Liposuction

Many people wish that they could spot reduce fat from isolated areas, but unfortunately, we can’t achieve this with diet and exercise on their own—and we have no control over where on the body fat reduces when we lose weight.

To understand why this is, you should first understand how weight gain works. We have a certain number of fat cells by the time we reach adulthood, and this number won’t significantly change after it’s essentially fixed.

The fat cells themselves don’t go anywhere when weight is lost; they simply get smaller. That means they could become enlarged again if you gain weight.

Furthermore, genetics, hormones, and other factors that we have little to no control over can make it difficult to reduce fat from certain areas where we tend to carry more of our weight. That’s why liposuction is so effective: It directly targets those isolated areas. The amount of fat suctioned away from the target area depends on the starting volume and natural contours.

One of the most common misconceptions about liposuction is that patients need to lose significant weight before they have the procedure. Our surgeons find that after liposuction, the body’s metabolism skyrockets for the next six months, and our patients actually lose more weight and tone up after their surgery. Combined with proper nutrition and exercise, our patients can even improve and maintain their excellent results. However, note that liposuction is not an alternative to bariatric surgery, and it is not designed as a weight loss method for overweight patients.

At Cosmetic Surgery Institute, Dr. Mo Zakhireh approaches this surgery with artistry and precision for personalized, long-lasting results. He begins with a thorough physical assessment in order to devise an effective method of body sculpting that will provide you with the contours you want.

Women may be interested in a shapely and feminine silhouette, while men may want a more chiseled and angular look. Both men and women sometimes want to see an athletic and fit result. We ask questions so we can truly understand your ideal look. During this consultation, you’ll also discuss important concepts, including your medical history and the cost of liposuction.

Dr. Mo will also tell you about the techniques he uses and walk you through the steps of your procedure. He uses Capistrano Precision Cannulas for more efficient fat removal. These extremely thin tubes allow him to perform the fat reduction surgery on all desired areas of the body, often in a single surgical session.

Dr. Mo is a body contouring specialist, making him especially qualified to achieve the aesthetic goals of liposculpture, an approach that combines liposuction fat removal techniques with strategic body sculpting to shape and contour the targeted area. Liposculpture often includes fat transfer to ensure your results look natural and beautiful.

Have you heard of fat transfer before? It’s also part of the Brazilian butt lift procedure we offer.

While the fat that is taken out with liposuction is gone for good, if you do gain weight in the future, your body fat distribution may be altered. To help maintain the results of liposuction surgery, the Cosmetic Surgery Institute team provides extensive postoperative recommendations, including exercise and nutrition guidance. By adhering to a healthy lifestyle, you can preserve your new body shape or even enhance your results!

Dr. Mo will discuss everything that’s involved and advise you on what to do several weeks before your operation. One thing to remember before having liposuction—or any other form of plastic surgery—is that smoking cigarettes makes it more difficult for your body to heal and puts you at risk of additional complications. Most surgeons will recommend quitting smoking at least several weeks before liposuction (and preferably for good).

Before the big day, you may be required to have a medical evaluation to ensure that you are ready for surgery. It’s important to discuss any medications or herbal supplements you’re currently taking with your liposuction surgeon, since some drugs, like blood thinners, can make you more susceptible to complications or interact negatively with anesthesia.

Liposuction is a safe but serious surgical procedure. Every liposuction surgery is performed in an outpatient setting at our modern medical facility to ensure safety. Depending on the extent of your surgery, general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation may be used.

Dr. Mo will begin by making small incisions in the treatment areas. A sterile liquid solution is injected into localized fat deposits to reduce bleeding and allow for gentler, more thorough fat removal. Using controlled back-and-forth motions, Dr. Mo will move the cannula around under the skin to loosen and suction out excess fat. He takes his time during this important step in order to make sure that all of the desired fat is removed.

Like any other type of major surgery, there are some risks associated with liposuction. These include infection, inflammation, contour irregularities, skin burns, and scarring.

After your procedure, Dr. Mo wraps your treated areas in special compression garments. These help your body conform to its new shape and also help reduce swelling. You may return home the same day, but it’s important to have someone to drive you and stay with you throughout the night.

In the days and weeks following surgery, you can expect some temporary bruising and swelling. However, these symptoms diminish on their own. You’ll experience some post-surgery discomfort, but this is usually minor.

The physical restrictions you’ll have during your liposuction recovery depend on which areas of your body were treated, so it’s important to follow your surgeon’s specific directions. In general, light activity, such as walking, should be resumed as soon as possible.

More strenuous activities and anything that involves stooping, bending, or heavy lifting should be avoided for several weeks. In a few weeks, once the swelling and fluid retention have subsided and fat has settled into place, the full results will be visible.

Most people can return to work within three to 10 days of their procedure, depending on the extent of the surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Mo will give you a better idea of your recuperation timeline so you may plan accordingly with your family and employer.

For more information about liposuction, visit our Liposuction FAQ.

Patients are typically excited to see their new post-liposuction body contours. Once the swelling and fluid retention have gone down, the long-term results from liposuction will be noticeable. Healthy and elastic skin molds itself to the new contours of the treated areas and will appear smooth. Our patients may lose an average of 10 to 20 pounds (or up to four dress sizes) after the surgery. Your results will depend on the extent of your procedure and the lifestyle choices you make after surgery.

We know that the procedure can sculpt a slimmer, more proportional body shape—but what happens years after liposuction? Does fat come back in other places? As long as you maintain a stable weight, have a healthy lifestyle, and stay fit, the results from liposuction will be long-lasting. However, it is normal for your body to lose some of its firmness as you age.

Liposuction can often be enhanced with other body-shaping procedures such as a tummy tuck or breast augmentation. Tummy tucks are often combined with liposuction for removal of resistant fat from the abdominal area. Breast augmentation is a way of increasing the size of the breasts, improving asymmetry, or enhancing their shape. Some men and women who choose liposuction of the chin and neck also opt for a facelift for additional effects. Dr. Mo will be happy to discuss complementary procedures with you during your consultation.