Liposuction

Liposuction is a very popular method of fat removal that can shape regions resistant to dieting and exercise. Sometimes, eating the right foods and sticking to a regular workout schedule isn’t enough to effectively remove stubborn fat that forms around the legs, hips, buttocks, stomach, chin, and neck. Fortunately, there is a solution – liposuction, also referred to as liposculpture, can be an effective way to address excess fat pockets and bulges that do not respond well to toning efforts. This body contouring procedure, offered at The Aesthetic Surgery Centre, can target these problem areas and provide the toned and firm physique you desire.

Please contact our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani, for more information on liposuction or to schedule a consultation at The Aesthetic Surgery Centre.

"A dear friend referred me to Dr. Jon Trevisani and I couldn't be happier. Between her successful results and my initial consultation, I turned a long-time consideration into action. My newly found confidence allows me to feel comfortable in clothing I would have never considered before, and shopping is no longer a challenge. Thank you Dr. Trevisani, Dr. Miller (anesthesiologist) and the entire Aesthetic Surgery Centre staff for a wonderful experience...I felt comfortable under your care for the entire process. You have far exceeded my expectations, and I thank you."
- Orlando, Florida

*Individual Results May Vary

Key Liposuction Terms to Know

When it comes to liposuction or any other surgical procedure, a thorough understanding of what surgery entails can play a key role in your overall satisfaction before, during, and after the process. Our team will be there every step of the way to guide you through the procedure, but we welcome you to familiarize yourself with the following key terms:

Tumescent: Regarding liposuction, a tumescent solution refers to a combination of medications and anesthetic designed to minimize bleeding and improve patient comfort. This is injected prior to fat removal to help optimize the final results.
Cannula: A long, narrow surgical instrument utilized to suction excess fat cells from treated areas of the body. Inserting a cannula only requires small, half-inch incisions, allowing minimal scarring after liposuction.
Skin elasticity: The skin’s ability to contract around your new contours over time. As we age, skin elasticity typically diminishes, potentially leading to the development of loose or lax skin. In general, good candidates for liposuction have good skin tone and adequate skin elasticity.
Subcutaneous fat: Fat found just beneath the surface of the skin, which can be resistant to dieting and exercise. For this reason, liposuction can be a great treatment to target subcutaneous fat.

Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani is dedicated to helping you become as well-informed about liposuction as possible, and your first consultation can be an excellent opportunity to learn more about how body contouring treatments like liposuction may be able to help you achieve your goals.

How Does Liposuction Work?

Liposuction is perhaps the most well-known and widely utilized method of selective fat removal. During the procedure, a thin and narrow surgical instrument (called a “cannula”) is inserted into the planned treatment area(s) through a small, half-inch incision. Fat cells are then removed from the body via suction-assisted technology, allowing Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani to slim and reshape the regions affected by excess fat buildup. While surgery is required, liposuction is considered less invasive than other body contouring procedures. This, combined with the immediacy of the potential results, has made liposuction one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the country and world.

Over the decades, liposuction has undergone significant advances. Surgically removing excess fat now requires less swelling, downtime, and discomfort than ever before. Through cutting-edge techniques like using ultrasound-assisted liposuction to dislodge fat, as well as injecting a tumescent solution of medications prior to the procedure, patients can achieve their goals with greater ease than more traditional approaches.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LIPOSUCTION?

Liposuction targets specific areas where dieting and exercise simply cannot get rid of fat pockets, or areas of stubborn, excess fat. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can design a treatment plan to help reshape those problem areas with liposuction, which works by extracting the fat cells. Advantages of this procedure include:

Improved body contours
Can address virtually any region of the body
Permanent fat removal
Single procedure
Low risk of serious side effects
No extensive recovery time in most cases
Can help both men and women

When combined with a healthy lifestyle, patients can continue to enjoy long-term results post-procedure. For more information, please contact The Aesthetic Surgery Centre or review our liposuction FAQs.

WHAT CONCERNS CAN BE TREATED WITH LIPOSUCTION?

Whether due to genetics, pregnancy, or other various factors, your body may have exercise-resistant areas of fat where a nudge for improvement might be desired. If you want to address stubborn bulges in the following regions, liposuction may be the right solution for you:

Abdomen
Inner and outer thighs
Inner knees
Upper arms
Chin
Neck
Hips
Waistline
Posterior (back) waist

Liposuction is designed to permanently remove fat in these troublesome areas and can be performed to treat common bulges referred to as “love handles,” “bra rolls,” “muffin tops,” “double chins,” and “saddle bags.” The procedure works best if, prior to surgery, there is minimal skin sagging, few stretch marks, and you are at your ideal weight.

WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR LIPOSUCTION?

If you are in good overall health and wish to remove localized areas of fat accumulation, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can examine your concerns during a consultation and help you determine whether liposuction is the best treatment for your aesthetic desires. The procedure can achieve beautiful results as a stand-alone surgery, or as part of a comprehensive Mommy Makeover. While liposuction can be a reliable technique for natural-looking body contouring, the procedure is not intended to be a method of weight loss. The best candidates for treatment are at or near their ideal weight and simply struggle with isolated pockets of fat. In addition, those considering liposuction should have good skin elasticity, meaning the skin has the ability to adequately contract around a patient’s new body contours.

LIPOSUCTION VS. COOLSCULPTING^{^®}

While liposuction is a surgical procedure, CoolSculpting^{^®} is a minimally invasive treatment that does not utilize needles, incisions, or anesthesia. Rather than gently suctioning out fat with a very thin tube—which is characteristic of liposuction techniques—CoolSculpting^{^®} relies on controlled cooling technology to freeze and eliminate fat cells. Liposuction and CoolSculpting^{^®} can both be exceptional treatments to reduce bulges in regions prone to excess fat buildup, but there are key differences between the two procedures.

Although CoolSculpting^{^®} can be an innovative and non-surgical means of body contouring, the treatment can have some limitations depending on the amount and distribution of fat present. In one session, CoolSculpting^{^®} can generally reduce localized fat bulges by 20 to 30 percent. More than one session is often necessary to achieve optimal results for more than one body area or larger amounts of fat. Furthermore, CoolSculpting^{^®} is designed to remove fat gradually, with results typically unfolding over the subsequent months after treatment. In contrast, liposuction can yield an 80 percent reduction in the region of accumulated fat immediately, typically proving more effective than CoolSculpting^{^®} when a larger volume of fat is targeted for removal, or multiple treatment sites plan to be addressed.

Ultimately, liposuction can achieve more immediate and enduring results when compared to CoolSculpting^{^®}, but the latter treatment can be an effective solution for patients seeking non-surgical enhancement with virtually no downtime. Whatever your concerns may be, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can help you decide which method of fat removal is the most ideal for your unique needs.

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck

Liposuction and abdominoplasty (more commonly known as a “tummy tuck”) can both significantly improve the abdomen. While liposuction focuses on slimming the belly by removing excess fat, a tummy tuck is more designed to rid the body of stretched, hanging skin. The abdominal skin often grows looser and less elastic over time as a result of weight loss, pregnancy, or the natural effects of aging. This can leave stretched, excess skin on the belly and disrupt the contour of the abdomen — concerns that cannot be addressed through dieting and exercise. While abdominoplasty usually removes excess fat to some extent, the procedure is more invasive than liposuction and involves repairing stretched internal musculature in addition to removing excess skin. Therefore, patients only bothered by stubborn fat may be able to achieve their goals with liposuction alone; however, if the abdomen also protrudes due to excess skin and separated musculature, a tummy tuck (with or without the addition of liposuction) is likely necessary to firm, smooth, and slim the belly.

Types of Liposuction

There are several types of liposuction that can reduce stubborn fat in the face or body. As technology has progressed, a number of different approaches have been developed to make the fat removal process easier and more efficient. This often allows patients to reap certain benefits, such as accelerated recovery times and less discomfort after their surgery.

Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani offers ultrasound liposuction at his Orlando practice in addition to the standard suction-assisted technique employed during the procedure. The different approaches to liposuction that may give you a more informed understanding of the procedure include:

Tumescent Liposuction: With tumescent liposuction, a solution of anesthetic and medications is injected into the planned treatment area(s) prior to fat removal. The anesthetic works to numb the region while medications (epinephrine) constrict the blood vessels, reducing bleeding and discomfort after surgery.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: By delivering high-energy sound waves to the treatment area with a special cannula, fat cells are liquefied and easier to remove — particularly when removing more fibrous and stubborn fatty tissue.
Laser-Assisted Liposuction: Laser-assisted liposuction is similar to an ultrasound-assisted procedure, except laser energy is used to break down excess fat instead of ultrasound energy. Fat cells are melted as a result, often making the removal process smoother than traditional liposuction.

ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED LIPOSUCTION

At The Aesthetic Surgery Centre, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can perform Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL) – an innovative liposuction technique that can remove fat with reduced risk of harming surrounding tissue. Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction can be used to treat virtually any area of the body, including the hips, thighs, arms, buttocks, abdominal region, chin, neck, and back.

ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED LIPOSUCTION PROCEDURE

During ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), a special cannula that produces ultrasonic energy is used to liquefy fat cells so they can be easily suctioned out. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction is especially effective in fibrous areas, such as the back, breast, abdomen, and hips.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction at our Florida facility is considered to be a safe and effective method of liposuction. Because the ultrasonic energy is specifically focused on fat cells, there is less damage to tissues like nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. In addition, ultrasound-assisted liposuction allows for more fat removal and results in less blood loss. In some cases, patients who undergo ultrasound-assisted liposuction experience less bruising and swelling compared to those who choose traditional liposuction.

ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED LIPOSUCTION RECOVERY

Although ultrasound-assisted liposuction is known to cause less of the side effects typically associated with traditional liposuction. Patients can expect some degree of swelling, bruising, and soreness for a few days after the procedure. Once these effects have dissipated, the results should become noticeable.

*Both traditional liposuction and ultrasound-assisted liposuction can sculpt the body and leave you with a firmer, tighter physique.

HOW IS THE LIPOSUCTION PROCEDURE PERFORMED?

Liposuction is performed at our AAAASF-accredited surgical facility, allowing patients the privacy and convenience of their procedure taking place outside of a hospital environment. Since general anesthesia is often utilized, a friend or loved one will have to drive you home from our facility. During liposuction, small incisions are made in the area(s) planned for treatment. A hollow suction tube called a cannula is inserted through your incisions, which then uses suction technology to remove excess fat cells. The narrow cannula is designed to break up unwanted fat and gently suction it away. After the desired outcome has been achieved, incisions are closed and patients are able to return home to begin their recovery.

Liposuction is performed under anesthesia and can take two or more hours to complete, depending on how many regions are being treated. Each person’s procedure varies based on the unique details of their treatment plan, so Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will discuss anesthesia options and surgical details with you in person before your surgery. He may ask you to avoid taking blood-thinning medications prior to your procedure, as well as to stop smoking before and after liposuction.

DOES LIPOSUCTION FOR MEN DIFFER FROM LIPOSUCTION FOR WOMEN?

Liposuction can be successful for both men and women wanting to enhance their body contours for a slimmer, leaner appearance. Generally, there are a couple of ways that liposuction is different for men versus women even though the procedure still uses the same fat-suctioning technique:

Treatment Areas: Usually, the most common locations for stubborn fat buildup in men involve the chest, abdomen, love handles, and neck. For women, in addition to some of these aforementioned areas, common regions of fat accumulation also include the thighs, hips, knees, back, and flanks.
Consistency, Location, and Quantity: The structure of fat in males tends to be thicker, more fibrous, and accumulates closer to the underlying musculature. Also, the quantity of fat removed may be less in males because the fat deposition in women is typically greater in percentage and amount, as well as where the fat is situated within the body.

Ultimately, every patient is different and Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani prioritizes creating the most natural and complementary outcome to achieve each individual’s specific needs and goals.

WHAT IS RECOVERY FROM LIPOSUCTION LIKE?

Compression garments/bandages will be placed over the treatment areas to manage swelling as well as to shape your new contours. Common side effects of liposuction include temporary bruising, numbness, swelling, or burning sensations, but these effects should lessen within a few days or weeks. Many individuals feel well enough to return to light activities and non-strenuous work within one to two weeks, although everyone has a unique rate of healing. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will give you thorough instructions regarding wound care, activity restrictions, post-operative follow-up appointments, and more. You should see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body soon after liposuction, but it typically takes about four to six weeks for swelling to subside and for your new contours to become noticeable. Ice packs and pain medication are usually enough to manage swelling, bruising, and discomfort during the recovery period. Fortunately, healing after liposuction is often much quicker and more tolerable when compared to other body contouring surgeries.

How Long Do Liposuction Results Last?

With an active lifestyle, results achieved from liposuction can last for decades. The fat cells removed during the procedure are gone forever, but excess weight gain in the future can still redistribute fat elsewhere in the body. Therefore, significant fluctuations in weight may change the shape of your body and alter the outcome of your procedure. The best way to preserve your liposuction results is to live a healthy lifestyle and try to keep your weight as stable as possible.

Although the outcome of liposuction is designed to last for the long-term future, the natural aging process will continue and your skin may grow more inelastic over time. If you undergo pregnancy, lose a significant amount of weight, or drooping skin around the body becomes a concern, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can also perform a lower body lift to smooth the affected regions and restore a firmer, tauter skin tone.

HOW MUCH DOES LIPOSUCTION COST?

While the average surgical fee for liposuction is reported as roughly $3,300 by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), this figure can vary by plastic surgeon and differ across different geographic locations. The exact cost of your liposuction procedure will be determined by the details of your treatment plan, including:

The number of regions planned for treatment
The degree of fat removal desired
Whether complementary procedures were performed in conjunction with liposuction
The type of liposuction technique used

After your concerns are assessed by Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani during a consultation, our office can provide you with a complete price breakdown of your liposuction expenses. If you prefer to finance your treatment, our practice works with CareCredit^{^®} to make it easier for patients to bring the cost of liposuction into budget. This plastic surgery financing company offers qualified applicants a number of low- to no-interest payment plans that can be chosen to accommodate your unique budget. Please reach out to our practice to learn more about the price of liposuction and our accepted payment methods.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS FROM LIPOSUCTION?

As a surgical procedure, liposuction does involve the possibility of potential side effects during recovery. Swelling and bruising in the treated areas are experienced most commonly, with temporary numbness or soreness affecting some patients for a few days after the procedure. While rare, problems with the healing process can be associated with changes in skin sensation and fluid imbalances. In general, patients report that post-operative discomfort is minimal and managed well with over-the-counter medication. Additionally, a long-term effect of liposuction is the redistribution of body fat in other areas. Since liposuction is designed to permanently remove fat cells from the targeted region, any excess fat from future weight gain will be stored elsewhere.

When liposuction is performed incorrectly, other side effects may include uneven body contours or the appearance of bumpy or dimpled skin. For this reason, it’s important to select a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon who can perform your procedure with the highest level of care to reduce the risk of adverse reactions.

WHAT WILL MY LIPOSUCTION SCARS LOOK LIKE?

Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani uses a fine needle to make liposuction incisions, camouflaging them in natural creases and discreet locations whenever possible. Due to his strategic placement of the incisions, as well as his proficient technique operating the cannula, patients typically experience minimal post-surgical scarring once the incisions are fully healed. With that said, the shape and visibility of your scars will depend on the quality of your skin, how well you care for your incisions during the healing process, sun and UV ray exposure, and the location of the treated areas. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will provide detailed scar-care instructions after your procedure to increase the likelihood that your incisions heal optimally, allowing any scars to appear as inconspicuous as possible. In any case, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani has found that patients generally enjoy their liposuction results to an extent that they are not concerned with their scars.

ARE THERE ANY LIPOSUCTION ALTERNATIVES?

CoolSculpting^{^®} is often considered a good non-surgical alternative to liposuction, although the controlled-cooling treatment has its limitations—particularly with the amount of fat that can be removed and the regions that can be contoured. For a more powerful body sculpting option to improve the abdomen, specifically, tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) is often comparable to liposuction yet maintains several notable distinctions.

Essentially, abdominoplasty is reserved for more extensive cosmetic concerns than excess fat alone. A tummy tuck is best suited for patients who have extra abdominal skin accompanying isolated pockets of fat around the midsection. The procedure can also be beneficial for those who have a hanging or bulging abdomen, as it is designed to bring together stretched muscles in the region for a smoother and leaner aesthetic. In both cases, a tummy tuck can extract a modest amount of fat while addressing the other factors that may also be compromising a sleek abdomen, such as loose skin and/or lax musculature. All in all, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will make careful note of your needs and concerns to assess whether another procedure besides liposuction will help you fulfill your goals.

What are the Limitations of Liposuction?

Liposuction can rid the body of stubborn fat, but the procedure does not treat loose, hanging, or excess skin. That said, good candidates for liposuction generally have the skin tone and elasticity necessary to help the skin “snap back” to its original contours after fat is suctioned out. If skin laxity affects other areas of the face and/or body, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani also offers cosmetic procedures that can be combined with liposuction to remove excess skin plus fat. Depending on the nature of your concerns, treatment options like a breast lift, thigh lift, neck lift, or tummy tuck can also be performed to further sculpt the area(s) of concern.

In addition, liposuction cannot remove internal visceral fat, which differs from the stubborn fat residing below the surface of the skin. Visceral fat is located around your abdominal organs and can only be reduced through dieting and exercise. Unfortunately, visceral fat cannot be treated with aesthetic procedures like liposuction. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will be able to design an appropriate treatment plan for your needs after discussing your concerns with you.

Is Liposuction Safe?

Liposuction is among the most extensively researched cosmetic surgeries available, offering decades of data and clinical support to vouch for its effectiveness. That said, liposuction is considered very safe and predictable when the procedure is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. Innovations in technique and types of liposuction have even made the fat removal process less invasive and more efficient than ever before.

We understand some degree of risk is always present when surgery is involved, so confirming a plastic surgeon’s board certification can be a good way to gauge their level of experience performing cosmetic procedures. A board-certified plastic surgeon earns their accreditation by completing education and training requirements specific to aesthetic surgery, which go beyond the minimum amount of training necessary to practice. Therefore, a plastic surgeon’s board certification often allows patients interested in liposuction to rest assured knowing they are in the hands of a qualified and experienced provider.

Complements to Liposuction

Liposuction is considered a relatively easy and straightforward procedure, which is why many patients opt to combine fat removal with other treatment options to gain more comprehensive results. In general, good complements to liposuction may include:

Mommy Makeover: Liposuction is frequently incorporated into a Mommy Makeover, which aims to reverse the aesthetic concerns — such as excess fat accumulation — caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Tummy Tuck: Since the abs are a common treatment site for fat removal, many patients choose to undergo a tummy tuck at the same time as liposuction to slim and tighten their abdominal contour.
Neck Contouring: Liposuction commonly targets the neck to reduce a “double chin.” For some patients, adding a neck lift or neck contouring to their treatment plan can help further sharpen the jawline and accentuate youthful facial angles.

After evaluating your needs, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can help you formulate an ideal surgical plan to achieve your cosmetic goals. Non-surgical components, such as BOTOX^{^®} Cosmetic and dermal fillers, can also be performed to help you feel brighter and more refreshed.

ADDITIONAL LIPOSUCTION FAQ

CAN LIPOSUCTION GET RID OF A DOUBLE CHIN?

Yes, liposuction is one way to diminish excess neck fullness for a more visible contour under the chin and along the jawline. However, in many cases, a combination of fatty deposits and redundant skin both contribute to a double chin appearance. Whether you require fat removal and/or skin tightening to restore a sleeker neck profile, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can tailor a neck lift procedure to address your unique needs.

HOW MUCH FAT CAN BE REMOVED WITH LIPOSUCTION?

Liposuction can remove up to 80 percent of fat in a given region. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani has the experience necessary to safely remove the appropriate amount of excess fat while achieving results that are true to a patient’s aesthetic desires.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN YOU LOSE WITH LIPOSUCTION?

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and the surgery is purely intended to contour the physique. Fat removal differs from weight loss and many patients are unaware that the act of losing weight does not actually remove fat cells; it simply shrinks them or reduces their size while the actual number of fat cells remain the same. This is the reason why many patients who regularly diet and exercise are still unable to contour the regions that are considered fat stores, such as the abdomen, thighs, and flanks. While some weight may be shed as liposuction permanently removes fat cells, it is not uncommon for patients who undergo liposuction to find they weigh the same as before the procedure.

HOW CAN I REDUCE SWELLING AFTER LIPOSUCTION?

While typically considered mild, swelling after liposuction can be reduced by wearing your compression bandages/garments for the amount of time indicated by Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani. In addition, limiting your consumption of salty foods and alcohol can help lead to a smoother recovery period while minimizing post-operative swelling.

What if I gain weight after liposuction?

Weight gain is possible after liposuction, but maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle can help minimize the risk of altering your results. If you gain weight after liposuction, the extra fat cells may be redistributed to other areas of the body. This can potentially change the shape of your new contours, so we encourage liposuction patients to keep a stable weight whenever possible. For this reason, we also recommend individuals undergo liposuction after there are no future plans for pregnancy or significant weight loss.

What’s the difference between subcutaneous fat and visceral fat?

Subcutaneous and visceral fat are two types of adipose tissue that generally affect the abdominal area. Both types of fat can cause a hanging or protruding abdomen to develop, and different approaches are typically required to restore a sleeker, smoother body contour. Subcutaneous fat refers to the stubborn, exercise-resistant tissue that often accumulates on the belly, while visceral fat is the stored or “hidden” body fat residing between the internal organs. Liposuction and selective fat removal can remove subcutaneous tissue, but only dieting and exercise is able to reduce internal visceral fat.

How many areas can I treat with liposuction at once?

The amount of fat that can be safely removed varies based on the needs, health, and anatomical indicators for each individual. While there is no universal limit for liposuction patients, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will listen to your goals and review your concerns, as well as your medical history, to develop a safe, effective treatment plan for you. For most patients, two to three areas can be treated per procedure depending on the extent of fat removal necessary in each region to achieve your goals.

When can I return to work after getting liposuction?

Depending on how strenuous your job is and the overall nature of your work, most patients are able to return to work within 7 to 10 days after their procedure — if not earlier. This timeframe depends on the extent of liposuction performed and each person’s unique rate of healing. Fortunately, liposuction typically offers a more tolerable and less extensive healing process when compared to more invasive body contouring procedures. All in all, the recovery period will vary from patient to patient, but Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can let you know when you should expect to resume your normal routine after evaluating your needs in a consultation.

If you would like to learn more about liposuction, or if you are ready to book a consultation with Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani, please contact the Aesthetic Surgery Centre today.