Liposuction Surgery
Dr. Brooke R. Seckel
Liposuction or Suction Assisted Lipoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure to remove or get rid of body fat. A small tube called a cannula is inserted beneath the skin and sucks out body fat. Liposuction techniques also use laser and ultrasound to melt fat before removal. Boston Plastic Surgery Specialists try to provide the best liposuction in Boston.
People have liposuction to:
Tumescent liposuction is the technique of injecting a fluid into the fat before liposuction. Tumescent fluid contains medications that provide local anesthesia, stop bleeding, help dissolve fat and make liposuction safer.
Power assisted liposuction uses mechanical pulsating cannulae. The movement of the cannula improves fat removal and reduces surgeon fatigue.
Laser assisted liposuction, also called Slim Lipo, Smart Lipo and Cool Lipo, uses heat generated by a laser fiber to melt fat before liposuction for easier removal and to cause skin tightening.
Body jet or water jet lipo uses pulsating jets of water to break up and liquefy fat.
Tickle lipo uses vibration to assist in breaking up the fat. Tickle liposuction does not tickle.
Abdominal liposuction, as known as Tummy Lipo or Stomach Lipo, is the most common liposuction procedure and is designed to get rid of belly fat. The suction tubes are inserted through hidden sites in the belly button, near the pubic hair and in the flank.
Liposuction of the flanks or waist area is usually done with the abdomen and with tummy tuck surgery.
Liposuction is an excellent way to get rid of neck fat or chin fat. Laser liposuction of the neck removes fat and also tightens neck skin.
Lipo of thighs is fat removal from the inside of the thigh. Laser liposuction can help tighten thigh skin after liposuction.
Liposuction of the hips is used to treat fat hips and buttocks called steatopygia or saddle. Hip liposuction results are usually excellent.
Many patients develop fat deposits on the back of the upper arm which causes a hanging or jiggling arm flaps or bat wings. Laser liposuction of the arm can produce excellent results.
Knee liposuction is often done during the course of medial thigh liposuction.
These are non surgical devices but they do not perform liposuction. Some work but many do not. They best achieve 25% reduction of fat.
The following are types of non surgical liposuction that have been proven to work:
Cryolipolysis works by cooling the surface of the skin. Fat cells are damaged by cold, thus cooling the skin kills fat cells.
Ultrashape® and Liposonix® are focused ultrasound applied on the skin. Focused ultrasound kills fat cells by heat or sonic vibration.
The following non-surgical fat removal devices have not yet been proven to work:
You will have discomfort the first few days after liposuction. It is a skin discomfort often described as aching. Pain medications are effective.
It can take 3 weeks for bruising to go away, 4-6 weeks for swelling. You will also be wearing a compression garment for a week and at bedtime for a few weeks.
Final results take 3-4 months. Laser tightening continues for 6 months.
Dr. Brooke Seckel is pleased to offer a number of liposuction techniques at his Boston, MA, plastic surgery practice and has helped many men and women achieve the trim, toned body they desire. If you would like to learn more about liposuction surgery, please contact Boston Plastic Surgery Specialists to schedule a consultation.
