulite (especially in delicate areas like the thigh and arms)
      • Contour irregularities
      • Pigmentation irregularities (higher risk with ultrasound or laser)
      • Excess sagging skin may result with the removal of large amounts of fat.

In these cases, direct excision of the skin may be necessary to provide an excellent result.

What Are The Results Of Liposuction?

As mentioned above, swelling and bruising may be present for the first several weeks, but will eventually subside. Swelling may take up to 6 months to fully resolve, at which point the final result will be visible. Incisions are usually very small (less than 1 cm), and so scarring is minimal. The long term results of liposuction are good as long as the patient maintains the pre-surgical weight.

WARNING: The results will be suboptimal if a substantial amount of weight is gained. Weight fluctuation will create loose skin that usually cannot be addressed by liposuction alone.

Liposuction 360: Starts at $11,275 now starting at $9,775 as a limited time offer!
*Price includes anesthesia fees, surgery center fees, surgeon’s fees, follow-up fees and one post operative garment.

Liposuction: Starts at $2,500 (as add-on) and $5,000 (as stand-alone), varies depending on the number of locations treated

See More Liposuction Before & After Photos