Recognized as one of “Boston’s Most Trusted Doctors” by Boston magazine, Richard A. Bartlett, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon in practice for over 30 years Dr. Bartlett is considered a “doctor’s doctor,” and is a favorite choice of New England medical professionals when referring family and friends for cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Boston, Massachusetts.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that is designed to siphon off the fat from your body and give it a more desirable shape and contour. During the procedure, your surgeon will insert small, thin tubes, also referred to as cannulas, through incisions made on the surface of the skin.
These tubes are then moved around on the inside to target fat deposits and suck them out. There have been many improvements in the technique in recent years, making it safe, easy, and virtually painless. These techniques include:
• Tumescent Liposuction – Using this technique, your surgeon administers a local anesthetic to numb out the target site. Following this, you will be given a large quantity of anesthetic solution containing epinephrine and lidocaine. This solution is directly inserted into your fatty tissue before the liposuction is performed.
• Ultrasound-guided Liposuction – In this procedure, your surgeon will use an ultrasound to melt the fat, which makes it much easier to remove it. This technique is particularly effective for removing fat from the upper abdomen, neck, and back.
• Laser-assisted Liposuction – In this procedure, a laser is used to melt the fat in the target area, which is then siphoned off with the help of a cannula. This technique allows for much greater precision sculpting.
Liposuction is performed on an outpatient basis in a fully equipped clinic, hospital, or surgical center. Unless a large amount of fat needs to be removed, an overnight stay is not required. The surgeon might administer a sedative to make you relax. Although the procedure is performed with a local anesthetic, you might be given general anesthesia if a large amount of fat needs to be removed.
What Can you Expect after the Treatment?
Once the procedure is complete, the treated area will be wrapped firmly with the help of elastic bandages, support hose, a special girdle, or some other form-fitting garment. This will help curb the bruising, swelling, and pain. You will have to wear the compression garment for at least 3 weeks after the surgery.
You can expect minor swelling and bruising for the first 10 days. Your surgeon will administer antibiotics to reduce the risk of an infection. You will be ready to get up and move around as soon as the treatment is over and the effects of the anesthetic wears off.
You can resume normal activities as soon as you feel comfortable. Most people return to work in a week, although it might take longer if large volumes of fat were removed.
How Well Does it Work?
Liposuction is extremely effective at removing fat deposits from small areas, but, if you put on a lot of weight after liposuction, the fatty bulges will start to reappear. You will be able to see a marked improvement in the contour of your body right after the surgery. It will continue to improve as the swelling begins to subside.
The skin around the treated area might be a little loose once the fat is removed. Depending on how elastic your skin is, it will snap back into shape quickly or over a period of few months.
Contact Our Office
Stubborn fat can cause a lot of stress to anyone who has to deal with it. If you’re struggling to remove it, you may need the help of a board-certified surgeon like Dr. Richard A. Bartlett. With his help, you can get rid of stubborn fat and increase your confidence. Contact us now to schedule your consultation.
