The Best Candidates
According to the most recent statistics from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, liposuction remains the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States. Men like you are increasingly having cosmetic procedures, an increase of 325% since the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery began its survey in 1997.
- Have good skin tone without excess loose skin
- Are not using liposuction as a weight loss procedure
- Are healthy and not taking any blood thinner medications
- Have localized areas of excess fat amenable to liposuction
- Are motivated to improve your appearance through liposuction
- Are at a stable weight and leading a healthy lifestyle
The Options
Several variations are common in the modern performance of liposuction. At Restore SD Plastic Surgery we combine professional expertise, scientifically proven equipment, and established technique to achieve your best result. We utilize SAFELipoTM to safely and consistently offer optimal results. This is a means of Separation, Aspiration, and Fat Equalization by suctioning fat and then distributing the remaining fat to create a smooth contour and facilitate maximum skin tightening while avoiding tissue injury or contour irregularities.
We don’t believe in gimmicks and are conscious of the potential risks of using heat generating techniques such as laser, radiofrequency or ultrasound assisted liposuction. These techniques rely on heat to augment the process but lead to thermal tissue damage and inflammation. We know that “smart” liposuction is defined by a board certified plastic surgeon performing the operation and not the equipment.
Although there are many options for treating stubborn fat deposits, liposuction remains the gold standard. Non-invasive techniques have their place in the spectrum of potential treatments but don’t physically remove the fat cells. Non-invasive results take time and often require multiple treatments. Liposuction is ideal for patients with fat deposits that are located in specific areas and associated with minimal overlying skin laxity. Excess fat can create an unbalanced contour and liposuction directly removes this fat with minimal downtime and in a single treatment.
Your Restore SD surgeon will tailor an optimal surgical solution for your specific needs. As always, our goal is to deliver the highest quality surgical result in a manner that individualizes treatment and accounts for the subtle nuances of ideal form.
The Surgery
Liposuction is most often performed under general anesthesia as a stand-alone procedure or combined with other surgeries The surgery can take as little time as 30 minutes or last up to 3 hours depending on the areas treated. Your Restore SD surgeon will make one or more very small incisions in the region to be treated. The next step is to infuse a saline-based solution containing epinephrine and lidocaine to help reduce blood loss and minimize pain. Once the solution has been allowed to set, the surgeon will then proceed with SAFELipoTM. This technique is a means of Separation, Aspiration of Fat and Equalizing the remaining fat to create a smooth contour and facilitate maximum skin tightening while avoiding tissue injury or contour irregularities. SAFELipoTMutilizes power assisted liposuction (PAL®) which decreases surgeon fatigue, improves surgical precision, and reduces tissue trauma. Your Restore SD surgeons have been using the PAL® system for over 10 years. We are proud to be the only San Diego board certified plastic surgeons to take this common and effective technique to the next level – SAFELipoTM.
The PAL® system is used in all three stages of the SAFELipoTM technique. In the first step, the fat is Separated with special cannulas. This loosens the fat and makes the fat removal step more effective. Next the surgeon removes the fat with small cannulas. With the PAL® system, fat removal is more safely and effectively accomplished and leads to reduced blood loss and tissue injury during this stage. Once the desired contour has been achieved Fat Equalization takes place. Again, a special cannula is inserted and the remaining fat is dispersed over the treatment area to ensure a smooth result. Lastly, the small incisions will be closed with dissolvable suture and dressings will be placed. At the end of surgery, you will be placed in the appropriate compression garment to assist with recovery.
The Recovery
You will be fitted with a compression garment to support your new and improved contour. This should be worn under your regular clothes for the next 4 weeks to minimize swelling. Although there may be some bruising and swelling immediately after surgery, your newly improved shape will become apparent soon after the surgery. Your physique will continue to improve over the next 3 months. Your recovery will vary depending on the amount of fat reduction and the number of areas treated. Most patients are sore after surgery but do not experience a significant amount of pain. Pain medication and antibiotics will be prescribed for the first week following surgery. While you will be able to shower the next day, you should refrain from intense physical activity for 4 weeks. During the recovery period, you will have follow-up with your Restore SD surgeon and will be guided back to your usual activities. Most complications occur from getting too active too early, so select a surgical date that allows an appropriate amount of time to heal and gradually return to your more vigorous activities. The positive benefits of liposuction can be undone with weight gain – lasting results are enhanced by a continued commitment to healthy living. Happily, most patients are motivated by their new and improved appearance to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Commonly Combined Procedures
Although frequently performed as a stand-alone procedure, liposuction is a versatile surgery and can be used to enhance the results of other procedures. In men, liposuction is most commonly performed with gynecomastia (male breast reduction) surgery. It can be used to improve the results from face lift and can be used to help define areas of the abdomen and arms.
