BODY CONTOURING

Liposuction

I use S.A.F.E. Lipo® which I consider to be the gold standard for body contouring. In my opinion, it is the most significant advancement in body sculpting today.

The Procedure In

Detail

Liposuction has enjoyed over 25 years of worldwide acceptance and is now safer and more predictable than ever. The best candidates are those within 30 percent of their ideal weight and in good health with isolated fatty areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction can significantly improve contour and design a more flattering shape by removing these fatty deposits.

Frequently performed on the abdomen, and hips, it is also routinely done on breasts, thighs, back, face, neck, buttocks calves and ankles. Liposuction is considered an “adjunct” procedure for those choosing to abdominoplasty, breast lift, buttock lift or arm lift to optimize the result.

Although liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the areas we treat to create the desired shape and appearance, it is not a weight loss tool. It is a contouring and shaping procedure. It also does not eliminate cellulite or stretch marks. In fact, it can make the situation worse.

Liposuction is performed by making a small incision at or near the designated area to suction the fat. Scars are barely visible to anyone but the patient. A special garment must be worn for the first 2 weeks after surgery. The second stage recovery requires a gentler compression piece to be worn for an additional 10 weeks.

Surgical Notes

Anesthesia

Most commonly general anesthesia

Length of Surgery

Variable on sites treated and volume removed

Outpatient / Inpatient

Variable on volume removed and length of surgery

Adjunct Procedures

Abdominoplasty, Breast Lift, Arm Lift, Thigh Lift

Recovery

Variable on sites treated and volume removed

Dr. Lee's Priorities &

Technique

The technique Dr. Lee favors is S.A.F.E. Lipo®. Unlike ultrasound, laser, or radio frequency the fat cells are very selectively separated with minimal damage to blood vessels and nerves. More separation is possible than can be accomplished with water jet or traditional liposuction.  S.A.F.E. Lipo® also allows the opportunity to smooth out any irregular areas after suction is complete – a benefit not available in any of the other methods. S.A.F.E. Liposuction® can also be used in circumferential fashion–360 degrees around the trunk to “shrink wrap” the entire waste.

It can also treat fat in the bra area, inner and outer thighs, and even shape the buttocks. As an adjunct procedure it can be used with facelifts, neck lifts, breast reduction, breast lifts, arm lifts and thigh lifts. In Dr. Lee’s opinion, It offers the most consistent means of contouring from one area to other. One of the biggest benefits to using S.A.F.E. Lipo® is the quality of the fat removed. The fat has been handled very gently which is extremely important when fat grafting to the butt and other areas. Fat is delivered in its most pristine form and is more apt to “take” when it is placed in areas where volume is desired. Fat grafting can be part of facial rejuvenation, breast augmentation or a Brazilian butt lift. The body can now be more meticulously sculpted than in years past with the combination of S.A.F.E. Lipo® and fat grafting.

A CONVERSATION WITHDR. MICHAEL LEE

How do I know if I need Liposuction versus a Tummy Tuck?

Liposuction is intended for removal of fat, either in isolated areas or across a more comprehensive area like the abdomen and waist, resulting in a more aesthetic contour. Both age and pregnancy affect skin’s elasticity. In youth, the abdominal skin more quickly regains its original shape and integrity. As we mature, the skin does not “rebound” as well. Pregnancy affects both the quality and amount of excess skin. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) tightens the abdominal wall muscles and removes excess skin of the abdomen. Doing liposuction on loose skin may remove the fat, but make skin look lax, crepey and wrinkled. Liposuction is often combined with abdominoplasty to achieve a more refined aesthetic silhouette in the waist, hips and flanks. Fat that can be pinched is usually suited to be treated with liposuction. Loose excess skin is usually treated with a lift as in arm lift or thigh lift or abdominoplasty. The two procedures do not substitute for one another. In fact, they often complement one another. Each has its place. A tummy tuck re-shapes and removes skin. Liposuction re-contours and removes fat.

I have heard noninvasive treatments are just as good as liposuction to remove fat and contour. Is this true?

Noninvasive fat melting or freezing devices are very popular. They promise to eliminate fat through ultrasound, cryolipolysis (freezing) and radio frequency– sidestepping surgery altogether. These methods affect only the surface of the fat layer and are not meant to replace liposuction, nor do they deliver similar results. You’ll typically require several treatments (4-6) and each treatment takes between 20 and 60 minutes. They do deliver some result over a period of months, but nothing as dramatic as the results with liposuction surgery.

What does S.A.F.E. Lipo® stand for?

SAFE is an acronym:
S for separation
A for aspiration
F for fat
E for equalization

S.A.F.E. Lipo® minimizes any damage to the tissues, allows for maximal fat removal and creates a smoother contour with less chance for surface irregularities which is why it is my choice for all my liposuction patients. The results are significantly better–all over the body– than other methods I have used.

Why do I need to wear a garment for so long?

The first 2 weeks we are seeking to avoid fluid retention and maximize smooth skin tightening around the new contour. The second stage helps reinforce the new shape. Not all surgeons recommend these recovery steps, but I have found a total of 12 weeks, 24/7 give my patients consistently superior results.

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