Considering Liposuction? Lubbock Patients Should Know These 5 Things

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, liposuction is among the most popular of plastic surgery procedures in America. Even if you eat right and exercise daily, there can be areas of your body that stubbornly hang on to fatty tissue. For getting rid of the fat that persists despite their healthy habits, many people turn to liposuction. Lubbock Dr. Jane Rowley has performed this surgery for decades, but there are some things about it that aren’t well understood by most people. If you are considering liposuction, you need to know these five surprising facts about the procedure.

1 – You Won’t Lose a Lot of Weight

Some patients, including those who are having mommy makeovers, lose weight only to feel disappointed with the results they see in the mirror. Liposuction is not meant to be a weight loss procedure. Although fat cells are removed during the liposuction surgery, the main objective is not to help you lose weight. Liposuction is used to shape targeted areas of the body that have not responded to diet and exercise. You may notice some weight loss, but most of liposuction’s impact is visible in the mirror and not on the scale. If you are considering liposuction, you should aim to be within 30 percent of your ideal body weight before you undergo the procedure. 

2 – Liposuction is Not for Obese People

If you are looking for a substitute for a healthy diet and consistent exercise, then you should consider options other than liposuction. Lubbock patients who need a quick fix for unwanted body weight will be disappointed with the results of liposuction. Suddenly losing a significant amount of weight can be dangerous for your body and general health. A natural, more gradual approach like diet and exercise will always be recommended by doctors. Liposuction is intended to target problem areas on your body for cosmetic correction and contouring. You do not need to be overweight to consider liposuction. A good candidate for the procedure is someone who is prepared to maintain their liposuction results with diet and exercise and is within 30 percent of the target body weight. The best way to determine if liposuction is right for you is to call our Lubbock office and schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Rowley.

3 – Results Aren’t Always Immediately Visible

While preparing for your procedure, it can be helpful to spend time looking at before and after pictures of others who have had liposuction. Lubbock patients will all experience different results, and it is important to remember that time may have passed in between each of those pictures. You will need to wear bandages or compression garments for days or weeks following your procedure. Results may not settle in for weeks or even months after your surgery. The best things you can do are to be patient and take proper care of your body during the healing process.

4 – Fat Can Return After Liposuction

It is true that our bodies are born with a specific number of fat cells and that we do not produce more of them during our lives; however, the fat cells that remain after liposuction can grow large enough to fill in the space left by the removed cells. Without proper diet and exercise, fat can easily expand to areas of the body previously treated by liposuction. Lubbock patients who do not maintain a healthy lifestyle may undo their liposuction results by allowing the remaining fat cells to grow uncontrolled.

5 – You May Want to Save Some of Your Unwanted Fat

Have you ever wished you could take the fat from your thighs and put it into your breasts or other volume deficient places? With liposuction, Lubbock patients with this wish can achieve their desired body contour with natural-looking results. Using fat from one area to augment another part of your body is called fat transfer, and is an option that is quickly growing in popularity. The fat removed during liposuction can be used to shape and augment your breasts or buttocks, rejuvenate and lift the face, or even enhance muscles like abs, pecs, and shoulders.

Taking the Next Step: What to Expect From Your Consultation

Once you decide that you want to move forward with the procedure, you should call your board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss how you would benefit from liposuction. Lubbock patients can expect the following things to happen during this important appointment.

• Your doctor will evaluate the areas of your body from which you would like fat removed.
• You may be photographed so that your surgeon can get a closer look at the areas you want to be treated.
• Your surgeon may evaluate your skin’s elasticity and tone to determine whether you are a good candidate for the procedure.
• Your weight will be discussed. If you are too far from your ideal weight, it’s possible that your doctor will want you to begin a weight loss program before your surgery.

Customizing Your Liposuction Results 

Liposuction is a procedure that can be tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient. Whether you want to trim your waist, get rid of a double chin, or enhance breast reduction results, liposuction can help you get the outcome you want. But, while liposuction can be used in many areas of the body, the important thing to keep in mind is how your skin will look after the fat is removed. Regions with poor skin elasticity can potentially appear saggy after liposuction. Your doctor will evaluate the condition of your skin to determine whether liposuction of a specific area will benefit you. For most patients, the following areas typically respond best to fat removal through liposuction:

• Outer thighs
• Hips
• Waist
• Flanks or love handles
• Chin (submental region)

The abdomen, inner thighs, and areas below the knee generally do not respond as well to liposuction as the areas listed above. Some patients have excess skin hanging from their upper arms. If you would like to treat your arms with liposuction in Lubbock, talk to your doctor to determine whether your skin will be able to handle the loss of fat without appearing saggy. Watch the video below to learn more about Dr. Rowley’s views on liposuction.

Understanding Your Liposuction Procedure

If your plastic surgeon deems you to be a good candidate for liposuction, you can begin to plan for your procedure. Patients who are having smaller areas of fat treated may be able to have their liposuction performed in their plastic surgeon’s office with a local anesthetic. If you are planning to have larger or multiple areas treated, general anesthesia will be necessary. Your surgeon will make some markings on your body to give you the best results possible. 

Next, small incisions will be made in areas that are easier to conceal (such as natural skin creases) to help reduce the appearance of visible scars. A small tube called a cannula is then inserted into the skin and the fat cells are suctioned out through it. Dr. Rowley uses what is called the tumescent technique, which means that fluid is injected into the fatty areas to minimize the loss of blood. This fluid also acts as a local anesthetic to keep patients comfortable. Once the fat is suctioned out through the cannula, your plastic surgeon will close the incisions and you will be dressed in a compression garment. 

Liposuction Recovery

It can be tempting to expect immediate results after having plastic surgery. However, patients who understand that healing and recovery take time tend to be more satisfied with their outcome. After liposuction, Lubbock patients typically take two to three days off work as they experience mild to moderate pain, redness, swelling, or bruising. Medications prescribed by your doctor will ease the discomfort during the initial healing period. After the first week of recovery, most patients begin to see reduced swelling. Continue to wear your compression garments up to two to four weeks, or as instructed by your doctor.

Mommy Makeover Options

Many patients who express interest in liposuction also pursue other plastic surgeries. Liposuction pairs well with several other procedures and can be customized to fit your individual cosmetic goals. Women who have had children often have more than one area of concern they want to address with plastic surgery, so combining procedures is a helpful option for them. If you have stubborn excess fat and cosmetic issues with your breasts or abdomen, consider the following mommy makeover choices:

Breast augmentation: The loss of volume in the breasts is common among women who have been pregnant or breasted their babies. You can regain lost volume or further enhance your bust with the placement of breast implants. Breast augmentation ranks highly in patient satisfaction, and is the most popular plastic surgery for women in the U.S. Different types of breast implants are available so you can personalize your results. Whether you want silicone gel or saline, very large implants, or a subtle enhancement, your plastic surgeon can help you get the look you desire.

Breast reduction: While many women experience decreased volume in their breasts after having children, others struggle with breasts that are excessive in size. Large breasts commonly cause issues such as neck, back, and shoulder pain. Women with large breasts often find it difficult to exercise because of the weight of their chest. Finding flattering clothing and managing the emotional toll of the frequent stares of strangers can also be a challenge for these women. With a breast reduction, your plastic surgeon removes excess breast tissue and skin to create a smaller, more proportionate shape for your breasts. You can pair a breast reduction with liposuction in Lubbock to erase discomfort and enhance your appearance. 

Breast lift: All of Dr. Rowley’s breast reduction patients receive a lift as part of their procedure, but you can also opt to have a breast lift on its own. Women who have significant sagging benefit from a breast lift because it rejuvenates the shape of the bust. During the procedure, your plastic surgeon removes excess tissue and tightens the skin to create a perkier looking breast. The nipple areola complex is also lifted to a higher position. Patients sometimes add liposuction in Lubbock to get rid of fat in the upper armpit area or sides of the breasts. You may see some additional bruising or swelling if you choose this option, but your overall recovery will largely be the same as if you had had only a breast lift.   

Tummy tuck: A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is one of the top procedures for women who have had children. Belly skin that stretches with pregnancy does not usually shrink back to its previous position, especially for women who have had multiple pregnancies. With a tummy tuck, you can flatten your stomach and get rid of the loose skin that came with motherhood. Your plastic surgeon will also tighten your abdominal muscles, which are often stretched or separated during pregnancy. Patients can add liposuction to their tummy tuck procedure to get even more dramatic body contouring results.  

Maintain Your Results

Liposuction is a procedure that offers satisfying results for the vast majority of patients. It targets areas of fat that stubbornly resist even the best dedication to proper diet and exercise. The fat cells suctioned out during the procedure are gone forever, but new fat can take their place if you are not careful. Staying at a consistent healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise, and drinking enough water are the best ways to maintain your liposuction results. 

Schedule a Consultation Today

Lubbock’s most trusted and knowledgeable plastic surgeon, Dr. Jane Rowley, gives all of her patients the option to have a no-obligation consultation. During this time they can freely discuss the problem areas of their bodies and learn whether or not they are a good candidate for liposuction. Lubbock patients can have liposuction in conjunction with other procedures, and this will also be discussed at your initial visit. Although liposuction removes fat cells, it is important to maintain healthy habits and keep your weight stable after surgery if you want the results to be permanent. Contact Rowley Plastic Surgery today to find out more.