Perhaps one reason liposuction has become the most common cosmetic surgery
procedure in the United States is its versatility. It can be used for
both women and men, to improve nearly any part of the body where you have
excess fat, including areas you might not have considered.
Typically we think of liposuction as beneficial for re-shaping the hips, thighs, abdomen or neck. Here in Las Vegas, our most frequent request is for liposuction or liposculpture surgery to pare down “love handles,” formally referred to as your flanks. However, this procedure can also be an excellent choice for breast reduction for both men and women or to improve the appearance of your cheeks, chin, jowls (under the chin and along the upper neck), the underside of your upper arms, waist, knees, upper ankles, upper back or backside.
Laser liposuction (SmartLipo), a process that uses a laser to melt fat, is the most advanced liposuction technique. It can also be used to contour areas where fat is very fibrous, such as the submental area (neck), calves and gynecomastia (male breast tissue). Neither liposuction nor SmartLipo can effectively reduce cellulite, stretch marks or sagging skin, nor are they intended to replace a general weight loss program.
Where these techniques can be impressively – and permanently – effective is targeting specific stubborn areas that just won’t go away despite diet and exercise. For patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, liposuction can sometimes be an appropriate choice to put the “finishing touch” on a specific area. For these reasons, the best candidates for liposuction are patients who are naturally more slender.
Liposculpture Adds Contouring
Liposculpture is a more complex procedure that involves not only melting and removing unwanted fat cells but re-contouring the body’s shape. Liposculpture can be used to provide a more pleasing silhouette or a more sculpted appearance. For instance, a woman with a straight waistline may wish to have a curvier transition from waist to hips. Or a man with “fatty” breasts may wish to have a more masculine chest contour. In certain areas, it is better to leave some fat cells to allow for this shaping process.
Fat Cells Do Not Regrow
Did you know adult bodies do not continue to produce new fat cells? The fat cells you have can expand when you gain weight and shrink when you lose weight, but their number remains the same. Because liposuction actually removes fat cells, that area becomes more resistant to weight gain in the future.
Diet and exercise are not always enough. For women, especially, genetics or hormone levels can affect your ability to lose fat in certain areas. Liposuction can reduce those persistent areas or pockets of fat on almost any part of the body. And because liposuction surgery has advanced tremendously in recent years, it is safer than ever and provides even more appealing results.
Results Often Depend on Experience and Talent
It is important to remember that liposuction and liposculpture are surgical procedures, so the key to achieving the best results is choosing the right doctor. Although plastic surgery is a demanding medical specialty, not every plastic surgeon specializes in every type of procedure. The ideal surgeon is one who, like Dr. Lane Smith, has extensive experience and also a good eye for aesthetics – the personal talent that brings artistry to liposuction and liposculpture, no matter what part of the body you target.
