Liposuction

Full Body Lipo in Gilbert AZ

Liposuction is a form of plastic surgery performed to permanently remove fat. This is one of the most popular elective plastic surgery procedures to sculpt the body and remove undesirable, subcutaneous fat in areas that have not responded to diet and exercise.

Common areas for liposuction include:

• Hips
• Thighs
• Abdomen
• Flanks
• Back
• Face
• Neck

How is Liposuction Done?

Liposuction is an outpatient procedure done at Spectrum Surgical Art’s surgical center or in a hospital setting. It is performed under anesthesia and can take an hour or more, depending on how many areas are involved. Dr. Haralson makes small incisions (less than ½ inch each), then inserts a cannula attached to a suction machine. Dr. Haralson carefully directs the cannula to the fatty deposits to be removed, sculpting the area as the fat is removed.

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How Long Does Liposuction Take?

The duration of the procedure depends on the number of areas being addressed and the amount of fat removed. For full body 360 liposuction, Dr. Haralson may break up your treatment into two appointments a few weeks apart to allow for adequate recovery.

How Long Does Liposuction Last?

Liposuction can last a lifetime if you maintain a healthy weight and living habits. We monitor our patients’ weights before and after liposuction to help guide the process and ensure long-lasting results. If you gain a large amount of weight, you might note rippling in the treated areas, depending on your skin elasticity.

What is the Recovery Process Like for Liposuction?

After liposuction, expect a fair amount of swelling and bruising in the first two weeks. You will wear special garments provided by our office to apply pressure, minimize swelling, and provide support while healing. These garments also assist in the retraction of the skin. Stitches will be removed in a week to 10 days. Any pain, which is usually mild to moderate, can be controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers. If needed, we can prescribe a non-narcotic pain reliever for your comfort in the first few days following your liposuction.

Results are recognizable almost immediately and will continue to improve as swelling subsides. The day after surgery, you should be up and walking around. Increase your activity daily until regular activity is resumed at 2-4 weeks. You will be ready to return to office work in 3-5 days and more active employment in 10-14 days. Avoid the sun until all bruising has subsided. Sunscreen should be used routinely; it is easy to get sunburned during recovery because of decreased sensation.

Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Liposuction is most successful if you have good muscle tone, good skin tone, and isolated fatty deposits. You should be within 30 percent of your ideal body weight and be in good overall health. You may not be a good candidate if you are a heavy smoker or have a bleeding disorder, cancer, or immune disorder.

Liposuction is not meant to substitute for healthy weight loss and is not an obesity treatment. Full body liposuction can treat several areas of the body, but there is a limit to how much can be done at once. Dr. Haralson can determine the best approach to give you the desired results.

Will I Have Scars from Liposuction?

Following liposuction, any scarring undergoes a maturation process—during the first 8-12 weeks, scars may be red and raised. The scars will mature over 6-2 months and become pale, flat, and soft. You may experience numbness, burning, and tingling around the incision site. These symptoms are almost always temporary.

Please let us know if you are prone to keloid scars.

What About Complications from Liposuction?

As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Minor cosmetic complications might include contour irregularities, skin discoloration, asymmetry, scar tissue, tape burns, or collection of blood or fluid under the skin.

More serious complications are quite rare. These may include loss of sensation, skin breakdown, fat embolism, severe infection, or shock. Bleeding does occur during liposuction. There is a limit to the amount of fat that can be safely removed in a given procedure.

If you are interested in 360 liposuction or more targeted liposuction for trouble spots, we recommend a consultation with Dr. Haralson to discuss your options. You can contact our office at Spectrum Surgical Arts Phone Number 480-855-3223 to take the first step toward a more sculpted, leaner you.