With 25+ years of expertise in body contouring, I was not surprised by the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) showing that liposuction has surpassed breast augmentation as the most popular cosmetic procedure in this country. It makes sense. Most everyone struggles with excess pockets of fat somewhere on the body. This includes men and women of all ages. And liposuction is the most effective method for getting rid of what I like to call “pinchable” fat. Furthermore, it gives me the most access in order to completely resculpt your body contour. My Boston area patients are always shocked by how transformative it can be to remove even the littlest bit of fat. This is because restoring proper harmony to one area of the body has a positive effect on your overall physique as well as your sense of well-being. The biggest drawback for many potential patients is that liposuction is a surgical procedure that is going to require some downtime for recovery. This begs the question: Is Liposuction Worth It? Yes, and here’s why.
Benefits of Liposuction
First and foremost, liposuction is an incredibly effective, safe procedure for removing unwanted fat. It is also extremely versatile, allowing me to address excess “pinchable” fat almost anywhere on the body. The other positive aspect of liposuction is that it’s what I like to call a “one and done” procedure. This means that you only need to do it once in order to obtain your results. Furthermore, these results are permanent assuming that your weight remains stable. Last, liposuction gives me the most access so that I can actually re-sculpt your contour, creating the appropriate peaks and valleys so that your body is in proper proportion. This is what helps make liposuction so transformative.
Pinchable vs. Visceral Fat
When thinking about liposuction, it’s important to understand that there are two different types of fat in your body. The first is subcutaneous or what I like to call “pinchable” fat. As the name implies, subcutaneous fat can be grabbed and pulled away from the body. It’s the only kind of fat that liposuction or non-surgical body contouring techniques can address. The other type of fat is visceral fat which is located in the deeper tissues and around your organs. It can only be addressed through weight loss. During your initial consultation, I will perform an in-depth physical exam in order to determine exactly which type of fat is the root cause of your issues. Liposuction is a fantastic procedure, but only for the right candidate.
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary
Best Liposuction Candidate
The ideal candidate for liposuction is any man or woman in good overall health, without a high degree of loose skin, who is bothered by pockets of excess fat that can be pinched and pulled away from the body, and who has appropriate expectations. For the best results, you should be within 10 pounds of a maintainable goal weight. As mentioned, one of the big benefits of liposuction is that the fat cells that are removed are gone for good. But if you gain weight, your remaining fat cells can get bigger and this may adversely affect your body proportion. While liposuction is a procedure for all ages, it’s best for patients whose skin tone is still elastic enough to re-form over your new contour. If you have a mild to moderate degree of loose skin, I may suggest combining liposuction with Renuvion® which is a radiofrequency treatment that promotes collagen and elastin production in order to lift and tighten the skin.
Liposuction Recovery is Worth the End Results
Liposuction has a ton of benefits, but there are two main drawbacks for patients. It is a surgical procedure that requires some form of anesthesia. And you will need to wear a compression garment afterwards in order to speed up your recovery and achieve your desired result. The good news in terms of anesthesia is that many liposuction procedures can be performed under local anesthesia. This greatly reduces any risk of post-op nausea and generally seems to induce a faster recovery. As for the compression garment, it’s not nearly as big a deal as most people think. Furthermore, it will help to diminish soreness so that you can get back to your regular routine as quickly as possible. So, bottom line, most patients will happily tell you that liposuction recovery is well worth the end results.
To find out more about liposuction, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450.0070 to schedule a consultation.