Liposuction

Liposuction with Dr. Gray's 26 years of experience in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Liposuction (or suction-assisted lipectomy) is one of the most frequently performed procedures in plastic surgery. Liposuction shapes the body by removing undesirable fat from areas such as the abdomen, waist , hips thighs, buttocks, chin, cheeks, neck and upper arms that have not responded to diet and exercise. Liposuction is a very safe procedure when performed by a trained, experienced plastic surgeon employing sound judgement. Our private, fully licensed facility near Boston and Maine in Portsmouth is often used as the standard for safety in the region.

 

Why do I have fat deposits?

Fat deposits are mostly inherited traits.  Everyone is born with a genetically determined amount of fat cells that many of us would like to change.  Althougth diet and exercise accomplish a great deal toward improving our body shape, even successful weight loss and management can't completely control the distribution of fat. Liposuction enables Dr. Gray to permanently change the fat distribution by reducing the number of fat cells in a given area.  However, any weight gain enlarges these cells. Weight loss decreases the cells in size. Our New England office in Southern New Hampshire offers liposuction with proven safety, minimal scarring, and outstanding results.

 

What can liposuction do for you?

Liposuction can help re-shape and contour your body by reducing the amount of fat cells in a given area, giving you a sleeker profile. The ability to remove fat cells permanently from troubled areas such as the abdomen, hips, thighs is a significant help to people who have been trying achieve an improved shape.  Liposuction is not an alternative to weight reduction but can be very effective in removing fat from areas that do not respond to diet and exercise programs. Weight loss and exercise is a great start, but sometimes can't change the distribution of fat on your body.

The best candidates for liposuction are men and women who:

• have a relatively normal weight but have pockets of excess fat in particular areas.

• are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations.

• have relatively firm, elastic skin will result in a better final contour.

• of any age from late teens through the 70's.

• have reasonable expectations and communicates extensively about their goals.

Liposuction is frequently used to treat fat on the hips, thighs, buttocks, and abdomen, knees, calves, arms and neck.   Stomach liposuction and thigh liposuction are among the most commmonly performed.  Liposuction can also:

• improve the contour of the neck and chin lines

• minimize puffy areas such as cheeks

• slim areas such as knees, upper arms and back

• flatten the abdomen

• treat gynecomastia in men (enlarged breasts)

• eliminate love handles in men

 

Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy)
The body lift, also referred to as circumferential body lift, removes excess skin and fat from the torso and upper legs. Candidates for body lifts have lost significant amounts of weight, or already suffer from loose (inelastic) skin on many or most areas of the body due to age, childbearing or extreme weight loss or exercise. Often this procedure is combined with a breast lift, facelift and arm lift to create a proper body proportion. Body lifts can tighten and significantly improve the appearance the abdomen, back, buttocks, hips and thighs. A body lift is performed by lifting the skin from the underlying tissue and tightening the muscles removing fat where necessary. Results are visible immediately.

Thigh Lift
A thigh lift removes excess skin and fat from the upper legs. A thigh lift is often combined with others such as breast lift, facelift and arm lift to create an attractive body proportion. Patients wear a compression garment to help with swelling after the surgery for about 2 weeks.

Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Skin on the upper arms can become inelastic, loose and flabby after weight loss, weight gain or from the effects of aging. Arm lifts, called brachioplasty, removes excess skin and fat from the arms. Patients often combine this procedure with liposuction of other areas, such as the abdomen or neck to give themselves a nice improvement in their over all appearance.

 

How is liposuction is performed?
Liposuction, an outpatient procedure, is actually a surgical vacuuming of fat cells, which decreases the number of fat cells in the area treated, making the area previously disproportionate to the rest of the body, smaller and more in balance. During the liposuction procedure, Dr. Gray makes small incisions about one quarter inch long, in the areas that will be treated. Next, a narrow tube, called a cannula, is inserted into an incision made in an inconspicuous place. Dr. Gray manipulates the cannula to break up fatty areas beneath the skin and suction out the fat. The amount of fat removed varies, but precise removal of fat can produce dramatic changes in contour of the body. Once the fat cells are removed, the incisions are closed with sutures. Scarring is very minimal. In time, the scar simply looks like a small scratch.
 Our board certified anesthesiologist spends time with each patient prior to the procedure to discuss their medical history and to review how anesthesia is performed and what the patient can expect. He makes sure each patient has followed their pre-surgical instructions to the letter and will be safe and comfortable during the entire experience. He assures the patient that they will feel no discomfort and remember little or nothing of the procedure itself.

There are multiple ways to do the procedure. To date there has been no study showing any advantage what so ever with ultrasonic liposuction or laser liposuction methods. In fact, some of the worst results Dr. Gray has been asked to correct, done by other surgeons, has been laser liposuction performed by non-plastic surgeons. Small areas can be done with tumescent alone but patients usually have IV sedation for larger areas. It gives them greater peace of mind and makes for a more pleasant experience overall.

What can I expect after surgery?
Liposuction patients are generally able to return to work quickly, but it is recommended that you give yourself enough time for your body to rest and recover. Most people return to normal activity within just a few days and in fact, the vast majority of patients return to work the next day. Strenuous activity, however, should be avoided for one week.
A better contour can be seen immediately with the final results arrived at in about 3 months when the majority of the swelling has receded.
 Patients can expect some bruising, but bruising can be reduced by a recommended herbal substance ahead of time and by the skill of the surgeon.Any pain or discomfort usually lasts for just a few days or less and is readily controlled with prescribed medications.Liposuction is often combined with other procedures, such as breast augmentation or a tummy tuck.

How much does liposuction cost?
The cost of liposuction at Atlantic Plastic Surgery Center in New England is highly competitive with other practices. When a patient combines liposuction of one area with liposuction of a second area or an additional procedure, such as breast augmentation, the cost of the entire procedure is significantly reduced compared to having the procedures at different times. Many patients choose to combine their liposuction with other procedures, such as a breast lift or abdominoplasty. Adding one area of liposuction to your procedure will add $2275 to the cost, which is a good value. Please call us to compare costs.

 

Contact our Southern New Hampshire facility, near Boston and Maine in Portsmouth, for more information about liposuction.