Liposuction is a versatile body-slimming technique that can be performed almost anywhere on the body to selectively remove unwanted fat. The surgery can be performed as a stand-alone procedure or as a supporting step in a number of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Woodglen Aesthetics performs liposuction in Glendora, LA County, along with many other procedures for body contouring surgery.
Who Can Undergo Liposuction in Glendora & Los Angeles?
Liposuction is best for individuals with persistent areas of fat. We may recommend liposuction to slim down problem areas like the thighs, back of the arms, or tummy. Because the technique is so versatile, there is a danger in regarding liposuction as a cure-all procedure, which it is not. Liposuction is not a weight loss technique; it is a method of surgical fat removal for localized areas of the body. If you have body fat that does not respond to exercise and diet, you may be a good candidate for liposuction. You should be in good health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations for the procedure.
How Does Liposuction Work in Glendora & Los Angeles?
Your liposuction procedure will be performed in an outpatient setting with general or local anesthesia, and may require 45 minutes to 2 hours of operating time. Small incisions are made near the targeted areas through which the cannula, or thin tube, will be inserted. Next, a saline solution with diluted lidocaine and epinephrine will be injected into the area under treatment. This anesthetic causes the fat to become ‘tumescent’, or swollen, which aids removal by firming the fat tissue. We then dislodge and remove the unwanted fat tissue with a vacuuming device that suctions fat from the area. Several body areas can be treated, sometimes in the same session, including the:
- Back
- Abdomen
- Flanks
- Neck
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Arms
- Chest
How Quickly Will I Recover?
Recovery from liposuction depends largely on the amount of fat that was removed, and whether the technique was performed as a part of a more extensive procedure like breast reduction. You may experience some numbness, burning, swelling and brusing. You will need to wear a compression garment to encourage the skin to heal and contract, and that you begin to walk as quickly after the procedure as possible. Follow-up liposuction sessions may be necessary in helping you achieve the results you desire. Please see liposuctions that Woodglen Aesthetics has performed in the before and after section.
Understanding the Risks of Liposuction
The anesthesia requirements are reduced and blood loss is minimized with tumescent liposuction, but patients still face the same risks and cosmetic complications associated with traditional liposuction. Risks specifically associated with the tumescent technique include pulmonary edema (the collection of fluid in the lungs), which may occur if too much fluid is administered; and lidocaine toxicity, which occurs if the lidocaine content is too high. You can minimize your surgery risks by choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience with the tumescent technique.
Anesthesia
For many patients, general anesthesia is the best option. For others, the anesthetic contained in the solution combined with sedation may provide sufficient comfort during the procedure. Or, if we feel it’s appropriate, the tumescent solution itself may serve as the sole means of anesthesia.
The Surgery
In tumescent liposuction, the warmed tumescent liquid—a dilute solution containing lidocaine, epinephrine and intravenous fluid—is injected into the area to be treated. As the liquid enters the fat, it becomes swollen, firm and blanched. Liposuction in Glendora & Los Angeles is then performed on the tumesced areas.
After Liposuction: What to Expect
The long-acting effects of the anesthetic solution help to provide pain relief after the procedure and decrease the need for additional pain medication. For the first day or two after surgery, most patients experience swelling in the treated areas, as well as some fluid drainage from the incision sites. Light activity is usually resumed within the first few days after tumescent liposuction; normal activity can be resumed within a few weeks. Please Contact Woodglen Aesthetics if you would like to set up a time to discuss your concerns about liposuction. We are conveniently located in Glendora, a short commute from Pasadena or Rancho Cucamonga in LA County.