Liposuction
Consultations offered at our three convenient locations in Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX and Westlake Hills, TX
Liposuction is a procedure that helps to sculpt a patient’s ideal figure when stubborn pockets of fat do not decrease with diet and exercise alone. Liposuction is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the country. It was the most widely performed procedure for the past three years in a row, with a 7% increase in growth between the years 2022 and 2023 alone. (1)
With liposuction, our surgeons at Austin Plastic Surgeon can help you sculpt the figure you have always desired. To schedule your personal consultation and speak to a member of our team, please contact us online or call one of our convenient central Texas locations to learn more:
Contents
- 1 Before and After Photos
- 2 About Liposuction
- 3 Liposuction Benefits
- 4 Candidates
- 5 Personal Consultation
- 6 Preparation
- 7 Procedure
- 8 Recovery and Results
- 9 Cost of Liposuction in Austin
- 10 FAQ
- 10.1 Can liposuction help me lose weight?
- 10.2 Will I need more than one liposuction treatment?
- 10.3 Is there any scarring after liposuction?
- 10.4 How long will the results of liposuction last?
- 10.5 Can weight fluctuations alter my BBL or liposuction results?
- 10.6 High-definition liposuction vs traditional liposuction: what’s the difference?
- 10.7 Can you combine liposuction with skin tightening treatments, such as Renuvion or Quantum?
- 11 References
Before and After Photos
About Liposuction
Liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that can help contour the body, leaving patients with a smoother, slimmer figure and more accentuated contours. Liposuction can balance one’s proportions while also preserving the health and vitality of surrounding tissues. Our practice uses the SAFELipo (SAFELipo®) procedure to offer our patients consistent and stunning results.
To learn more about our three-step procedure, schedule a consultation by contacting us online!
Liposuction Benefits
Liposuction offers many benefits for patients across all backgrounds, both reconstructive and cosmetic. In addition to permanently removing stubborn fat deposits, liposuction can also be used to help manage overly large breasts that are due to excess fatty tissue. This condition is known as gynecomastia in men or macromastia in women (which is often treated with a breast reduction). (2) Patients can also experience an increase in self-esteem and a boost in overall confidence after enhancing their curves and creating a more toned figure.
Candidates
Liposuction treatments are most effective for patients who may be experiencing stubborn fat deposits throughout their body that are resistant to lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy diet and regularly exercising. Candidates should be at or near their stable, ideal weight before starting their treatment, as liposuction is merely intended to contour the body.
All candidates interested in liposuction should be in good health and free from any underlying medical conditions that may impair healing. Those who smoke should be prepared to quit several weeks before their appointment and remain nicotine and tobacco-free until fully healed. (4)
Personal Consultation
Scheduling a personal consultation at one of our convenient locations is the first step to achieving a more defined, enhanced figure. At each patient’s consultation, they will have a chance to sit down with a member of our team to discuss their medical history and ideal outcomes and goals before we perform a medical examination on the treatment area. This conversation will allow our team to craft a comprehensive treatment plan, tailoring specific aspects to target each patient’s unique situation.
After the treatment plan is established, our team will prepare pre- and postoperative instructions. The full cost of the procedure will also be disclosed at this time.
We encourage patients to prepare questions and speak on any concerns they may have. Our surgeons want each individual to feel completely comfortable and informed before beginning their procedure.
To schedule your personal consultation and speak to a member of our team, please contact us online or call any of our locations directly.
Preparation
In preparation for a liposuction treatment, patients should ensure they follow the set of instructions provided by our team during their consultation. Patients should pre-arrange transportation home after their procedure, as well as any necessary time away from work and other social commitments. Patients should avoid using blood-thinning supplements or medications and, if applicable, cease the use of nicotine and tobacco at least four weeks before their appointment. (4)
Procedure
At Austin Plastic Surgeon, we only use the most trusted methods to ensure consistent results, which is why we perform SAFELipo treatments. This three-step liposuction treatment uses special basket-tip cannulas to help leave patients with a smoother, more defined contour. The specialized cannulas are also designed to suction fat out in a gentler manner, maintaining the integrity of the surrounding tissue. Unlike other techniques, the SAFELipo technique does not include heat which prevents damaging the surrounding tissue.
Each patient’s liposuction treatment will begin with their specialist administering a tumescent solution into the areas being targeted. This solution contains a mix of lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline and is designed to help swell the fat cells, making them looser and easier to remove. Lidocaine is used to help numb the treatment area, limiting any potential patient discomfort, while epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is used to help minimize and stop potential bleeding by constricting blood vessels. (5)
This procedure follows a three-step process to create a natural-looking, smooth contour:
- Separation: Our specialist will create small incisions in the treatment area before inserting a cannula. The machine will gently vibrate, separating fat cells from the surrounding tissues without causing any excess or unnecessary damage.
- Aspiration: This process helps break down the fat cells, almost liquefying them for ease of removal.
- Fat equalization: Another cannula is then inserted to suction out the emulsified fat before redistributing a thin, even layer of fat to create a natural, smooth contour.
This procedure can take anywhere between 30 minutes to several hours to perform, depending on various factors such as the patient’s aesthetic goals and the location and size of the treatment area.
Recovery and Results
Recovery time can vary from patient to patient, depending on the extent of each liposuction treatment and individual healing times. Patients can expect bruising and swelling in the treated areas, but these effects will gradually subside within the following few weeks. Patients can typically return to work a few days after the procedure but should continue to take a few weeks to resume all activities, especially exercise and strenuous tasks. Patients may need to wear a compression garment to reduce swelling and support their new figure during the initial recovery stages.
The full results of each patient’s procedure can be seen about 3-6 months following the initial appointment, with each patient being left with a slimmer, more desirable contour. Once fat cells are removed from the body, the targeted cells cannot grow back, leaving patients with long-lasting results. Patients should ensure they still maintain a healthy diet and regularly exercise after their procedure to preserve results.
Cost of Liposuction in Austin
The cost of each liposuction procedure can vary between patients as each aspect of the procedure is tailored to help address each individual’s unique concerns. We will present each patient with a quote at their personal consultation after our team performs an examination and establishes a comprehensive treatment plan.
To schedule your consultation, please contact us online or call any of our offices in the greater Austin area. We look forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals!
FAQ
Can liposuction help me lose weight?
No, liposuction is not a weight loss treatment and is not designed to manage one’s weight. Patients should be at or near their ideal weight before their liposuction procedure. However, we can sculpt your body with liposuction for a smoother figure.
Will I need more than one liposuction treatment?
No, many patients can achieve results after just a single liposuction treatment. If you experience changes to your figure over time, we can perform a touch-up appointment to help you maintain your results.
Is there any scarring after liposuction?
To perform liposuction, your surgeon will make small incisions along the natural contours of your skin to minimize visible scarring. Although this procedure does result in some scarring, our specialists ensure each incision is strategically placed and easily hidden. The appearance of scars tends to fade significantly over time, and there are treatments available to help further diminish their visibilty.
How long will the results of liposuction last?
The results of liposuction are long-lasting because we permanently remove the excess fat with gentle suction. Once these fat cells are removed, they cannot grow back. However, we recommend that you maintain a stable weight and lead a healthy lifestyle, as subsequent weight fluctuations can affect your results. While the removed fat cells cannot grow back, the surrounding fat cells can swell during weight gain, potentially affecting the treated area.
Can weight fluctuations alter my BBL or liposuction results?
Yes. Because these procedures adjust fat, any changes to fat deposits will affect your results. If you gain weight, your buttocks may increase, or you may build fat in places where it was removed or create an awkward fat distribution. If you lose weight, your buttocks may decrease (after a BBL). However, the adjustments we make are durable. If you lose weight, you will still look more sculpted because internal fat is removed, helping the waist stay smaller and keep the body balanced. The best way to prolong the results of these procedures is to live a healthy lifestyle and prevent significant weight increases or decreases.
High-definition liposuction vs traditional liposuction: what’s the difference?
Traditional liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures today and is one of the longest-practiced treatments in cosmetic surgery. Put simply, traditional liposuction is a procedure that aims to reduce pockets of fat around areas of the body that do not respond to healthy lifestyle habits such as proper diet and exercise. This procedure is not a weight loss procedure, but rather a procedure designed to spot reduce fat in stubborn areas. High-definition liposuction (HD lipo), on the other hand, is more geared toward sculpting the body as opposed to merely just removing fat. With high-definition liposuction, surgeons will still remove fat, but they attempt to do so in a way that reveals and enhances the appearance of the underlying muscles. In essence, HD liposuction utilizes advanced technology with the main intention of creating a more sculpted, athletic appearance, while traditional liposuction merely aims to reduce volume for a variety of reasons.
Can you combine liposuction with skin tightening treatments, such as Renuvion or Quantum?
Yes, our surgeons often combine liposuction procedures with skin tightening treatments to provide more comprehensive results. Many patients undergoing weight loss often have both stubborn deposits of fat as well as loose skin. Liposuction can be used to safely and efficiently remove the fat, but the energy-based devices can help address the appearance of the skin by stimulating it to contract. When used, these energy devices can help tighten the skin by 20% to 30%, resulting in a smoother, tighter, and more slender appearance. By combining the two, you can both sculpt and smooth the treatment area for more refined results.
References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner.; 2023. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
- Wu S, Coombs DM, Gurunian R. Liposuction: Concepts, safety, and techniques in body-contouring surgery. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2020;87(6):367-375. doi:https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.87a.19097
- Bellini E, Grieco MP, Raposio E. A journey through liposuction and liposculture: Review. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. 2017;24:53-60. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.10.024
- Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/
- Dhami LD. Liposuction. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery : Official Publication of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. 2008;41(Suppl):S27. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2825130/
