The main benefit of liposuction is the ability to remove unwanted and stubborn fat from areas that are resistant to diet, exercise, or other forms of weight loss. This gives many patients who have worked consistently to get to their ideal weight a sense of accomplishment when they can finally achieve the physique they’ve dreamed about. For others, it can bring a sense of self-confidence from looking better in clothes, intimate wear, or photos. Additionally, many patients report feeling physically more comfortable.

Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure, so it works best for patients who have isolated bulges or specific areas that are bulkier than desired. Candidates should be within about 30 pounds of their ideal weight for their height. Understanding your BMI before your consultation will help determine your eligibility for surgery.

While exercise and healthy eating are essential for overall health, they are not effective in targeting the spot reduction of problem areas. A dieter has no control over which fat cells shrink, even when also participating in routine workouts. It’s hard to fight what’s hereditary: Some otherwise slim patients naturally store fat in their midsections, while others may have wide hips or fat under the chin. Many patients retain fullness in the stomach, hips, inner and outer thighs, upper arms, and below the chin, despite engaging in disciplined, healthy activities and nutrition.

Even successful slimming activities can be undone by fat cells that grow larger again later in life. Surgical fat removal is ideal for body contouring because liposuction can target specific areas, physically removing unwanted fat cells from the body, thereby eliminating the concern of them regrowing larger.

Beyond these benefits, liposuction is a patient favorite due to the minimal incisions required to achieve results. And while liposuction does require downtime, the rest and recovery necessary are comparatively less than required for more invasive procedures.

For each liposuction patient, Dr. Parkins will take the following steps:

Anesthesia

Treatment can be completed with either local or general anesthesia, depending on your preferences and the extent of care required to meet your goals.

Incision Placement

A small incision is positioned adjacent to the treatment site. In some cases, several incisions may be necessary, depending on the amount of fat to be removed and how many areas of the body you would like to target.

Pre-Treatment of Fat

Dr. Parkins introduces a tumescent solution into the treatment area through the incisions. They then use a narrow tube, called a cannula, to break up the fat deposits, making removal much easier. The solution helps reduce bruising and also contains an anesthetic, allowing for a more comfortable treatment experience.