Stubborn fat that doesn’t respond to exercise, dietary changes, or other weight loss efforts can be incredibly frustrating. If you’re healthy and you feel good, then you probably want to look as good as you feel. Cosmetic fat removal might be able to help. Dr. Douglas Steinbrech performs liposuction surgery for patients at his practice in Manhattan, New York, who want to get rid of those “problem areas” for good.
- What Is Liposuction Surgery?
- Who is a Candidate for Liposuction?
- Types of Liposuction
- Your Liposuction Consultation in Manhattan
- How to Prepare for a Liposuction Surgery
- Diet Before and After Liposuction Surgery
- What Happens During Surgery?
- Liposuction Recovery
- What to Avoid After Liposuction
- Frequently Asked Questions about Surgery
What Is Liposuction Surgery?
Liposuction, AKA “lipo,” or liposculpture, is a type of cosmetic surgery that removes unwanted fat from various areas of the body. The goal of the surgery is usually to improve the shape or contour of the body and to resolve areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. The surgery can also help to balance the body and improve its proportions, which is why so many body procedures include it in the process. Liposuction is part of male breast reduction surgery, as well as mommy makeovers, and more.
Who is a Candidate for Liposuction?
Liposuction is intended for adults who have isolated areas of stubborn fat that have not responded to long-term healthy lifestyle changes. That’s not the only requirement for candidacy, however.
To be a good candidate for liposculpture, you should meet a few basic requirements. First, you need to be in good health. Some health conditions or medications can interfere with the healing process or increase your chances of developing side effects or risks from the surgery.
It’s also important that you not smoke or use nicotine products in the weeks before liposuction and for several weeks after surgery. Dr. Steinbrech can offer help and guidance if you really want to quit smoking.
Your weight also plays a role in whether or not liposuction is the right option for you. Good candidates for the surgery should be within 30% of their goal weight. Although you might notice that you drop a few pounds after the surgery, liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure and isn’t designed for people looking for a dramatic reduction in weight.
The quality of your skin can also influence whether or not fat removal surgery is right for you. Liposuction is not a skin tightening procedure, so ideally, your skin will be elastic and firm, so that it can “bounce back” and retract over the body’s new contours after we remove the excess fat. Having good abdominal muscle tone is also ideal.
Your thoughts, feelings, and expectations about liposuction also help to determine your candidacy for the surgery. Ask yourself who you’re having the surgery for, what you hope to get from it and if it’s something you want. You should choose liposuction for yourself, not to make someone else happy. It’s also important that you understand what the surgery involves, including the necessary preparations, such as following the doctor’s guide to a smooth liposuction recovery.
Types of Liposuction
There are several types of liposuction available in the United States. Dr. Steinbrech offers two liposuction techniques at his practice in NYC that he feels are the safest and most effective.
The first is suction-assisted liposuction or lipectomy (SAL). During SAL, suction is used to break up the fat deposits in the treatment area and to extract them from the body. The second type of liposuction is ultrasonic-assisted lipectomy (UAL). It uses ultrasound energy to turn fat into liquid before it is removed with a cannula.
The method that is most appropriate for your surgery will be determined during your consultation.
Your Liposuction Consultation in Manhattan
During your appointment with Dr. Steinbrech, he’ll ask about your goals and the specific areas you want to target. He will answer your questions about surgery, preparation, and aftercare and will put together a customized treatment plan for you.
An initial liposculpture consultation in NYC with Dr. Steinbrech gives you a chance to talk about your goals, ask questions, and learn more about the procedure. Surgical consultations are individual and customized to fit the needs of each patient.
During your appointment with Dr. Steinbrech, he’ll ask about your goals and the specific areas you want to target. He will answer your questions about surgery, preparation, and aftercare and will put together a customized treatment plan for you.
You’ll learn more about the type of results you can expect, the potential risks of surgery, and any other procedures that might be more appropriate for your needs. Dr. Steinbrech may also recommend combining liposuction procedures with another body contouring procedure for enhanced results.
The consultation is also an ideal opportunity for you and Dr. Steinbrech to discuss your medical history and any potential concerns. Bring along a list of any medications you take, including vitamins and supplements. It can also be a good idea to bring along a list of any conditions you have been diagnosed with, even if you are no longer being treated for them.
To get the most out of your consultation, come prepared. Bring a list of questions to ask Dr. Steinbrech about his experience, the procedure, and your expectations.
How to Prepare for a Liposuction Surgery
There are things you should do (and a few to avoid) before liposuction to help improve your results and ensure your safety. Dr. Steinbrech will likely give you a list of instructions to help you prepare for surgery at the end of your consultation.
Depending on the medications you take, you might need to make adjustments to your dosages, with the help of your doctor, or temporarily stop taking certain medicines. You may also need to hold off on taking certain vitamins or herbal supplements in the weeks before liposuction. For example, vitamin E can increase the risk of bleeding and should be avoided before any plastic surgery.
There are also logistical concerns to take care of before surgery. You’ll need to have someone who can drive you to the surgical center in Manhattan and bring you home after surgery.
Since you’re considering surgery in New York, it can be easy to assume that a taxi will suffice. However, it’s much better to have an individual you know and trust, such as a family member or close friend, to act as your chauffeur before and after surgery. Ideally, the person who takes you home will also stay with you overnight or will coordinate with another person who can provide overnight care.
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- Kelly Krauss
Diet Before and After Liposuction Surgery
Although liposuction gets rid of fat that is resistant to diet and exercise, that doesn’t give you carte blanche to eat and drink whatever you want before and after surgery. In the weeks leading up to your procedure, it’s important to eat a balanced, healthy diet. You’ll want to stick to that diet after surgery, as well.
Eating healthfully before surgery will help boost your body’s immune system and improve healing. A healthy diet can also help to improve your results.
After surgery, paying attention to what you eat can help you avoid weight gain in other areas of the body. Although the fat cells removed during surgery won’t come back, it is still possible for the remaining cells to enlarge and cause you to gain weight.
Some of the best foods to eat before and after fat removal surgery include:
- Whole grains
- Vegetables and fruits
- Lean protein
Have some healthy pre-made meals ready to go in your fridge and freezer before your surgery so you won’t be tempted to turn to takeout while you recover. You’ll heal more quickly and start on the right foot for maintaining your results.
What Happens During Surgery?
Liposuction NYC is a highly customizable procedure. Whether your plastic surgeon gives you local anesthesia or general anesthesia will depend on the complexity of the surgery and the size of the treatment area.
Dr. Steinbrech performs a type of tumescent liposuction known as the “Super Wet” technique. At the beginning of surgery, he will inject a mixture of saline, lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and adrenaline into the treatment area. The adrenaline helps to reduce bruising and bleeding after surgery.
After injecting the solution, Dr. Steinbrech makes small incisions and uses a small suction tube called a cannula to remove fat from the treatment areas.
Liposuction Recovery
The initial recovery after fat removal surgery takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the size of the treated area.
Some people feel well enough to go back to work a few days after surgery while others decide to wait at least a week, if not two, before returning to work. The type of work you do and how you feel after your surgery will determine when you feel ready to go back.
Swelling and bruising are common side effects after surgery. Dr. Steinbrech will recommend wearing a compression garment to support the treated area. Compression garments offer several benefits. They help resolve bruising and swelling more quickly. They also help to shape the treated area, improving the new contours of the body.
You should expect some discomfort after plastic surgery. Dr. Steinbrech will prescribe pain medication to help you feel more comfortable during the first few days. Only take the medications as directed. You might also receive an antibiotic after surgery to help reduce the risk of infection.
What to Avoid After Liposuction
During the initial recovery period, there are a few things you’ll want to avoid to help improve your results and to speed up the healing process.
Although regular exercise is usually recommended for your health and overall well-being, the best thing to do after surgery is to take it easy as you recover. Skip any vigorous workouts and strenuous activities for at least one month. You can and should engage in light activities, such as walking, starting a few days after surgery.
You’ll also want to avoid tobacco products and abstain from alcohol after lipo. Alcohol can interfere with any pain medications or antibiotics Dr. Steinbrech will prescribe after surgery. Hold off on enjoying any wine, beer, or cocktails until you get the OK from your plastic surgeon.
In the case of tobacco products, you’ll want to avoid smoking or using other forms of tobacco for at least several weeks after surgery. Many liposuction patients use the fact that they need to give up smoking for several weeks before and after surgery as motivation to kick the habit for good.
Results from Liposuction
The goal of liposculpture is to improve the shape of the treated area, enhancing the overall contour of the body. It might take a few days or weeks before you can start to see the results of the surgery, due to swelling and fluid retention that often occur. Wearing a compression garment will help to give you a better idea of how your body will look once the swelling has subsided.
Once your results are visible, you can expect them to last for a long time. The fat that was removed will never come back. If you gain weight in the future, you might see some changes to the treated area or you might notice more fat in other parts of your body.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and following any instructions your surgeon gives you will help you enjoy long-lasting liposuction results.
Frequently Asked Questions about Surgery
A plastic surgeon can surgically remove excess fat from many different areas of the body. Treatment areas include the abdomen, back, upper arms, thighs, chest, hips, buttocks, knees, chin, cheeks, ankles and neck. Among other areas on the leg, liposuction on the calves can also be performed.
Depending on your goals, you might want to combine fat removal surgery with one or more other plastic surgeries. Liposuction is often performed as a part of breast reduction. It is a crucial component of the Brazilian butt lift, as well. In some cases, the surgery is combined with breast augmentation and a tummy tuck as part of a mommy makeover.
Whether fat removal is right for you or not depends on many factors. If you have areas of stubborn fat that seem to resist your diet and exercise efforts, liposculpture might be the right choice for you. Dr. Steinbrech will be happy to discuss the surgery with you, along with your goals and possible alternatives.
Compression garments are tight-fitting pieces of clothing designed to be worn after a surgical procedure. People usually wear them to help improve the contour of the treated area and to produce a better result. Along with helping to reshape the treated area, compression garments can help with the healing process by improving blood flow.
The anesthetic Dr. Steinbrech will use during your surgery will depend on your preference, the size of the treatment area and the complexity of the procedure. For a small treatment area, a local anesthetic, which numbs only the area being treated, might be appropriate. If the surgery will take several hours or if multiple areas of the body will be treated, general anesthesia, which puts you completely to sleep, might be the better choice.
It’s a good idea to wait for a least one or two days before flying after fat removal surgery. When you can fly after your surgery depends in large part on how far you have to travel. If you flew across the US to Manhattan for your liposuction surgery, you might want to wait for several days or a week before you fly home.
Flying long distances too soon after surgery can increase the risk of developing a blood clot. Dr. Steinbrech can discuss travel concerns and options with you if you are coming from out of town.
Fat removal surgery does not affect your ability to gain or lose weight. There is a possibility of weight gain after surgery if you don’t stick to a balanced diet or keep up an exercise routine. Gaining weight after your surgery can affect your overall results.
Although there are weight loss surgeries available for people who are obese or very overweight, liposculpture is not one of them. The surgery is meant to improve the shape of the body for people who are at or near their goal weight. If you are interested in weight loss, it’s important to go through that process before moving forward with fat removal surgery.
The cost of liposuction varies based on the area of the body and the number of areas treated. Dr. Steinbrech can give you a more accurate idea of the surgical costs during your consultation.
Every surgery has its risks, including liposuction. Some potential risks of the procedure include damage to a blood vessel or nerve, rippling of the skin, bruising, infection, and a persistent change in sensation. Working with a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive surgical training and experience can help to reduce the risks of surgery.
If you live in the states of New York or California, Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD offers liposuction among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Schedule Your Liposuction in NYC Today
Liposculpture can put the finishing touches on your weight loss efforts to help you achieve your overall aesthetic goals. The first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Steinbrech at his practice in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Call (646) 949-0580 to set up your consultation for liposuction in New York today.
