Liposuction
Purpose of Procedure
The goal of liposuction is to improve the contours of the body part being operated upon by removing excess fat from under the skin. This includes the neck, arms, chest, tummy, back, flanks, hips, thighs, and calves/ankles.
Brief Description of the Procedure
This surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia. All surgery is done at Dr. Payne’s MediCare and California State Certified Pueblo Nuevo Surgery Center located within his office.
Dr. Payne uses the tumescent technique where fluid containing local anesthetics and epinephrine are injected into the body part to be treated. Small hidden incisions are used to inject the tumescent fluid and to subsequently remove the fat. Excess subcutaneous fat is then carefully removed using a liposuction cannula attached to a power vacuum pump. Many body zones are amenable to liposuction being done under local anesthesia with the patient awake. This includes the neck, tummy, and other areas. The larger the areas to be treated the more likely it is that general anesthesia will be required. All of this will be discussed with the patient at the initial consultation.
Liposuction can be safely combined with other surgical procedures done simultaneously. Dr. Payne will assess each patient’s needs individually and an operative game plan will be developed and discussed with each client. All options will be reviewed with the patient prior to surgery.
Once the surgery has been completed the patient will be placed into compression garments which will be worn for a 3–6 week length of time. It takes about 3 months to see your final result. During this 3 month period swelling steadily resolves and the skin tightens to accommodate the new improved contours.
Likely Outcome and Longevity
Liposuction is a relatively straightforward procedure for an experienced plastic surgeon to perform. The fat which is removed represents permanent fat reduction. Many patients are under the impression that body zones that have been treated with liposuction will simply fill up with fat again as time passes. This is simply not true. If patients gain weight then they can put fat back into treated zones but even then the treated zone still tends to look better than it did originally.
Liposuction is a proven treatment that can yield excellent results. Many patients have pockets of unwanted fat that they are unable to eliminate regardless of diet and exercise. Often patients will remark that these have been problem areas going back to their teen years. Liposuction removes stubborn to eliminate areas of excess fat and can be associated with remarkable skin tightening as well. By eliminating bulging pockets of fat and slimming body parts the final results are usually very pleasing to the patients. The results may be quite long lasting particularly in those patients who take good care of themselves. Although liposuction is not regarded as a specific treatment for cellulite in many liposuction patients cellulite is improved which increases patient satisfaction.
One of the main determinants of who gets a good result with liposuction has to do with the quality of the patient’s skin. Those patients with plump, healthy, elastic skin tend to get the best results. Skin that is sun damaged or has a lot of stretch marks to it is less ideal. If patients have had multiple pregnancies or have lost a lot of weight prior to liposuction then their results may not be as good as someone who is fit and healthy. It is important that each patient have realistic goals and expectations. The overall goal of treatment is to make improvements in appearance that are satisfying to the patient.
Liposuction is not a substitute for diet and exercise. It works best when patients are at or close to their ideal weight and simply have problem areas where they have excess subcutaneous fat despite their best efforts to eliminate these unsightly zones. Patients who are overweight or obese can be treated with liposuction but their results will be more limited and liposuction cannot transform an overweight individual into a normal weight person.
Our bodies will continue to age after liposuction. This means more treatment may become necessary with the passage of time. Additional treatments may include facelift, breast lift, tummy tuck, butt or thigh lifts, and tightening of the arms (brachioplasty). The best way to deal with the aging process is to commit to a healthy lifestyle which includes eating a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco products, drinking alcohol in moderation, exercising, getting enough rest, avoiding excess sun exposure and making physically and psychologically sound decisions with our lives.
Recovery Issues
Each patient is given detailed written postoperative instructions regarding surgery as well as appropriate medications. The postoperative experience is discussed in detail with each patient ahead of time so that the patient is prepared for the after-surgery experience. Dr. Payne usually calls each patient the evening of surgery and again the morning after to review all instructions with the caregivers and make sure each patient is being managed appropriately. Dr. Payne or one of his staff members can be reached 24/7 by simply dialing his office phone number (209–524–9904) in case of questions or problems.
In general, liposuction is fairly well tolerated and most patients make quick recoveries. It is normal to have some postoperative pain and stiffness as well as bruising and swelling. Usually by the end of the first week after surgery most patients are starting to feel pretty good. Dr. Payne likes to see patients 1–2 X per week for the first 3 weeks or so to make sure their recovery is coming along appropriately and to provide advice about resumption of normal activities. He will continue to follow patients until they are fully healed and recovered and a final judgment has been made about the outcome of surgery.
Most patients need one week off work although this can vary depending on the patient and the extent of the liposuction performed. Sometimes patients can return to work the day following surgery. Compression garments are normally utilized for a total of 6 weeks for the majority of patients. Exercise can usually be resumed within a few days following treatment and most patients are fully recovered in a few weeks.
Cost
Please contact our office for information regarding cost. Cost will vary depending on the nature of the specific treatment and how many areas will be filled.
Consultation/Scheduling
Please contact our office if you wish to make an appointment to see Dr. Payne for a consultation. Our office staff will be happy to talk to you in detail about this procedure. Feel free to ask lots of questions.
Your initial consultation will be with Dr. Payne. This generally takes about 1 hour. You may visit the office prior to this consultation to have preoperative photographs taken or to simply come by and chat. If you would like you can stop by to see our Before and After Album with dozens of digital images of clients who have undergone tummy tuck surgery. You will be given multiple brochures and other paperwork which will help to prepare you for your consultation. All your options will be discussed with you at the time you make your first appointment.
