Each summer, some men and women in Plantation, Florida, fail to achieve their perfect beach bodies despite diet and exercise. Unfortunately, not all fat cells are the same, so some fat does not go away no matter how hard you work to lose weight. Our Coral Springs plastic surgery practice offers liposuction to eliminate fat that does not respond to diet and exercise.
What is Liposuction? A Body-Slimming Procedure
Those who find themselves frustrated with stubborn fat can see great results after undergoing liposuction. When fat deposits are reduced, the result is a more streamlined, slimmer body. Patients often notice that they look better in their clothes, and these same patients report that it is easier to shop for close-fitting clothing such as bathing suits and pants. People who have uneven fat distribution often have trouble shopping for clothes because their buttocks, thighs, and/or arms are simply too large in comparison to the rest of their bodies. After undergoing liposuction, patients often enjoy not having to buy oversized clothing to accommodate these larger parts of their bodies.
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, utilizes small tubes called cannulas, which are inserted through tiny incisions near fat deposits. Fat is then suctioned through these cannulas and removed from the body. There are many areas of the body that can benefit from liposuction. These include the:
- Neck
- Upper arm area
- Abdominal region
- Love handles (also known as flanks)
- Back
- Inner and outer thighs
- Saddlebags (also known as the hip region)
- Buttocks
- Areas around the knees
- Calves
- Ankles
Good Candidates for Liposuction
Women and men of a healthy weight are good candidates for lipoplasty. However, people with unfavorable skin elasticity are not always suited for the procedure. Skin becomes looser when the fat beneath it is removed, and it can create a sagging or dimpling effect after your body has healed. How loose your skin may become depends largely on how much fat is removed and how supple your skin is before the surgery. If you do not have good skin elasticity, you may require further tissue removal.
What Happens During Liposuction?
Before your liposuction procedure, Dr. Levens will mark the targeted areas. Small incisions that can easily be concealed will be made over the targeted area. Then, a cannula is inserted into the first fat deposit. While the fat is being suctioned, the cannula will be moved back and forth until an appropriate amount of fat is removed. When the area has been treated, Dr. Levens will move on to the next area and repeat the process.
During the procedure, Dr. Levens will monitor the thickness and shape of the targeted area. Once he has completed the liposuction on one side of the body, Dr. Levens will treat the other side of the body to ensure that your results will be as symmetrical as possible. Once Dr. Levens is satisfied that your procedure has been successful, each of your incisions will be closed carefully so that scarring is kept to a minimum. Next, an elastic dressing will be wrapped around the area where you received liposuction to prevent fluid build-up. You should be able to shower after only a few days.
