Liposuction After Weight Loss

Northern Virginia & Washington DC

Table Of Contents
Introduction
Summary
Preparing For Surgery
Before & After
Minimizing Complications
Post-Operative Care

Introduction

For individuals who diet and exercise but still have a few extra pounds that are stubborn or areas of their body that are not proportionate, liposuction may be the solution. In men, it is usually in the love handles and abdomen. In women, it is usually in the hips and thighs. The fat cells are removed forever, but the remaining ones can enlarge if the patient gains weight. A good candidate for this procedure will have good muscle tone and skin elasticity, with mild to moderate excess fat. It is important to note that liposuction should not be used as a weight reduction tool. Since some blood is suctioned out with fat, it is not safe to have huge amounts of fat liposuctioned. Based on arbitrary guidelines established by authorities in the field of plastic surgery, we aim to limit the amount of fat removed during a liposuction operation to a maximum of approximately ten pounds.

Procedure Summary

Pain Level After Surgery

Mild-Moderate

Anesthesia

Heavy sedation or general

Duration of Surgery

1-3 depending on amount & location

Scars

Minimal scars around the area liposuctioned

Final Results

6-12 Months

Return to Regular Work

1 Week

Resume Exercise

4 Weeks

Price Range

Call for Pricing

A young woman with her head tilted back and eyes closed is standing in a room. She is wearing a light-colored tank top and dark underwear, and she is holding up her top with one hand to reveal her abdomen. The background is a blurry indoor setting with a window, a door, and a shelf with flowers. - Liposuction after Weightloss in Fairfax, PA

Preparing For Surgery

An initial consultation is scheduled, during which we discuss the liposuction procedure and determine if you are a suitable candidate for the surgery. Your medical history will be reviewed, and you will be asked to see your medical doctor for a physical check-up and a few laboratory tests to ensure you can undergo the surgery safely. You are given the opportunity to be seen by your own doctor to obtain clearance for surgery. You are asked to stop smoking, if you are a smoker, two weeks before and two weeks after surgery, for the surgery to be performed safely, and for you to have optimal results. You are given the opportunity to speak with patients who have undergone the same surgery you are considering. We will see you shortly after the surgery (in a day or two, usually). You are seen regularly after your surgery. You are always welcome to return for a follow-up, even years after your surgery, at no additional charge.

The Liposuction Procedure

If the patient has a good skin tone, good muscle tone, and minimal to moderate extra fat, then liposuction will offer a viable option to achieve the desired contour. The advantage is a quicker recovery period and minimal scarring. This procedure typically takes between one and three hours, depending on the extent and location of the liposuction.

The procedure is straightforward and relatively simple. A patient deemed a good candidate for this procedure is given antibiotics and anesthetized in the operating room. The body is injected with a tumescent solution to provide pain relief and decrease bleeding during surgery. Small incisions are made around the area agreed upon during the initial consultation, and liposuction is performed to remove the desired amount of fat. When sufficient fat is removed, the incisions are closed, and the patient is awakened. Typical areas liposuctioned include the upper arms, neck, chest, abdomen, flanks (also known as love handles), back, buttocks, hips, outer thighs, inner thighs, knees, and ankles.

Before & After Gallery

Liposuction After Weight Loss B&A

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How We Minimize Complications Of Liposuction

At the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, we take pride in ensuring that we provide our patients with the best possible surgical experience, anticipating potential problems or setbacks and addressing them before they occur. This process encompasses preoperative preparation, the actual surgery, and postoperative care.

General Complications

General complications can occur with any surgery. Cosmetic surgery is typically a safe procedure performed on healthy patients and, like all surgeries, carries a low risk. To further reduce the risk of complications, we operate at a first-class hospital with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. To avoid postoperative complications, we advocate for early mobilization – patients seen in our office one or two days after surgery- and active participation in their own postoperative care. When we create a partnership, the results invariably improve.

Nerve Injury

We exercise caution around the nerves in the body and avoid aggressive liposuction techniques to minimize nerve injury. Temporary loss of sensation from a “stunned” nerve or a bruised nerve may occur in the time period after surgery, but sensation in the vast majority of cases returns within a few weeks.

Irregular skin contour

Since fat is liposuctioned from underneath the skin, and the skin is left intact, some minor skin surface irregularities can form. This is a common occurrence in liposuction and is not clinically significant or noticeable, except under very careful observation. In rare instances, either an excessive amount of fat is removed or appropriate liposuction is done, but the skin retracts abnormally. In this situation, a significant skin irregularity may form. The treatment involves either liposuction around the area, fat injections into the area, or a combination of both to smooth it out. This technique is highly effective and successful.

Bleeding

Before surgery, our patients undergo testing to ensure they do not have any common bleeding disorders, as determined by their own physicians and through laboratory tests. Bleeding is rare with any form of liposuction. Before liposuction, we inject a tumescent solution that constricts the blood vessels and minimizes bleeding. In our practice, the rate of significant bleeding has been minimal

Infection/Wounds

The most important step in avoiding infections and wounds is to perform the surgery at a first-rate surgical facility with board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses. Patients are given the appropriate intravenous antibiotic coverage throughout the surgery. During the surgery, the patient’s skin surface is cleaned thoroughly. After the procedure, our patients are prescribed a one-week course of antibiotics to minimize infection. As a result of these extra precautions, my rate of infection after liposuction is extremely rare. Since liposuction involves no skin removal or tissue manipulation, other than suctioning fat out of the body, open wounds are extremely rare.

A clean, bright medical recovery room with two empty gurneys separated by curtains and packages from the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute placed on the beds.

Post-Operative Care

Our office will provide you with a detailed post-operative instruction sheet tailored to your specific needs. We typically see patients the day after surgery in one of our offices to ensure everything is going well and that you are healing as planned. Multiple visits in the year after the procedure will help ensure the best possible outcome.

For more information about this procedure, please call our office and speak with a friendly staff member at 703-206-0506.

Contact Us Today

If you would like further information, please feel free to contact our office to schedule an appointment by calling (703) 206-0506 or filling out an online request form.

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3023 Hamaker Court, Suite 109 & 114
Fairfax, VA 22031

Phone (703) 206-0506

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