Puffy, stubborn fat can be a burden to live with. You may have tried hard to get fit and toned with exercise and a healthy diet, but find that some fat remains no matter what you do. It is this type of lingering fat that is well-suited to removal with liposuction. This body contouring procedure is performed by Dr. Maakan Taghizadeh at Baltimore’s U Plastic Surgery.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that reduces excess fat in a targeted treatment area. It can be completed with various methods, although they all have one thing in common: excess fat cells are suctioned away, out of the treatment site.
Various technologies exist to prepare the fat for removal, such as the application of laser or ultrasound energy to melt or break apart the fat cells. The traditional form of liposuction involves the surgeon manually breaking up the fat with a narrow tube called a cannula, before that fat is suctioned away.
Liposuction Treatment Areas
Liposuction is highly versatile. It can be applied to many different areas of the body, including
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Thighs
- Breasts
- Chest
- Back
- Waist
- Buttocks
- Neck
- Chin
- Knees
- Upper arms
One of the great things about liposuction is that it can be adapted to treatment areas large and small. Anywhere there exists a stubborn pocket of excess fat can typically be treated with liposuction.
Liposuction Questions
Do you lose weight with liposuction?
Liposuction is not a weight-loss method. It cannot take you from being overweight to being at your goal weight. Liposuction may remove a few pounds of fat, but it is performed only once you are at or closely in range of your goal weight. Under those circumstances, liposuction puts the finishing touch on your physique by removing localized bulges of fat.
How safe is liposuction?
Liposuction has a long track record of safety and effectiveness, but it does carry the risk of certain side effects and complications, especially if you are a poor candidate for the procedure. That is why it is so important to find a qualified plastic surgeon like Dr. Tag, who will make sure this procedure is a good match for you before recommending it.
Common risks that we’ll discuss more in-depth at your consultation are contour irregularities, bleeding and reactions to anesthesia. Dr. Tag will walk you through the steps he takes to lower your risk of complications.
Does fat come back after liposuction?
The fat cells that are removed are gone for good. The remaining fat cells in the area could enlarge if you gain weight, which would cause the area to look bigger once again. You can also of course still gain weight overall, which could show up in the treatment area or throughout the physique.
Does it tighten the skin?
No, liposuction cannot tighten lax skin. But it can be combined with a skin removal procedure like a tummy tuck, upper arm lift or thigh lift. Together, the combined procedures will have the effect of removing excess fat and tightening lax skin.
Can liposuction treat cellulite?
No, liposuction only reduces excess fat cells in targeted areas. Cellulite is caused by stiff, fibrous bands of tissue that pull the skin down, causing dimpled skin. Liposuction cannot and does not alter these fibrous tissue bands. It is possible you will notice that cellulite is less pronounced after liposuction, but there is no guarantee of that result.
What is the liposuction recovery like?
You will need to take time off from work and strenuous activity. Most liposuction patients return to work within a week. You’ll need to wait 4-6 weeks to resume strenuous exercise and activities. Swelling, bruising and soreness is typical during that first week.
Am I too old for liposuction?
There is no age cutoff for liposuction! Instead, if you are in good health and pass a medical assessment, Dr. Tag may deem you a candidate for liposuction, even if you are over the age of 60-65. He will also want to examine the elasticity of your skin. For liposuction results to look good, it’s important for the skin to shrink back over the new contour once the fat is removed. If your skin is very lax, then the results may look saggy. Rely on Dr. Tag to assess the situation and recommend the range of options that will work for you.
Arrange a Liposuction Consultation
To find out if liposuction may be the right way to achieve your goals for your body, please arrange a consultation with board-certified Baltimore plastic surgeon Dr. Maakan Taghizadeh. U Plastic Surgery is committed to your very best results!
