Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, is a popular procedure for patients considering body contouring through plastic surgery.

In this surgery, fat is suctioned from targeted body areas to create the desired body shape. Patients typically choose this procedure to achieve a sleeker, more sculpted figure.  

Liposuction is also called “body sculpting,” and is a common procedure to remove fat in the abdomen, buttocks, neck, thighs, and other body areas. While this procedure can eliminate unwanted fat effectively, can it address other body issues, such as cellulite? It is vital for patients seeking a reduction in cellulite to consider this question.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides liposuction to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding communities.

 

What is cellulite?

There seems to be no real cause for the development of cellulite, and it occurs regardless of the activity level or body type. This frustrating issue affects mostly women and is characterized by the unappealing dimples on the buttocks and thighs which may even be noticeable through certain clothing in severe cases.

Wearing swimsuits and short skirts may be out of the question for women who are self-conscious about their cellulite.

 

Can liposuction remove cellulite?

Cellulite is usually seen as unattractive as it creates a dimpled effect on the hips and other areas of the body. It often develops on the buttock and thigh areas in women. The reason for its development is fat deposits being pushed up on the skin causing an unsightly rippling effect.

An expert cosmetic surgeon can understand the patient’s concerns regarding their cellulite. However, liposuction is not an appropriate procedure for cellulite removal. This surgery will remove fat permanently from the body enhancing its contours. But it will not address cellulite.

It is important to understand the reasons for cellulite development before seeking its treatment. The dimpling effect of cellulite occurs when bands of connective tissue develop beneath the skin, pulling it downwards.

While excess fat can make cellulite look worse, it is not a cause for the appearance of cellulite. Therefore, liposuction on the buttock and thighs can only slightly improve the appearance of cellulite.

The thin skin on the thighs and butt can actually make the cellulite more noticeable. This symptom is more prominent in older women since they tend to have less elastic skin.

Results do offer some indication that laser and ultrasound-assisted liposuction may tighten the skin while removing fat. However, these treatments alone will not be able to eliminate cellulite.

 

How can I get rid of cellulite?

Liposuction is a fat loss procedure, and not meant for the removal of cellulite. There is no official treatment for cellulite removal, but certain things can help individuals mitigate the appearance of cellulite. Exercise may improve the dimpling effect. Weight loss can also help reduce cellulite.

Cellulite is a normal but aesthetically undesirable condition. It is quite common among women, and to some extent, most women have some level of cellulite on their bodies.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for liposuction.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

Liposuction surgery is a way to attain a lean and sculpted body for individuals who are within their ideal weight range but still have stubborn fatty deposits in certain areas.

The final outcomes of liposuction will take time to establish as the procedure involves a recovery period as well as aftercare. Therefore, it is understandable for patients to be concerned about long it will take for the liposuction outcomes to become visible.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides liposuction to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations.

 

Post-Operative Recovery and Results

The initial recovery period after the procedure is around one week. During this period, the patient will likely experience inflammation which will make it difficult to see any outcomes at all.

In order to minimize swelling, it is vital to wear compression garments. The patient should also start light exercise in around one week after the surgery to mitigate the risk of complications. They can resume vigorous exercise in around one month following the surgery.

It may take many months before the patient sees a noticeable change, even after the recovery phase. The individual patient and the body area that received liposuction will determine how soon the patient will notice the results. Some patients experience a difference as early as three months after the procedure while others may see the changes in six months.

In general, it may take up to one year for the final outcomes to manifest. The patient can choose to undergo revision surgery at this point if they so desire.

 

Follow the Surgeon’s Recovery Guidelines

Liposuction permanently eliminates fat pockets. However, the surgical results depend, to a large extent, on the patient. Wearing compression garments can help shape the body and mitigate inflammation. The patient will also need to follow a balanced diet and exercise regimen to prevent the remaining fat cells from getting bigger.

The patient should follow the surgeon’s aftercare guidelines and maintain a healthy lifestyle to experience the outcomes of the liposuction surgery sooner and prevent the fat from coming back.

 

How long until you can exercise?

Within a few days of their liposuction procedure, a majority of patients can resume their exercise regimen. But at the outset, patients should not exercise vigorously.

The patient should ideally start by doing around 25 percent of their regular amount of exercise. After that, they should increase their daily exercise depending on their tolerance.

 

How long will the bruising and inflammation last?

The post-op care technique used by the plastic surgeon typically determines the duration of the inflammation and bruising after liposuction. The level of bruising differs considerably among patients.

The tumescent technique for liposuction used along with the “open-drainage” technique (where the surgeon does not seal the incisions with sutures) reduces the amount of inflammation after the surgery. Most patients who undergo liposuction with the tumescent technique do not have bruising after one to two weeks of the procedure.

 

How long will the inflammation last?

Around 90 percent of the swelling will resolve in four weeks after the liposuction procedure with the open-drainage technique (incisions are not sealed with sutures) and the proper use of compression garments (worn for three to six days).

The inflammation will persist for longer, and around 90 percent of it will resolve after 8 to 12 weeks if the incisions are sealed with sutures (trapping the residual blood-tinged tumescent fluid underneath the skin). The patient may experience significant inflammation for many months with the ultrasonic assisted liposuction (UAL) technique.

Liposuction may be a suitable option for patients with stubborn fatty deposits that are unresponsive to diet and exercise. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for liposuction.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

Liposuction surgery can provide a more sculpted body shape by removing stubborn fat pockets that do not respond to diet and exercise.

A common question that patients ask surgeons is how much fat they can expect to lose with liposuction surgery. While there are general guidelines on the upper limits of fat removal with liposuction, the final decision is based on the patient’s unique requirements and aesthetic goals.

 

That Most in One Session

The maximum amount of fat that can safely be removed with liposuction is between six to eight pounds (three to four liters). An increase in the volume of fat removal heightens the risks of complications.

If the patient requires more fat removal than six to eight pounds, it is prudent to undergo the liposuction in stages spaced three to four months apart.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides liposuction to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations.

 

Eliminating Larger Amounts of Fat is not Always Appropriate

The best possible results are not always a result of maximum fat removal. Liposuction is meant to enhance the body contours, rather than aid in weight loss. It helps create subtle enhancements in the shape of the body by removing targeted fatty pockets.

In case the patient’s objective is to lose weight, then liposuction is not an appropriate procedure for them. Patients considering liposuction will need to reach their ideal weight range before the surgeon establishes them as suitable candidates for liposuction surgery.

Many patients can achieve desirable results in a safe manner with the elimination of smaller amounts of fat. There is no point in removing 10 to 12 pounds of fat/fluid is the patient can achieve their desired goals in three to four pounds but there is nothing wrong if someone want to lose more than three to four pounds.  

 

Aspects Affecting Fat Removal

• Treatment area
• Overall weight of the patient
• Body shape
• Whether the patient is undergoing liposuction with another procedure

Again, liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and is appropriate for people who are near their optimal weight to develop body contouring results that they have been unable to achieve through diet and exercise alone. A majority of patients can attain satisfactory outcomes with the elimination of a small amount of fat.

 

Risks Associated with Removing Large Amounts of Fat

The removal of substantial amounts of fat with liposuction presents several risks. It may lead to undesirable results such as the development of lumps of the hollow dimpling of the skin. The most crucial reason to avoid excessive fat removal is that it heightens the safety risks for the patient.

In general, liposuction is a very safe surgery. But the risk of complications increases when a substantial amount of fat is removed. Potential complications are as following:

• Accumulation of excess fluid that may affect breathing
• Seroma and hematoma development
• Blood clots
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Infection
• Dehydration-induced shock
• Fat embolism which occurs if a small amount of emulsified fat enters the bloodstream

The removal of substantial amounts of fat makes the procedure more involved and extended as well as increases the recovery duration. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon Dr. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for liposuction.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

After liposuction, the new body shape will be more or less permanent. In case the patient gains a moderate amount of weight after the surgery, their figure will simply become a larger version of their new body shape.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides liposuction to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding communities.

 

Post-Liposuction Pregnancy  

Some women may harbor concerns on how a future pregnancy may impact their liposuction outcomes. Generally, patients can feel assured that pregnancy will not alter their body contouring results achieved with liposuction in a permanent manner.

If a woman undergoes a post-liposuction pregnancy and gains weight but loses the weight after the delivery, her original liposuction results will return. A majority of women in such cases will appear as if they have not gone through a post-liposuction pregnancy at all.

Regardless, women candidates for liposuction should be aware that their goal should be to undergo a plastic surgery procedure when they do not intend to become pregnant in the future.

Pregnancy can lead to stretch marks, cellulite, and sagging skin in the buttocks, breast, abdomen, and thigh regions. However, these aesthetic issues are unrelated to liposuction.

Liposuction is a fat loss and body contouring procedure. But it is not a procedure meant to enhance skin texture, remove cellulite or stretch marks, or tighten sagging skin.

 

Liposuction after Final Pregnancy

Numerous pregnancies may cause the development of stubborn fatty deposits in the abdomen area in some women.

Some women may be able to avoid the tummy tuck, which is a more invasive procedure, by choosing liposuction to achieve a taut and more youthful looking abdomen after their final pregnancy.

 

Permanent Fat Cell Reduction

Liposuction plastic surgery eliminates fat cells. These fat cells cannot re-grow once they have been removed. The adult body does not usually produce new fat cells after puberty, even if the person gains a moderate amount of body weight. Therefore, the fat cells that are removed through liposuction are gone for good.

The patient’s new, sleeker figure achieved with liposuction will be permanent in case she does not put on an excessive amount of weight after her pregnancy. However, it is critical to understand that the fat cells that remain in the body after liposuction can grow larger in size if she gains substantial amounts of weight.

In addition, the process of aging will cause normal changes in the body shape over the years. But patients can be confident that the aesthetic benefits of liposuction will always be visible as long as they follow a healthy diet and regular exercise program.

 

When do the Results become Establish?

Most patients will be able to experience 90 percent of their final lipo outcomes in almost three months after the procedure. The post-operative swelling will subside gradually over many months depending on the liposuction technique used and the extent of the surgery.

The complete outcomes of the liposuction will establish after the swelling subsides completely. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon Dr. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for liposuction.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.