Liposuction

Suction Assisted Lipectomy (SAL), commonly known as liposuction, permanently removes localized excess fat deposits that persist in spite of dieting and exercise. Fluid containing local anesthetic and adrenaline (to decrease bleeding) is instilled through tiny inconspicuous incisions to assist in vacuuming out of the fat. After the procedure and over the next 3-6 months, the skin tightens up around the smaller fat volume.

Liposuction works, however, not everyone is a candidate for it. Patients who have had multiple children and have loose abdominal skin or stretched out abdominal muscles may be better served with a tummy tuck. Similarly, people who have lost a lot of weight (50-100 pounds) or are older than their mid-forties, are generally not good candidates for the procedure because of stretched out skin and loss of skin elasticity.

Liposuction can be used in conjunction with other body contouring procedures such as better defining the waist along with a tummy tuck. Unfortunately, there are doctors who do only liposuction procedures. As the old saying goes, "if you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Making sure your doctor has more than one tool in his toolbox can provide you with a better overall experience.

It works because we do not make new fat cells after puberty, but if we don't watch what we eat, we can gain weight and make the remaining fat cells bigger. It is not a weight loss technique, it is a contouring procedure. The ideal candidates are within sight of their ideal body weight. That said, even people who are overweight, but have one or two particular areas that are out of proportion, can improve their shape with localized liposuction.

After treatment, patients need to wear a compression garment for 6-8 weeks after procedure to help compress the remaining fat and assist in tightening the skin. Most people can resume normal activity in a week, but should defer resistance exercises of the treated areas for 6-8 weeks.

Dr. Tavin performs lipo 360, and in select patients, high definition liposuction in Memphis.

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