When you watch what you eat and exercise regularly, it can be frustrating when areas of stubborn fat keep you from looking as fit as you should. Dr. Landon McLain frequently improves his patients’ contours with liposuction. People visit him in Huntsville from Birmingham, AL, as well as parts of Georgia and Tennessee for body contouring procedures. After the removal of problem fat areas, many of his patients find themselves even more motivated in their fitness goals.
Dr. McLain can slim your trouble areas with liposuction. Request your consultation today or call our office at (256) 429-3411.
Real Patient Results
Before After
This 31-year-old patient disliked the fat accumulation on her flanks and lower back. She got liposuction with Dr. McLain as part of a mommy makeover. For additional views and other patients visit our photo gallery.
What Can Liposuction Do for You?
Liposuction permanently removes fat from areas such as the hips, thighs, abdomen, flanks, back, knees, calves, ankles, chin and neck. Sometimes referred to as “liposculpture,” liposuction slims the contours of your body or face, and can:
- Improve the way your clothes fit
- Balance body proportions
- Eliminate rolls or bulges
What is liposuction?
Who is a candidate for liposuction?
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How Does Liposuction Work?
Depending on the areas of your body you wish to treat, liposuction may be performed while you are under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. During your consultation, Dr. McLain reviews your goals and helps you understand exactly what you can expect during your procedure.
Once you are anesthetized, Dr. McLain makes several very small incisions around your treatment area. He inserts a long, thin tube called a cannula through the incision. Using the cannula, he loosens the unwanted fat cells and removes them with suction. Depending on your needs, Dr. McLain may use a special liquid called tumescent fluid or ultrasonic energy to loosen fat and ease extraction. Once he is satisfied with the result, he closes the incisions with sutures and applies bandages and supportive garments as needed.
Depending on your goals, Dr. McLain may recommend combining liposuction with a tummy tuck to correct skin laxity or separated abdominal muscles. Liposuction can also serve as a complement to procedures such as a facelift. Dr. McLain may discuss the possibility of fat transfer, in which he uses your liposuctioned fat to add volume to other areas of the body or face.
Liposuction is not a weight loss tool, and you should ensure that your weight is stable before opting for a liposuction procedure.
Liposuction With Dr. McLain
Dr. McLain performs liposuction using a microcannula (a very small tube with a diameter of 2.5 mm or less). This allows him to precisely sculpt fat cells with minimal trauma to surrounding tissues. This further minimizes bleeding and promotes a quick recovery with reduced bruising.
Depending on the patient’s medical needs and surgical goals, Dr. McLain offers 2 types of liposuction:
| Type of Liposuction | How it Works | Treatment Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Tumescent | Loosens fat with an infusion of saline fluid that contains adrenaline and an anesthetic to reduce bleeding, bruising, and discomfort | Often used anywhere, but especially appropriate on the face, neck, calves, ankles, and arms |
| Ultrasonic | Uses a vibrating cannula that emits ultrasonic energy to liquefy fat cells before suction | Areas of fibrous tissue, including the back and chest |
What Can You Expect After Liposuction?
The details of your recuperation are highly dependent on the specifics of your procedure. For example, a patient who underwent a minor liposuction procedure can expect to be back to work and other social activities faster than a patient who underwent liposuction on his or her abdomen or legs. Dr. McLain discusses the details of your recuperation with you prior to your procedure.
You should plan to spend at least 1 week resting at home. Although it’s important to move around while you heal, you should avoid strenuous exercise and other activities that can raise your blood pressure. These can contribute to uncomfortable swelling. Pain and soreness are typically manageable with prescribed medicine, and special compression garments help minimize swelling and support your treated areas. Liposuction requires only tiny incisions, so scarring is not a concern. In the long term, you can prolong the results of your liposuction by maintaining your weight and living a healthy, active lifestyle.
“From my initial consultation to post-op appointment, Dr. McLain and his staff treated me with respect, patience and extreme professionalism. My results were better than I had ever expected.”
– Marianne Read more testimonials.
Common Questions
Who is the ideal candidate for liposuction?
Because it’s such a versatile treatment, liposuction is appropriate for a variety of people. However, the best candidates are healthy adult men and women who aren’t significantly overweight. Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure. Rather, good candidates are bothered by localized areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. After surgery, good candidates should be committed to healthy, active lifestyles in order to maintain their results for as long as possible.
How do I know whether I need liposuction or a tummy tuck?
It’s common for people to know they want to change the look of their abdomens but to be unsure how to pinpoint their concerns. The answer to this question typically depends on the condition of your skin. Liposuction is effective for reducing localized fat deposits, but it can’t remove or tighten overly loose, sagging skin. In cases where loose skin on the abdomen is a primary concern, Dr. McLain often recommends abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), which removes extra skin and tightens loose muscles in addition to removing fat. If you don’t have loose skin and are merely struggling with stubborn fat on the abdomen, liposuction alone may be right for you. During your consultation, Dr. McLain evaluates your abdomen and works with you to make a treatment recommendation that fulfills your needs.
Can I combine liposuction with other procedures?
Yes. In many cases, liposuction is performed as part of a tummy tuck. In other cases, Dr. McLain may perform liposuction during facelift surgery or another facial rejuvenation procedure to remove extra fat in the face and neck. And fat transfer, a procedure which harvests fat from one part of the body and adds it to another, also uses liposuction. It’s a great option for people who wish to safely add volume to their faces, buttocks, or another area of their bodies. In many cases, Dr. McLain can safely add liposuction to all these other procedures with no need for additional downtime.
What are some potential risks of liposuction?
Like the other procedures Dr. McLain offers, liposuction has been proven to be safe and effective, especially when administered by an experienced professional. Serious complications following the procedure are rare. Minor complications include infection, fluid collections, and bleeding. Swelling is a common phenomenon after the procedure and may persist for several weeks. During your consultation, Dr. McLain closely evaluates your personal health history and other factors to determine your candidacy for the procedure, and he gives you a more specific outline of your potential risks. Keep in mind that one of the reasons liposuction is frequently ranked as a top procedure in the U.S. is because of its high safety record.
