Liposuction in Reading PA
Remove Stubborn Fat & Redefine Your Curves
In today’s world, looking and feeling your best means having a fit, well-proportioned body. But for many people, in Berks County and elsewhere, that may seem like an unreachable goal. Sometimes even a healthy diet or the most disciplined exercise program cannot conquer stubborn areas of excess fat.
For those who seek a smoother or better-proportioned body contour, liposuction treatment may be the answer. Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes deposits of excess fat from specific areas of the body, face, or neck. It is commonly used to remove stubborn, diet- and exercise-resistant fat deposits and to sculpt the body into a slimmer profile.
Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Liposuction treatment can slim the hips and thighs, flatten the abdomen, shape the calves and ankles, or eliminate a double chin. Liposuction is most successful in men and women who are 20 to 35, in good health, have decent skin laxity, and have isolated collections of fat. Results are seen almost immediately and will continue to improve as post-operative swelling subsides.
Liposuction can target & remove fat in any of the following areas:
- Cheeks, chin and neck
- Upper arms
- Breast or chest area
- Back
- Abdomen and waist
- Hips, buttocks, thighs
- Inner knee, calves and ankles
What to Know Before Surgery
Before you decide to go ahead with the procedure, and before your plastic surgeon can agree that you should, you need to understand (1) what will be done, (2) what you can expect during post-surgery recovery, and (3) the risks that come with this or any similar elective surgery. It is important to understand that liposuction is not a solution for weight loss and will not produce any substantial weight loss results. Liposuction treatment is best for treating localized areas of fat. If you are overweight or obese, it is best to reach your goal weight before undergoing liposuction.
Please contact our office at Berks Plastic Surgery to see if you are a good candidate for liposuction.
Your Liposuction Procedure at Berks Plastic Surgery
Before Your Procedure
Before your liposuction procedure, you must stay away from products that contain epinephrine-like drugs, including cold medications. The doctors will provide you with complete pre-operative instructions when your visit our practice for your personal consultation.
During Your Procedure
Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, performed in our AAAASF accredited, on-site surgical suite. For your safety and comfort, you will receive general or sedation anesthesia with a qualified provider. Your surgeon will make a tiny incision in the area to be treated, inserting a wand called a cannula that melts the fat, and following up with a second wand that loosens and suctions the fat out through a small tube.
When the desired results have been achieved, the incision will be closed and dressed, and you will be shown to a private room as you recover from anesthesia. You will be able to return home the same day with a designated driver, though you may want a little extra help around the house for the first day or so.
Liposuction Recovery & Results
Initial pain or discomfort is controlled with oral medication. When general anesthesia is employed, patients normally require one to three hours of observation afterwards, before being discharged to go home. Compression garments or taping are advised for about four to six weeks, to reduce swelling. Full recovery from swelling and bruising takes a few weeks. Scars may be small and will fade away over time if proper scar care is practiced after surgery.
Results are seen almost immediately and will continue to improve as post-operative swelling subsides.
Risks and Complications
There are risks and possible complications associated with any surgery. In liposuction, irregularity of the skin is one, but it is greatly minimized by our use of small-diameter cannula, along with massage of the affected areas immediately after surgery. Hematomas and seromas are abnormal localized collections of blood or inflammatory fluid after surgery. Adequate drainage of incisions can help prevent them. Hyperpigmentation can occur, but this, along with scars, usually fade, and the patient must stay out of the sun until all bruising is gone. Swelling of the legs and ankles also can occur, and proper compression garments can minimize these effects. Extremely rare but severe complications can include blood clots, injury to abdominal organs, excessive blood loss, allergic reactions to drugs, and cardiac arrhythmias during general anesthesia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight will I lose?
Liposuction is less of a weight loss treatment than it is a body contouring procedure. Liposuction will remove about 5 pounds of fat; however, by strategically targeting places on the body to remove stubborn fat, you will achieve an overall slimmer physique that will make you appear as if you have lost weight.
Does liposuction slim the arms?
Liposuction can effectively slim the arms by reducing excess fat, but it is important to know that the treatment cannot tighten and tone the muscles of your arms. Unlike an arm lift, which surgically removes sagging skin, arm liposuction works best for a person who wants to remove stubborn fat in their arms that has shown to be especially resistant to diet and exercise.
Is liposuction different for men?
Liposuction for men is one of the most popular body contouring procedures for our male patients! Many men choose to get liposuction to flatten the abdomen, trim the oblique area, or reduce a double chin.
Can liposuction be combined with other surgical procedures?
Yes, liposuction can, and is quite often, combined with other plastic surgery procedures. Liposuction can be performed alongside tummy tucks and breast augmentation procedures in a combination that is also known as a mommy makeover. Liposuction is also often used in fat transfer procedures (such as a Brazilian Butt Lift) to further enhance the curves and provide a more complete transformation.
Ready to get your dream body?
Our board certified plastic surgeons have been serving patients at our Reading plastic surgery center for decades, and specialize in a number of face, breast, and body procedures, including breast augmentation, breast reduction, tummy tuck, facelift, neck lift, thigh lift, and more. They take great care to evaluate each patient individually. They will advise you of your own unique risk profile, and enable you to compare it with that of liposuction candidates in general before determining if you are a good candidate for the procedure. To schedule a consultation or to learn more about liposuction, please contact our practice today.
If you want liposuction in Allentown, Pottsville, Reading or Lancaster, our body contouring specialists at Berks Plastic Surgery can help you get the outcome you desire!
