Liposuction / Liposculpting

For Stubborn Pockets of Fat

Liposuction is a procedure that has been around for a long time. It’s easy, then, to look at it as outdated. But liposuction has come along way in recent years, incorporating developing technologies such as tumescent techniques, ultrasonic techniques, and even lasers. Many of these techniques are oversold in press and advertising so be sure to discuss these with Dr. Polsen to best help meet expectations and deliver the result.

That said, Liposuction can still be used on a number of different areas of the body to simply reduce fat. If, for example, you have been struggling with stubborn fat pockets for years and diet and exercise have failed to yield results, it may be time to meet with Dr. Polsen about liposuction. The benefit of new technology is that while the unwanted fatty tissue is removed, Dr. Polsen can sculpt the removal to give you more definition to your curves or musculature.

Liposuction is still a surgical procedure, and while any number of medical spas may offer gimmicky takes—replete with brand names and trademarks—it’s vitally important to have a plastic surgeon who is qualified and who you can trust. To ensure this trust in his Houston Area liposuction candidates, Dr. Polsen offers confidential consultations to all of his patients for any and all of the cosmetic procedures they may be considering.

If you are interested in liposuction/liposculpting in League City, contact us online or call our Houston Clear Lake Area office line at (281) 538-6600 to schedule an appointment.

Overview

Eliminates stubborn pockets of fat
Diet and exercise have failed to yield results
Recovery: Generally within a week
We Offer: Laser Fat Removal, Laser Liposuction, Ultrasonic Liposuction, Non Surgical Liposuction, Non Surgical Fat Removal, Tumescent Liposuction, Fat Contouring

Who is a Good Candidate?

If you are in good health but have areas of unwanted fat, liposuction may be an appropriate procedure. Good liposuction candidates are healthy enough to withstand surgery and are typically only bothered by smaller, more isolated pockets of stubborn fat. Diet and exercise often do not work in removing this type of fat.

Candidates for liposuction will generally exhibit the following characteristics:

An accumulation of unwanted fat in specific areas
The fat seems difficult to mitigate using diet or exercise
The areas of fat lead to feelings of discomfort or low self-esteem
You are generally healthy enough for surgery
You want natural-looking results from your liposuction procedure
You have realistic expectations about what this procedure can accomplish
Many problem areas can be addressed via Liposuction, including the back, belly, legs, and arms

While it is often combined with other cosmetic procedures such as face lifts and thigh lifts, liposuction is not a weight-loss solution, though in some extreme cases it may be used as a temporary or stop-gap measure. Liposuction can help you achieve a desired weight or shape, but it must be combined with a healthy lifestyle in order for results to be maintained.

To determine whether you are a good candidate for liposuction or liposculpting procedures, schedule a consultation with Dr. Polsen to determine if liposuction is right for you.

The Procedure

Oftentimes diet and exercise just aren’t enough to shrink away your fat. Liposuction is a solution for those situations, or for when you just can’t seem to get rid of those areas of fat. While they are typically minimally invasive, liposuction procedures are generally performed in a hospital or surgical suite setting. Patients are usually given general anesthesia, but this should be discussed with Dr. Polsen during your initial consultation. In most cases, anesthesia will be diluted and infused in order to reduce both trauma and bleeding, not to mention discomfort.

During traditional liposuction, small incisions are made to allow room for a small tube–called a cannula–attached to a vacuum, which then suctions fat from beneath the skin. In the case of a procedure such as ultrasonic liposuction, rather than simply vacuuming fat out, ultrasonic waves rupture weak fat cell walls—in a way, melting them (though this is an inaccurate analogy, it gives you a good picture of the results). This allows much more control in the elimination of fat, and therefore can lead to more “sculpted” results. This is incredibly important for many of Dr. Polsen’s Houston area liposuction patients, as they want results that look quite natural. Liposculpting techniques are able to achieve this more natural-looking effect.

Once the fat has been removed, the small incisions are closed. This procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis, so after a short recovery period, the patient is generally allowed to return home.

Targets for Liposuction

Liposuction is a plastic surgery procedure that is intended to reduce and contour areas of fat on the body. The procedure itself is quite versatile. Surgeons need to make only a very tiny incision (usually measuring only a few centimeters in length) in order to achieve optimal results. As such, liposuction is a popular option for addressing stubborn areas of fat across many different locations on the body.

While some target areas are more popular than others, the versatility of liposuction allows a wide variety of patients to achieve fantastic results. Dr. Polsen, and the staff at South Shore Plastic Surgery, use the latest and most effective liposuction techniques in order to maximize recovery and results. That helps explain why South Shore Plastic Surgery is among the premiere providers of liposuction in Clear Lake, TX.

Houston liposuction patients often come to Dr. Polsen because of his expertise and experience. Dr. Polsen is a board certified plastic surgeon. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation, during which you can discuss your desired transformational results.

Common Targets for Liposuction Procedures

There are several areas of the body that have proven to be common targets for liposuction procedures. It’s worth noting that both biological and social factors contribute to the common demand for these procedures. Sometimes, a certain target area is popular because fat naturally tends to accumulate in that area. In other instances, a target area becomes popular because it’s socially uncomfortable to have fat in that area.

Examples of commonly selected areas for liposuction include:

Abdomen: Perhaps the most commonly selected area to target liposuction is the abdomen. Getting rid of belly fat can be exceptionally difficult using only diet and exercise. It can also be socially uncomfortable to have visible fat in that area. So, liposuction is often used to eliminate stubborn fat around the belly.
Back: We don’t usually think about the back as one of those areas where fat accumulates, but it is. And it can be particularly difficult to target this fat with diet an exercise. Liposuction of the back can help patients feel confident in their bodies again!
Arms: As with the back, we don’t usually think about the arms as a place where fat tends to accumulate. But fat can latch on just about anywhere, especially when it’s stubborn. The arms are a popular liposuction option if only because they are so commonly exposed. A patient who undergoes liposuction might again feel comfortable wearing t-shirts or tank tops (which are both necessary in the Houston heat)!

Other Liposuction Areas

Of course, those three main locations for liposuction are not the only possibilities. Liposuction is quite versatile, but much will depend on the physiology of the patient. In order for liposuction to be effective, for example, certain ratios of fat to muscle must be present. So not every location is going to work with every patient.

However, the possibilities include:

Liposuction of the face or jawline
Liposuction of the neck
Liposuction of the legs
Liposuction of the thighs

If you want to know if your own personal problem area can be address by liposuction, please contact Dr. Charles Polsen to schedule a consultation.

Combine with a Lift

When deciding where you want to get a liposuction procedure, it’s important to consider the possibility that any lipo surgery may be combined with a “lift” procedure.

For example, when patients get liposuction of the abdomen, Dr. Polsen will also often recommend that the patient undergo a tummy tuck procedure. That’s because removing the fat will create a certain amount of excess skin (as the interior volume has, by design, diminished).

As such, if you’re considering liposuction of the arms, you may also want to consider an arm lift. The coupling of the two procedures helps to ensure that patients end up with results that are contoured to their bodies.

An Effective Means of Contouring the Body

Liposuction has been a proven means of contouring the body for decades. Thanks to the skill and artistry of Dr. Polsen, his liposuction patients often talk about a significant increase in confidence and self-esteem after the procedure.

Modern liposuction technology allows Dr. Polsen to sculpt the fat as he removes it. This helps to ensure that treated areas blend in seamlessly with your own natural contours. The idea is that people won’t notice you’ve had work done—they’ll just notice you look great.

If you want to know more about what liposuction can do for you—no matter what part of the body you’d like to target—contact the offices of Dr. Charles Polsen, located in Clear Lake TX. Liposuction is a great way to finally achieve the body you want. Get started today!

For Natural Looking Results

Dr. Polsen takes special care of his Clear Lake liposuction patients to make sure that they get the final results they desire. It’s important to point out that almost all modern liposuction procedures are, in effect, “liposculpting” procedures, in that they are designed to produce a very natural looking outcome. Modern liposuction techniques are designed to honor and accentuate those curves or lines you want to stand out, but also to draw back where you want less. In other words, liposuction isn’t just about eliminating fat, it’s also about make sure you get the shape you want.

For these reasons, liposuction continues to be an incredibly popular procedure. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, roughly 210,000 liposuction procedures were performed in the year 2014, up five percent from the previous year. This is a popular procedure for many reasons, and it continues to be quite popular.

Recovery

In some ways, liposuction and liposculpting are two of the easiest cosmetic surgeries to recover from. However, recovery from liposuction should still be taken seriously and must not be underestimated. Because the incisions are small, they generally heal quickly. However, due toe activity of cannula beneath the skin, there may be significant swelling for patients who have had a large amount of fat removed. This swelling will subside over a number of months.

Dr. Polsen offers his patients detailed instructions on how to have the best recovery experience possible. Most of his patients curb their minimal discomfort with over-the-counter pain medication and are back to work within a week of surgery. Dr. Polsen may also provide you with compression garments to aid in your recovery process. These compression garments are absolutely vital, and must be worn for up to a week, because they ensure the fat sculpted out (or suctioned out) does not reposition after the procedure. If you fail to wear your compression garment for the required amount of time, it may lead to lumpy collections of fat under your skin.

Patients can usually return to work after several days, assuming that the work is not overlay strenuous. For most patients, their liposuction recovery timeline may look something like this:

2-3 days: You should be able to return to work for more minimal procedures
7 Days: You should be able to return to work for larger procedures
1-2 Weeks: Bruising should begin to subside
2-3 Months: Swelling should begin to subside

As the swelling subsides, patients are able to see their newly formed curves and contours. In many cases, Dr. Polsen’s Houston area liposuction patients report significant rises in self-esteem, self-confidence and even quality of life. For these reasons, liposuction is an incredibly popular procedure. You get to achieve your desired look, and you get to feel great (in part) because of it.

To ensure your desired results and minimize your discomfort, Dr. Polsen develops a personalized recovery plan for every one of his patients. He’ll make sure you’re comfortable with the recovery steps before beginning the procedure.

To get started on your liposuction procedure, contact South Shore Plastic Surgery today to schedule a confidential consultation.