Attaining a sculpted, proportionate physique is challenging for many people. Diet and exercise may cause overall weight loss, but may not target certain small pockets of fat around the body, causing some areas to look disproportionately large. Liposuction can permanently eliminate unsightly deposits of fat from the body using numerous state-of-the-art techniques. Continued refinements in this surgery have allowed for faster downtime, smaller incisions, and overall improvement in outcomes. Dr. Szczerba is an experienced Chicago liposuction surgeon who has helped numerous patients realize their body contouring goals. Learn more about liposuction surgery and our plastic surgery Chicago practice by exploring the information below.
Surgery Candidates
Ideal Chicago liposuction candidates have relatively small accumulations of fat that cannot be burned off with diet or exercise. Liposuction can be used to remove unwanted fat from the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, arms, chin, cheeks and neck. Patients should be physically and psychologically healthy, and with good skin elasticity. The better the skin elasticity, the better the skin will conform around the body’s new contours after surgery. When skin elasticity is too poor, the skin may appear wrinkled and/or loose after the procedure. This is more likely to occur when larger fatty deposits are removed. However, as we will explore in greater detail below, there are supplementary treatments that can be applied concurrently with liposuction to enhance the skin’s ability to tighten around the newly recontoured area.
Liposuction candidates should also have realistic expectations of surgery. Although it is a very effective procedure and the removed fat cells will not grow back, patients will need to follow a healthy diet and exercise regime to maintain the slimming effect. Both the expansion of fat cells surrounding the treatment area and those in more distant parts of the body can negatively affect your overall contours. Lastly, liposuction candidates should not smoke because nicotine and other chemicals might interfere with the healing process.
If you have any questions regarding your candidacy for liposuction fat removal treatment, Dr. Szczerba and his team at the Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute are happy to provide everything you need in order to make a confidently informed decision on your care. This includes individualized prep and post-treatment guidelines, advice on complementary procedures, and more.
The Procedure
General or local anesthesia may be used for liposuction surgery, depending on the particular treatment plan. In most cases, the size and number of treatment areas, combined with your personal preference, are the heaviest influencers of which kind of anesthesia is used. If general anesthesia is used, it will be administered by one of our board-certified anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists. There are several liposuction methods, including:
- Liposuction that relies solely on suction to remove fat
- Ultrasound liposuction that uses ultrasonic energy to melt fat before it is removed
- Additional forms of energy-based liposuction that use laser energy, vibration (power-assisted liposuction), and more to facilitate the breakdown of fatty tissue
Tumescent liquid (containing local anesthetic) may be injected into the treatment area for pain relief and to help firm up the fat so it is easier to remove it from the body. During liposuction, Dr. Szczerba will make several small incisions within the natural creases of the body, and he will insert a cannula (a specialized tube) into the fat layer beneath the skin. The surgeon will move the cannula back and forth to break up the fat cells, and then a vacuum-like device attached to the cannula will suck out the liquefied fat.
Adding Laser or Radiofrequency Energy
As mentioned previously, skin elasticity is an important determinant to the post-treatment appearance of your skin, which is why patients with poor skin elasticity may not be qualified for liposuction. The treatment area can affect this decision as well, since skin elasticity can vary throughout different parts of the body.
However, adding laser or radiofrequency energy to the treatment can enhance the skin’s ability to accommodate the recontoured area without appearing loose or wrinkled. This is because the thermal effect caused by these treatments stimulates key healing processes in the tissues (like collagen production) that firms and tightens the skin while improving texture and tone. By adding laser or radiofrequency energy, surgeons are able to confidently remove more fatty tissue from more locations with less risk of negatively affecting the skin.
Three-Dimensional Body Contouring
Just like a sculptor strategically removing more or less material in different areas to enhance the definition of their sculpture, Dr. Szczerba performs a technique known as three-dimensional contouring during liposuction procedures in order to lend both a more toned and natural aesthetic. This technique looks different in different areas of the body, depending on the anatomical landmarks in the area. A common example is the contouring of the abdominal muscles during liposuction of mid- and lower-abdominal liposuction. Contouring can make the difference between a recontoured area that clashes with the geometry and proportionality of your other features, and one that enhances your natural features.
After Your Procedure
Immediately following your liposuction procedure, you will be monitored (typically for several hours at least) to ensure that your body’s response to the treatment falls within normal parameters. Several factors, including the type of anesthesia used, number and size of treatment areas, and others can influence how much monitoring time is required. When you’re cleared, it’s best to have someone drive you home, where you can begin the recovery process.
Recovery
Patients recovering from liposuction may experience some swelling, bruising and tenderness around the treated areas. Support garments will be provided to help with the swelling. It is recommended that patients take a few days or a week off from work to rest quietly at home. Prescribed pain relievers are often used to manage any post-treatment discomfort you may have. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled for you after about a week to check on the healing process. Heavy lifting and cardio exercise should be avoided for about a month for optimal healing.
As you progress through weeks five and six of the healing process, so long as there are no unforeseen complications or setbacks, you may be able to return to most or all of your regular activities (including exercise). During this time, you should also notice that any scars you can see will be fading, but as mentioned, Dr. Szczerba makes very small punctures hidden in your body contours. If you are unsure as to whether or not you can return to a certain activity, or if you experience a worsening or change of symptoms at any point throughout your recovery, contact us and/or make a follow-up appointment to get the guidance and help you need.
Results Timetable
First, it’s important to have a keen sense of the timeline you can expect in terms of the progression of your liposuction results. The full results of your liposuction procedure will not be visible for between three to six months, though you may notice early improvements. Typically, swelling is significant enough in the first few weeks that it’s difficult to discern the effects of the treatment on your body contours. Then, after a month or more, you may begin to notice more obvious improvements. This will progress until the 3-6 month range, when all the swelling subsides and your final results are visible.
Liposuction Benefits and Risks
Liposuction is very popular because it can spot-reduce areas of unwanted fat quickly and permanently. Once the fat cells are removed from an area of the body, they do not regenerate (they will never grow back). However, if the patient does not follow a moderate exercise and healthy eating plan, fat may develop in other areas of the body.
Complications from liposuction surgery are rare, but with any surgery there is risk involved. Liposuction risks include excessive bleeding, infection, anesthesia complications, changes in sensation, skin irregularity and unsatisfactory results. If you are concerned about these risks, ask about the measures our surgeons take to minimize them.
Which Complementary Treatments Pair Well With Liposuction?
While liposuction fat removal surgery can be paired with a variety of complementary treatments to enhance and/or broaden its results, it’s important to understand that pairing treatments introduces an entirely new set of safety, efficacy, and other implications that will require consulting with a provider to manage. Not everyone who qualifies for liposuction will necessarily be able to undergo complementary procedures. That said, for those who do, pairing liposuction with breast augmentation, skin tightening, or a tummy tuck can significantly boost your overall aesthetic.
- Liposuction and breast augmentation: There are several ways to approach this, depending on patient preference, presentation, and other case-dependent factors. Liposuction can be used to enhance the aesthetic of the breast augmentation by defining the contours of the breasts, or it can be applied elsewhere (such as the lower abdomen) for a more well-rounded aesthetic boost.
- Liposuction and tummy tuck: A tummy tuck procedure involves removing excess skin and fat from the mid- and lower-abdominal areas. Abdominal muscles may also be tightened in this procedure to enhance tone. Pairing this with liposuction allows you to target a broader area, including exercise-resistant fat deposits, for more comprehensive contouring.
There are several other procedures you can pair with liposuction in order to achieve more potent results or target additional benefits. If you’re interested in pairing procedures, our team at the Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute will work with you to customize a fully integrated treatment plan.
Liposuction FAQ
How much weight can I lose with liposuction?
Liposuction is not intended to be a weight loss surgery. It is not classified alongside gastric bypass or other bariatric surgeries. This procedure is more focused on creating aesthetic improvements by strategically improving body contours affected by exercise-resistant fat deposits. Hence, it is less suited for significantly overweight patients, and more for those who are already in the process of losing weight.
With that in mind, it is still possible to lose a small amount of weight with liposuction procedure. Depending on the size and number of areas treated, most patients can expect to lose between two to five pounds of body weight after liposuction.
Can liposuction help with cellulite?
While fat can often play a role in the formation and worsening of cellulite, there are other variables in play that contribute to cellulite, including fibrous bands of connective tissue that pull on the skin to create a dimpled appearance. For this reason, fat removal via liposuction is not recommended for cellulite reduction purposes. In some cases, it has created a minor improvement in the appearance of cellulite, but in others, it may even worsen the issue.
Is liposuction painful?
Whether you are administered local or general anesthesia for your liposuction fat removal procedure, there should never be any significant discomfort during the actual procedure itself. In the early days or weeks following your procedure, you will likely experience a mild to moderate amount of discomfort. This can vary significantly based on pain tolerance, location and size of area(s) treated, and other factors.
The majority of patients report that their pain is mostly or completely resolved within a few days of treatment, but it is not highly uncommon for some to notice lingering discomfort for weeks afterwards. In either case, following your surgeon’s instructions and taking advantage of pain relievers like prescribed medication will help to keep your discomfort at a manageable level.
Is liposuction covered by insurance?
As liposuction is generally considered an elective cosmetic procedure, it is typically not covered by most insurance policies. However, every policy is different, and there may be situations in which you are eligible to receive partial or full coverage for your procedure. The main deciding factor in most cases is the issue of medical eligibility.
For example, patients seeking to undergo liposuction to address lymphedema or lipoma removal may be more likely to receive insurance coverage. Coverage is still not guaranteed in these scenarios. Whatever the circumstances, it’s always a good idea to check with your policy before making any commitments.
Should I get liposuction before having children?
Speaking in strictly medical terms, there are no hard restrictions barring a healthy patient from receiving liposuction prior to having children. Liposuction fat removal has not been shown to significantly impact fertility or any other aspect of reproductive health. If you do opt to have liposuction treatment before having children, it’s important to allot a significant amount of time after the procedure for recovery before you start trying to conceive.
Though it’s safe and just as effective prior to having kids, most people prefer to wait until after having kids to get liposuction, as pregnancy-related weight gain is highly likely to significantly impact (if not completely reverse) your results. If you do end up pursuing a liposuction procedure after having a child, it’s important to give your body enough time to go through pregnancy-related changes, which may affect skin laxity and other relevant factors.
Is there an ideal age range for liposuction treatment?
So long as the patient in question is medically qualified for liposuction, the age range for liposuction is fairly broad. Most surgeons set the minimum age at 18, as performing liposuction on a developing body may not produce results that last as long.
On the other end of the age spectrum, the limit is less well-defined. However, there are two factors that naturally impede the ability of people past a certain age range to qualify for liposuction: skin laxity and overall health. For example, while a 61-year-old person with above-average skin laxity and no serious health concerns may benefit from liposuction, a 70-year-old person is less likely to be as well-qualified. As always, determining eligibility is best done on a case-by-case basis with an experienced provider.
Can I have liposuction done on multiple areas of the body in one treatment?
Yes, it is possible, and not highly uncommon, for patients to have multiple areas of the body treated within one liposuction procedure. While this is an excellent way to achieve a more holistic rejuvenation while saving on costs and total downtime, it does introduce several important safety implications that need to be addressed before the surgery is approved.
For example, treating more areas means a higher likelihood of requiring general anesthesia, as well as a longer treatment time. This increases certain risks, including adverse reactions to anesthesia, blood loss, fluid imbalances, and more. It’s also important to consider that, while treating multiple areas with one procedure will cut down on total downtime by eliminating the need for a second procedure, it is still likely to cause longer than normal downtime for the one procedure you do have.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Contact our office today to schedule a liposuction consultation. During your appointment, our surgeons will perform a thorough evaluation of your body frame and overall health, and recommend the most appropriate procedures. In addition to liposuction, they also offer tummy tuck, body lift and Brazilian butt lift in Chicago. They are also some of the leading Chicago mommy makeover surgeons.
