Liposuction Philadelphia

Choosing Liposuction in Philadelphia: Who’s a Good Fit?

If you have localized areas of fat that do not go away with diet or exercise, you may benefit from liposuction in Philadelphia. Many people find that there is at least one area of their body with stubborn fat. This fat persists despite diet and working out.

Our plastic surgeon, Dr. Ryan Hoffman of Philadelphia, can perform liposuction to specifically target and remove stubborn fat. Lipo can be done under general anesthesia (asleep) or under local anesthesia (awake) in the right patients.

Dr. Hoffman is the first in the Main Line area to have the Alma-Beautifill system. This allows for liposuction under local in the office. It also allows Dr. Hoffman to take some of the fat that was removed and place it elsewhere in the body. The face and lips, breasts, or buttocks are common places where the fat is transferred after liposuction.

Liposuction can be used to remove excess fat from a number of areas. It can sculpt the abdomen, upper arms, back, buttocks, thighs, knees, chin, neck, chest, and more. It can also be used to address gynecomastia (oversized male breasts) during male breast reduction.

“Dr. Hoffman is the most professional, talented surgeon I could have hoped to work with. He calmed my nerves, was realistic, and did an excellent job. Dr. Hoffman was always available to me to answer my questions and address my concerns – which was extremely important to me in choosing a surgeon. My surgery was positively life-changing for me – and I am constantly recommending Dr. Hoffman to anyone who asks!”

Liposuction in Philadelphia: What to Expect

Liposuction can be performed both in the office and in the operating room. In the office, liposuction is performed under local anesthesia. In the operating room, liposuction is performed under general anesthesia.

Liposuction is a multi-step process. First, the area being treated is infiltrated or infused with fluid. This tumescent fluid helps keep the proper balance of fluid in the area since some fluids are removed along with fat. Then, small incisions are made so that our plastic surgeons can access the targeted fat.

The doctor will then use a series of thin tubes to suction fat out of the area being treated. After the proper amount of fat is removed, you will have your small incisions closed.

Liposuction Before and After Photo Philadelphia

VIEW LIPOSUCTION GALLERY

Liposuction Recovery and Results

Following liposuction in Philadelphia, you will need to rest and wear special compression garments that minimize swelling and promote skin contraction. You may need to care for your stitches and drains if liposuction is combined with other surgical procedures such as abdominoplasty.

During a follow-up visit soon after surgery, your drains and stitches will be removed. Swelling and bruising are common, but these are temporary side effects. As the swelling subsides, you should see the results of your liposuction procedure; this may take up to 3-6 months.

As long as your weight remains stable, your liposuction results should be long-lasting. Fat will not return to the treated area after surgery. However, liposuction does not remove all fat cells from the area, so it is possible to regain weight in the treated area. For optimum results, you must maintain a good diet and exercise regimen.

Liposuction Cost

Patients getting liposuction in the Main Line area should remember that the exact price of this fat-reduction procedure varies depending on several factors. Liposuction cost is impacted by factors like the number of areas being reduced in volume, the amount of fatty tissue being removed, the overall time the procedure takes, and the type of anesthesia administered.

Please follow this link to review before & after (Liposuction) plastic surgery photos of actual patients.

Liposuction Q&A

Is it possible to only get liposuction without a fat transfer?

Answer: Yes, you can have liposuction without fat transfer. Fat transfer is an additional step where the fat that is harvested from liposuction is placed into a different area. If you do not want the fat replaced, it does not have to be and is thrown away.

Should I have liposuction of my abdomen before I have my tummy tuck?

Answer: Liposuction is typically performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck. Splitting the procedures is only done in a few very special circumstances.

Should I get a partial abdominoplasty or liposuction?

Answer: Liposuction alone will provide fat removal and cause some skin tightening depending on the type of liposuction used (laser, Vaser, or traditional.) It will not get rid of a large amount of excess skin, and it will not help with muscle tightening. It is best for excess fat, but not skin. It does not address the muscle separations that occur during pregnancy. Abdominoplasties– full or partial – remove the excess skin and tighten the abdominal wall. It will flatten and tighten the abdomen much more than liposuction alone. The choice to decide whether you need a full or partial depends on your weight, excess skin, and body type. This should be discussed with your board-certified plastic surgeon during a consultation. Finally, pain and functional limitations differ depending on the procedure done. The more abdominal wall work, i.e. muscle tightening, the more post-operative pain patients will have. Intraoperative pain injection or post-operative pain pumps can help with pain control. Although abdominal surgery is initially painful, the pain improves daily and is controlled by pain medications. Most people are walking the night of the procedure and do light exercise for one week. Every surgeon has their post-operative regiment that should be followed.

Can I get liposuction to improve my abdomen, lower back, and buttocks areas?

Answer: Liposuction in Philadelphia is a procedure that can be done under local (awake) or general anesthesia. It utilizes a small incision to remove fat. The fluid that causes the tissues to swell and bleed less is injected through the incisions. It is called tumescent fluid. After the fluid is placed, a separate “straw” (cannula) is placed. It is a thin metal tube with holes at the tip. These holes remove the fat as the doctor passes the cannula back and forth. Liposuction can be used to remove the fat and change the contour of an area. That is why sometimes you will hear it referred to as lipo-sculpting. It can cause some skin tightening, but not at the level that surgical excision of the skin can achieve. It also may leave some mild contour deformities or irregularities on the skin. Newer techniques such as S.A.F.E. liposuction try to help limit these deformities. S.A.F.E liposuction is not safer than traditional liposuction, which is safe in experienced hands, but it is a technique to try to limit the irregularities after traditional liposuction and give superior results. Some patients are taking the fat that has been removed from liposuction and placing it into different areas such as the breasts or buttocks. This is called fat grafting and it can be done in conjunction with liposuction. Dr. Hoffman performs S.A.F.E liposuction both in the Main Line office and under general anesthesia.

Which types of liposuction do people undergo?

Answer: Several liposuction techniques have come about in the world of plastic surgery. While not all of these types are available from Dr. Hoffman, it is still important to be aware of your options. The aforementioned tumescent fluid is used to perform tumescent liposuction, one of the most popular forms of liposuction. This option reduces the chance of bleeding and offers a more comfortable recovery process. Super-wet liposuction is similar to tumescent liposuction, but it involves injection of a larger amount of the tumescent solution. Some doctors perform PAL or Power-Assisted Liposuction. This involves the use of a powered oscillating cannula, allowing for easier removal of stubborn fat. With this technique, the doctor does not need to perform numerous back-and-forth motions to loosen fat. Another common option is SmartLipo. This form of laser liposuction features the application of laser energy to fat cells. The heat of this energy liquefies the fatty tissue, allowing for very easy removal. It also reduces potential bruising and tightens the skin of the treatment region. VASERlipo is a form of UAL (Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction) that utilizes ultrasound waves to melt fat cells. In this way, it is very similar to SmartLipo.

What is a Brazilian butt lift?

Answer: A Brazilian butt lift, or BBL, is a procedure that takes fat from the surrounding areas of the buttock and places it into the buttock to give a lift or improve the appearance of the buttock. Fat can be taken from the stomach as well. Liposuction is used to remove the fat, from the desired areas. It is then prepared and injected into the buttocks area to help augment the butt. By removing fat and then placing the fat a better contour and appearance of the buttocks is achieved. About 60 percent of the fat can survive and is permanent. It will grow and shrink as the patient gains and loses weight. Dr. Hoffman performs Brazilian butt lifts in the operating room.