New York City Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure that is designed to remove unwanted deposits of fat from the neck, upper arms, chest, abdomen, hips, thighs, knees, and ankles. There are many different types of liposuction available. Many claim to do more than just remove fat (some claim to tighten skin as well). It has been my experience with these devices that skin tightening really does not occur with any type of liposuction. The skin must have enough elasticity before the surgery to contract on its own after suctioning. If there are many stretch marks present, this means that the quality of the skin is not good and it is less likely that the skin will contract after surgery. In our practice, we see many patients who have had too much suctioning done, leaving them with loose, wrinkled skin or depressions and irregularities. For these patients, we use fat grafting to augment the wrinkled skin and to fill in the depressions. (See Body Contouring section)

The Procedure

Liposuction Can Be Performed In The Following Areas

• Neck
• Upper arms
• Chest
• Abdomen
• Hips and thighs
• Knees

Liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss, but rather a method for removing localized deposits of fatty tissue that do not respond to diet or exercise. The best candidates for liposuction are individuals of normal weight who have excess fat in one or more of the areas listed above. Having good skin tone will result in a better final contour after liposuction, as hanging skin will not always contract and reshape itself to the new contours. Liposuction will not improve areas of dimpled skin known as cellulite, but in some cases, fat grafting can be used to minimize the irregular appearance. Liposuction can also be used to contour the chest or breasts of men (see Gynecomastia Reduction).

The procedure is performed by first making small incisions and instilling some anesthetic fluid. The fluid helps “loosen up” the fat and also helps to reduce bruising. A small hollow tube, called a cannula, is then inserted under the skin. The tube is connected to a vacuum device which helps to extract the excess fat. Suctioning is done until the desired contour is obtained. The small incisions are closed with one suture each, and you are placed into a compression garment (like a girdle for the abdomen and thighs).

Recovery Time

A garment is worn for 2-6 weeks and helps to control bruising and swelling. The majority of the swelling from the procedure is gone in 6-8 weeks, but it can take several months before the final contour is evident.