Originally developed in France, liposuction surgery has become one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures elected by both women and men. In fact, in the U.S., it is the most common cosmetic surgery chosen by men, followed by rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery. Its U.S. popularity has continued to grow significantly since 1982 as results have been excellent in the overwhelming majority of cases.
Liposuction surgery involves the removal of fat deposits underneath the skin in certain areas such as the jawline, neck, abdomen, flanks, back, upper arms, lateral thighs (“saddle bags”), inner thighs, knees and buttocks to make sculpted improvements in contour; hence, the evolution of the term “liposculpture”. Results are variable from person to person and depend on the amount of fat, the looseness of the skin, and the underlying muscle tone. The results can be measured in changes of circumference of the particular area, such as the waist, hips, or upper thighs, and in the way clothing fits.
In the interests of patient safety Dr. Macdonald has placed limits on the volume of fat that he will remove during any one operation. Most patients will be able to have all of their areas of concern addressed with a single procedure. |
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However, Dr. Macdonald does not perform liposuction on patients who are seeking to achieve general, overall weight loss.
The most appropriate patients (men and women who will be happiest with their results) are those who have one or more regionally localized fat deposit areas. Most commonly these deposits occur in the neck abdomen, inner or outer thighs, flanks or upper arms in women, and in the neck abdomen or flanks (“love handles”) in men. Other areas that may be addressed include the knees, back, calves or ankles.
Procedure Information
Dr. Macdonald most commonly performs liposuction under monitored Intravenous (IV) Sedation, also referred to as “Twilight Sleep Anesthesia”, at a private surgery center in San Francisco. The patient benefits of this method versus general anesthesia are further described in the section entitled Patient Care Philosophy. The patient experiences no pain during the surgery and remembers very little from the time the IV is started. On rare occasions, general anesthesia or local anesthesia alone may be used. Liposuction surgery time varies greatly depending upon the identified number of areas for fat removal.
Liposuction surgery involves making tiny incisions (approx. ¼ inch in width) so that a narrow, hollow suction tube may be passed beneath the skin to remove the fat. Dr. Macdonald uses the tumescent technique to minimize any blood loss or post-operative bruising associated with this procedure. In this way, the sculpting can be performed safely while allowing for the quickest recovery possible. Dr. Macdonald may use ultrasound to assist with the liposuction (ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, or UAL i.e. Vaser™ assisted liposuction) or a power-assisted reciprocating cannula in appropriate cases involving areas where the fat is intimately intermixed with firm fibrous tissue (e.g. male breasts, following incidence of trauma, or previous surgery).
Recovery Information
Dr. Macdonald recommends recommend up to 1 week of convalescence following surgery. During this time, activity should be limited, time off work varies from 3-7 days, depending on the patient and the number of areas treated. Compression of the treated area(s), and icing intermittently throughout the day for the first 24-72 hours, will reduce both bruising and swelling. You will be supplied with a special supportive compression garment or binder (custom made to the area(s) being treated and to your specifications) to be worn 24 hours a day for the first 2 weeks, and >12 hours/day for the next 2 weeks. This will assist in rapid resolution of any post-op swelling or bruising. Many patients are in fact quite pleased with wearing these garments during the recovery period.
Initial changes in contour will be seen as early as 1-2 weeks. After 6 weeks the effects of the surgery become apparent in that there will be a noticeable difference in the fat deposits of the operated areas. Skin retraction and remodeling may take 6 months or longer (as it does post-pregnancy and delivery) depending on the patient’s age and skin elasticity. Gentle massage will help this healing process. After several months, the newly sculpted body or neck contour will be fully appreciated.
Maintaining Your New Shape
Once the fat has been removed, the goal is to keep it off. With this in mind, Dr. Macdonald prefers to perform liposuction on patients who are at or near their most stable weight, not their lowest weight, with a diet and exercise regimen in place that they can easily maintain. In your pre-op consultation with Dr. Macdonald, he will discuss with you your personal healthy weight goal, eating and exercise regimen, and resources that may help you to achieve your overall goals. To help liposuction patients achieve a comfortable, healthy post-operative lifestyle, they are offered a complimentary consultation with Michelle Kupick, R.D., a local nutritionist and registered dietician.
Please call or contact us online at any time to further discuss your liposuction surgery options and questions. Or, visit our cosmetic surgery offices in the Union Square district of San Francisco, California. Our offices are conveniently located for easy accessibility from the entire San Francisco Bay area. |
