Liposuction

Liposuction is a popular surgical procedure that removes unwanted fat from different areas of the body. Patients can experience transformative body sculpting with liposuction, which is one of the most popular and time-tested cosmetic procedures. Liposuction can be life-changing and confidence-inspiring, especially for patients who experience stubborn fat deposits that are unresponsive to diet and exercise.

At Associates in Plastic Surgery, our board-certified cosmetic surgeons are focused on providing an exceptional patient experience. Our state-of-the-art surgical centers in New Jersey offer a modern environment for surgical procedures in which you can relax, confident that your procedure is in the best hands. To schedule your personal consultation, please fill out our contact form or call at the location that is most convenient for you:

Before and After Photos

About Liposuction

Liposuction is a minimally invasive outpatient body contouring procedure wherein surgeons break up and remove fat by using a long, thin tube called a cannula. In the weeks and months following a liposuction treatment, our patients notice a slimmer, more attractive body contour.

Liposuction is ideal for treating stubborn pockets of excess body fat in the following areas:

We offer a variety of advanced liposuction techniques that effectively eliminate fat in targeted areas including tumescent liposuction, SmartLipo, and VASER liposuction.

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction is a traditional type of liposuction that we offer at Associates in Plastic Surgery. During this procedure, your plastic surgeon will target unwanted areas of fat with a dilute combination of local anesthetic and epinephrine, causing the tissue in the area to become swollen and firm. ⁽¹⁾ The injection of epinephrine causes the blood vessels to shrink, which minimizes any type of surgical bleeding.

This solution makes it easier for our surgeons to target your fat cells and remove them using the cannula. The cannula will loosen, break up, and suction out the fat cells safely and effectively, leaving you with a slimmer, more attractive appearance once you have healed.

SmartLipo

SmartLipo™ (laser-assisted liposuction) is a great option for patients who meet the criteria. The Smartlipo MPX Laser Body Sculpting Workstation is ideal for treating small, intricate areas, which is helpful for patients with localized fat deposits and lax overlying skin. SmartLipo is more effective in maintaining skin elasticity than traditional liposuction. ⁽¹⁾

SmartLipo works by first heating the fat cells with laser energy and emulsifying them. In addition to melting the fat, the blended wavelengths of the Multiplex technology coagulate and tighten the tissue. This technique can also induce collagen production. Collagen is one of the building blocks of healthy and youthful skin, so SmartLipo treatments leave you with both sculpted curves and tighter skin. ⁽¹⁾

VASER Liposuction

Another option for fat removal is VASER® liposuction, which is a form of ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) that uses ultrasonic technology. ⁽²⁾ During this form of liposuction, our plastic surgeons will use a device that transmits pressure waves through the skin to break up fat so that it can be easily removed. VASER also helps to tighten the skin—which standard liposuction does not typically do. This procedure can be highly effective, as it helps our plastic surgeons to focus on the right fat cells to remove to contour your body proportionately. ⁽²⁾

Case Study

This patient is a 32-year-old female who was working hard with a diet and exercise regimen. While she did successfully lose a significant amount of weight, she simply could not get rid of the extra fat of the inner and outer thighs. She decided to undergo laser liposuction for these areas, which produced great results. One of the reasons her procedure turned out so well is that she was a great candidate for laser liposuction, as she already had a good diet and exercise routine. This gave her skin an even better chance of contracting to allow for the aesthetically pleasing result that is shown here.

Benefits

Liposuction can have a variety of different benefits for patients. Some include:

Candidates

The best candidates for liposuction are those who:

If you’re wondering if liposuction is right for you, please contact us to set up a consultation at one of our New Jersey offices.

Personal Consultation

During a personal consultation at Associates in Plastic Surgery, we will assess your condition and provide you with the guidance you need to determine if liposuction would be beneficial to you. There are many different types of liposuction surgery that our practice offers, so you have plenty of options. If you are interested in getting rid of stubborn, unwanted fat, we will personalize your procedure to fit your specific body type and needs. We invite you to fill out our contact form or call the location that is most convenient for you to schedule your consultation for liposuction.

Preparation

To prepare for your liposuction procedure, you should be at or near your ideal weight; liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. You should also quit smoking at least 4 weeks before your procedure as smoking can interfere with the body’s natural healing process. It is important to prepare to take some time off of work as well. Our staff will provide you with detailed preparation instructions before your liposuction appointment.

Procedure

Before your liposuction procedure commences, our team will administer general anesthesia and then numb the fat removal area with local anesthesia to minimize any discomfort that may occur immediately following surgery. The surgeon will then make a small incision, which serves as both the access point for lidocaine, another numbing agent, and the liposuction cannula. ⁽¹⁾

During tumescent liposuction, the surgeon will first inject the tumescent solution and then wait for the fat tissue to swell. For VASER procedures, the surgeon will use VASER technology to break up fat before using the cannulas. SmartLipo, on the other hand, will begin with the use of laser technology to emulsify the fat. ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

Once the cannula is inserted into the incision(s), the surgeon will use it to loosen and break up the unwanted fat. The cannula then suctions the fat out of the body through a tube. Once complete, they will close the incisions and wrap the area in a compression garment. ⁽¹⁾

Recovery

Recovery from liposuction varies based on the extent of the procedure and individual healing rates. Initial swelling and bruising are common but should gradually subside within a few weeks. The majority of liposuction patients are able to go back to sedentary work within 1-3 days after liposuction. Patients may feel mostly recovered from their liposuction procedure after about 6 weeks but will need to follow their surgeon’s advice about returning to more strenuous activities.

Results

Early results begin to appear almost immediately following the procedure and will continue to become more and more visible in the following weeks and months. Results from liposuction are permanent in that the fat cells will not regenerate. However, if a patient were to gain a large amount of weight after their liposuction, other fat cells could expand and affect the results of the contoured areas.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Many of our patients choose to combine liposuction with other plastic surgery procedures at our Associates in Plastic Surgery, such as the mommy makeover, tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and other procedures.

Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover is a combination of multiple different body sculpting procedures, usually carried out within a singular session. While a mommy makeover is often selected by women who want to restore their figures after pregnancy, mommy makeovers can be for anyone who is looking for a more comprehensive approach to body sculpting. A mommy makeover can incorporate liposuction to remove stubborn fat deposits, as well as a variety of different lifting and shaping procedures.

Tummy Tuck

Patients may want to consider a tummy tuck, as liposuction addresses underlying fat tissue, not loose, sagging skin. A tummy tuck can tighten the appearance of the midsection by removing excess skin. It can also address and repair any separated muscles in the abdomen. Many individuals report increased self-esteem and improved body image following the surgery, allowing them to wear clothes they once avoided.

Breast Procedures

Liposuction can enhance a breast augmentation procedure if it incorporates the fat transfer technique. With a fat transfer, a plastic surgeon uses liposuction to remove fat from a different area of the body in order to reinject it into the breasts to add volume.

Liposuction can also be used in breast reduction procedures for men. For example, liposuction can help shape the chest during gynecomastia surgery.

Cost of Liposuction in New Jersey

The exact cost of your liposuction procedure will be determined by how many areas you are having treated, and how much excess fat you have. During your consultation at any of our New Jersey offices, we can give you a more relevant estimate. To schedule an appointment, fill out our contact form or give us a call.

FAQ

References

1. Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/
2. Hoyos A, Millard J. VASER-assisted high-definition liposculpture. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2007;27(6):594-604. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asj.2007.08.007