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Liposuction
Liposuction San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio patients considering liposuction can find expert treatment at our state-of-the-art South Texas cosmetic surgery practice. Dr. Constance Barone utilizes a variety of liposuction techniques, all designed to eliminate excess fat in virtually any area of the body. This proven cosmetic procedure is designed to address fat that simply won't go away, even with a steady diet and regular exercise.
Liposuction
Liposuction, medically referred to as lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, has been an effective method of removing localized deposits of stubborn fat for decades. Over the years, new liposuction techniques have been developed, making the procedure safer and more effective. Each year, millions of patients undergo liposuction to eliminate excess fat in areas of the body including:
- Arms
- Legs
- Face
- Neck
- Chin
- Abdomen
- Flanks (love-handles)
- Buttocks
- Back
Liposuction can also be a wonderful addition to other plastic surgery procedures, such as facelift, breast augmentation, or tummy tuck, for those patients who wish to achieve more comprehensive body rejuvenation.
Contact our plastic surgery center serving San Antonio today for further liposuction information.
Liposuction Candidates
Suitable candidates for liposuction should be less than 25 pounds overweight and have firm, elastic skin with pockets of excess fat in certain areas. Liposuction candidates should have realistic expectations for results and understand that, while the procedure can boost self-confidence and enhance overall appearance, it won't necessarily change their looks to match their ideal image. Pregnant or lactating women, patients with certain health problems, and those with allergies to lidocaine anesthesia are not eligible to undergo the procedure. Dr. Constance Barone will do a full evaluation of your potential for candidacy during your initial liposuction consultation at our South Texas practice.
Liposuction Procedure
Planning
During your consultation, Dr. Barone will assess the condition of your skin and explain which body contouring methods are most appropriate to your particular goals. In some cases, an abdominoplasty may be better suited to your needs than liposuction, or a combination of different liposuction techniques may provide the best possible results. Dr. Barone encourages her patients to be honest and direct about the expectations they have of the surgery, and she will be just as detailed in describing all aspects of the procedure, including risks and limitations, during your discussions.
Preparation
Before liposuction surgery, Dr. Constance Barone will give you guidelines on diet, medication and vitamin usage, and other instructions you will need to follow in the days leading up to the procedure. Dr. Barone suggests that you arrange for someone to drive you home after the surgery and, if necessary, help take care of you for a day or two while you begin your recovery.
Liposuction Surgery
Austin and San Antonio-area liposuction patients who come to our San Antonio practice can have the surgery performed right here in our office, as an outpatient here at our state-of-the-art surgery center, or in the hospital, depending on the extent of the procedure and whether it is being performed in conjunction with other procedures. Types of anesthesia used will be decided upon by you and Dr. Barone before the surgery, according to your wishes and the size of the area or areas being treated.
During liposuction, Dr. Barone will make a tiny incision and insert long metal tubes called cannulas into the target area. She will move the cannulas gently back and forth, breaking up the fat cells and vacuuming them out.
The time necessary to perform liposuction will largely depend on the amount of fat being removed, the type of anesthesia, and the technique being used. Some of the liposuction techniques utilized by Dr. Barone include:
Traditional Liposuction
Traditional liposuction is the most basic type. The fundamental techniques of this procedure, as described above, are utilized in all forms of liposuction; however, the procedure has been refined and developed over time with newer technologies such as those listed below.
Fluid Injection Liposuction
In this technique, fatty areas are injected with a medicated solution before the fat is removed. The fluid is a mixture of intravenous salt solution, epinephrine, and lidocaine. Fluid injection liposuction is designed to remove fat more easily, reduce blood loss, and provide anesthesia to the targeted area during and after the procedure.
Tumescent Liposuction
The tumescent technique involves the injection of large volumes of fluid into the treatment area. Generally performed on patients who need only a local anesthetic, this procedure takes longer than traditional liposuction, sometimes up to four or five hours. However, tumescent liposuction is known to be one of the safest techniques and is able to eliminate large fat pockets with very little blood loss.
Super-Wet Liposuction
Super-wet liposuction also involves the injection of fluids into the treatment site; however, the injection is usually equal to the amount of fat to be removed. This technique is also designed to prevent large amounts of blood loss. Super-wet liposuction often requires IV sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure typically lasts one to two hours.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)
UAL is performed with greater ease and effectiveness in fibrous areas of the body, such as the enlarged male breast or the upper back. This technique uses sound waves to liquefy the fat so that it can be more easily extracted. It is typically used in conjunction with tumescent liposuction. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction generally takes a bit longer than traditional liposuction to complete.
Custom Acoustic Liposuction (CAL)
The Custom Acoustic Liposuction technique, also known as the N.I.L system from Euromi™, is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for fat removal, fat harvesting, and body sculpting. The procedure was designed to improve patient safety and comfort while reducing physical strain on the surgeon. This innovative technology allows Dr. Barone to more effectively and more comfortabley perform liposculpture and liposuction procedures.
Incisions from liposuction are generally small and discreet. Dr. Barone will work to make any residual scarring as minimal as possible and easy to hide under clothing.
Contact our San Antonio liposuction surgeon, serving patients throughout South Texas, for more information on which type of liposuction might be the best choice for you.
Liposuction Recovery
Some pain, swelling, bruising, and fluid drainage from the incisions are to be expected after liposuction. Patients may also experience some bleeding and temporary numbness. Pain and discomfort can typically be alleviated with medication. Full recovery can take up to six weeks, depending on the technique used and the size of the area treated. It may also take several weeks for the full results of liposuction to become apparent. Patients are typically able to resume normal, daily activities about a week after the procedure. Strenuous activities should be avoided for about a month as your body continues to heal. Patients who experience heavy bleeding, increased pain, or other unusual symptoms during recovery should contact Dr. Barone.
Liposuction Risks
Although rare, complications from liposuction do occur from time to time. Risks increase with the number of areas being treated, or if the size of the target area is large. Risks from liposuction include:
- Infection
- Reaction to anesthesia
- Skin injury
- Excessive fluid loss
- Excessive fluid buildup
- Fat or blood clots migrating to the heart or lungs, leading to death
- Friction burns
- Damage to vital organs
- Lidocaine toxicity
- Uneven contour or shape to the area after treatment
Dr. Constance Barone is a highly trained plastic surgeon who will work with you to minimize any risk of complications. All risks will be discussed with you in detail at the initial consultation.
Cool Lipo Laser Liposuction
You've heard about Smartlipo™, now there is new laser liposuction technology called Cool Lipo. Cool Lipo removes excess body fat and firms up loose skin by melting away fat deposits with laser light. Dr. Barone will insert a small cannula equipped with a low-energy laser fiber into the area targeted for fat removal. The laser's energy eliminates the fat cells with virtually no effect on the tissue surrounding the treatment area. Cool Lipo usually takes less than an hour to perform and results in extremely minimal scarring. Recovery time from Cool Lipo is also very brief, with most patients returning to normal daily routines within two days.
Please contact our liposuction surgeon in South Texas for more information on Cool Lipo.
Contact Our Liposuction Surgeon
Our San Antonio liposuction surgeon can recontour areas of your body that have been resistant to diet and exercise by eliminating excess fat deposits safely and effectively. Please contact our plastic surgery office for more information or to schedule a liposuction consultation. At our San Antonio practice, initial consultations are always complimentary.
Visit our sister site, baronecosmeticsurgery.com, for more information on the wide range of procedures we provide.
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Constance M. Barone, M.D. F.A.C.S.
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