Liposuction

What is liposuction?

Liposuction, sometimes referred to as “lipo” by our patients, is a procedure that slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits. This is a great option for those that have tried to lose weight with exercise and diet but are not able to. You can often thank genetics for that.

At Freed Plastic Surgery we offer “tumescent liposuction” and believe this is the safest and most effective way to remove fat.

How does liposuction work?

To perform the procedure, a suction device is attached to a small stainless steel instrument called a cannula. A small incision is made, allowing the cannula to be inserted into the fatty areas of the body that Dr. Freed will be removing.

Is liposuction safe?

There are risks with every surgical procedure, especially when undergoing anesthesia. The following are possible but not common complications:

• Damage to deeper structures and organs
• Infection
• Contour irregularities
• Fluid accumulation
• Poor wound healing
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia

The longer your procedure, the more risks are involved. Most patients do not have complications during surgery or significant side effects; however, it’s important that you discuss with Dr. Freed your lifestyle, health history, and desired surgical outcomes.

Am I a good candidate for liposuction?

A good candidate is:

• Healthy
• Has a normal to mildly overweight build
• Does not fluctuate with weight
• Has good skin elasticity

Areas of liposuction we offer:

• Arm liposuction
• Chin liposuction
• Abdominal liposuction
• Thigh liposuction
• Leg liposuction
• Hip liposuction
• Back liposuction

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Liposuction for men

Liposuction is appropriate for men as well as women. Often men consider liposuction when their excess fat cannot be eliminated with diet and exercise. The abdomen and “love handles” are the most common areas for men to have liposuction.

Breast tissue and fat is also common area in men that can be liposuctioned. This type of procedure is referred to as gynecomastia, also referred to as male breast reduction.

Liposuction before and after pictures

At Freed Plastic Surgery, we recognize that many potential patients choose their surgeon based on their before and after pictures. We encourage you to schedule a complimentary viewing of liposuction before and after photos with our patient coordinator or schedule a consultation with Dr. Freed to learn more about liposuction, and view before and after photos from previous procedures he has performed.

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Where is liposuction performed?

Liposuction is usually performed in our accredited operating room under general anesthesia for optimal safety, results, and patient comfort. However, small liposuction procedures may be accomplished as an “in-office “procedure under local anesthesia.

What will my liposuction incisions and scars look like?

Liposuction incisions are small, so this results in small scars, and the incision sites are placed in hidden areas whenever possible. The degree of scarring often depends on your genetic tendencies as well as sun exposure to the sites.

How should I prepare for the procedure?

• It is important to stop smoking at least six weeks before surgery. Nicotine can impair and delay the healing process.
• Discontinue all blood thinners and any medication that can increase your chance of bleeding two weeks prior to surgery. This includes ibuprofen, diet pills, herbal medications, fish oil, flaxseed oil, and vitamin E.
• Dr. Freed requires an EKG (electrocardiogram) for women that are of age 55 or older and for men that are 50 years of age or older. However, if you have had an EKG 6 months prior to the date of surgery, then you can just provide our office staff with that report.
• 2 weeks prior to surgery you will meet with our patient coordinator, for what we call a Surgical Orientation. At that time, you will sign your consent forms, be educated on the specifics of the surgery, what to do to be prepared, what the day of surgery will be like as well as all your follow care and instructions. You will also pay your remaining surgical balance at this appointment.
• Our anesthesiologist and nurse manager will contact you the day before surgery to remind you of what you can and cannot eat or drink prior to surgery, review what the process of surgery will be like, and answer any questions you may have.
• Please arrange transportation with a responsible adult/caregiver that can take care of you during your immediate postoperative time period.
• Before your liposuction surgery, stock your refrigerator with healthy food, rich in protein and fiber, and low in salt.
• The length of the procedure varies, depending on the amount of fat needing to be removed. It can be anywhere from 30 minutes up to 3 hours.

What is the liposuction recovery time like?

First two weeks of recovery

• Recovery varies slightly, depending on how much fat was removed; however, most of the time patients can return back to normal daily activities 1-2 weeks following surgery.
• It is important to walk as soon as possible after liposuction and to roll your ankles when in bed in order to prevent blood clots in the legs.
• However, avoid strenuous exercise for four to six weeks because it can trigger unnecessary fluid retention in the treated areas.
• The day after surgery, you will be encouraged to get out of bed and take short walks around your home. 
• In the first 24 hours, you may take 1 to 2 pain pills every 4 hours as needed for pain. It is very important to eat a small amount of food with pain medicine to help prevent nausea.  You only need to take pain medication if you are experiencing pain.  You also may begin taking ibuprofen after surgery to help with postoperative pain.
• Bruising, swelling, and discomfort are expected after surgery. Dr. Freed will prescribe a pain medication for you; however typically within less than a week, you will be able to take an over-the-counter pain medicine such as Advil or Tylenol.
• You may shower 24 hours after surgery, using regular soap and shampoo. Please have someone with you the first time you shower. Take the garment off, if you have one, and sit at the side of the bed first, wait until you do not feel dizzy or lightheaded, and then get into the shower.
• Apply antibiotic ointment to your incision twice a day for the first two weeks. It is normal to have drainage from the incision site for the first 24 to 48 hours. This is mostly the saline-injected for the liposuction draining out.
• Depending on the areas you have liposuctioned as well as the extensiveness of the procedure, Dr. Freed may provide you with a garment that is recommended you wear for at least 2 weeks. This will help shape your body contour.  The garment needs to be snug but not restrictive of breathing or uncomfortably tight.

Two to six weeks after the procedure:

• We will have you change from the compression garment worn 24 hours a day for the first two weeks, to a lower level of compression using garments such as Shaper Queen, Spankx, or Assets.  These garments will be worn during the day only.
• We have our patients massage the areas that were liposuctioned in the morning prior to putting the compression garment on and in the evening after removing the garments.  Patients are to sleep without compression after two weeks.
• Daily evaluate your contour in the mirror to check for high or low areas.  Patients are moldable at this point and bumps and lumps can often be compressed or massaged away.  Watch out for creases that can occur from skin folding when sitting or from seams on your garments or from tight belts or clothing.
• You can usually return to work within 1-2 weeks if you and Dr. Freed feel that you are ready. It usually takes at least 3 months and sometimes up to a year to see the final results.
• Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait several months before getting an accurate picture of the results of surgery. The small incision sites will fade over time and usually become barely visible.
• For six to nine months you may experience a fluctuation of swelling with exercise or excessive activity.

Are liposuction results permanent?

The fat cells are permanently removed when having liposuction; however, you can still gain weight after liposuction. It’s important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a consistent exercise routine along with a healthy diet. We recommend plenty of plant-based foods that provide you with the nutrients you need but not unhealthy fats, oils, and processed foods.

CoolSculpting vs. liposuction?

CoolSculpting permanently reduces the fat cells in the treated areas. You typically lose about 20-25% of fat in the treated area, each time you treat it.

Typically, less fat is removed in a single treatment with CoolSculpting compared with liposuction.  

One of the nicest things about it is that you can return to your normal activities immediately after you have been treated.  Additionally, you do not require a general anesthetic with CoolSculpting and there is very little pain during or after the procedure. You may experience temporary redness, swelling, numbness, mild pain, and tenderness. It is important that you meet with Dr. Freed’s trained aesthetic nursing staff for specifics regarding CoolSculpting.

Can I get the same results with CoolSculpting as liposuction?

Even though CoolSculpting is a fantastic treatment, it is not as effective and dramatic as liposuction. You will typically have quicker and more dramatic results, as well as more fat removal with liposuction surgery. It is important that you have a consultation with Dr. Freed or his nursing staff to evaluate which procedure you are a better candidate for.

Liposuction vs. tummy tuck

Liposuction and tummy tuck are excellent body contouring procedures; however, it’s important that you meet with Dr. Freed to review which procedure is more appropriate for you. Generally speaking, a tummy tuck may be a good option for you if you have excess loose skin, weak abdominal muscles, and fat that you would like removed.

Liposuction is included with a tummy tuck at Freed Plastic Surgery; however, you may not need to have a full tummy tuck to achieve your desired results. If you have a good skin tone with few wrinkles or stretch marks, not a lot of excess skin, and have attempted to lose weight through diet and exercise but have not been successful, liposuction may be the best option for you.

How much does liposuction cost?

The cost of liposuction varies, depending on the areas of the body that need to be treated. We charge by the estimated time it will take to perform the desired liposuction. Some offices charge by the number of areas treated. This will increase the cost rapidly. Charging by the amount of time often allows a couple of areas of treatment all for the same amount of cost to the patient.

 The liposuction price varies depending on whether you will be having your procedure performed as an “office procedure” or under general anesthesia in the operating room. When considering liposuction cost, patients often find the value in doing other cosmetic procedures while in surgery. This will save time and money in the long run.

It is important that you have a consultation with Dr. Freed for him to evaluate you so he can understand your cosmetic desires and make recommendations. In order to have an accurate quote for a liposuction procedure, you must have a consultation with Dr. Freed. Until you have been evaluated, you will not know the areas that he is able to perform liposuction on as well as the length of the procedure.

The cost of liposuction in Roseville, Sacramento, and Auburn vary, depending on the areas you will have addressed. At Freed Plastic Surgery we include the following in the cost of liposuction:

• Dr. Freed’s professional fee
• Anesthesia fee
• Operating room fee
• Pre, post, and all follow-up appointments
• Abdominal binder, if necessary

As an additional perk, each one of Dr. Freed’s cosmetic patients receives a 10% discount for up to a year at Vibrance Medical Spa.

Financing liposuction

If you are interested in financing the cost of liposuction, we work with financing companies that can be used for all types of cosmetic procedures as well as spa treatments. CareCredit and PatientFi are both reputable companies that offer a variety of easy monthly payment plans for patients having a liposuction or CoolSculpting procedure. 

It is important that you speak with our Patient Coordinator to learn more about these programs since we do not offer every plan that these companies offer.

Learn more about financing your liposuction

Why should I have liposuction at Freed Plastic Surgery?

• Dr. Freed and his staff have a wonderful reputation for being kind, patient-focused and providing excellent care in a private setting.
• Dr. Freed has over 27 years of post-residency experience with liposuction surgery.
• We offer liposuction surgery in Auburn, Roseville, Sacramento, Grass Valley, and Granite Bay, and surrounding areas. We also have patients that come from out of state as well as internationally.
• Depending on the area where you have liposuction, Dr. Freed will provide a garment for you to wear post-surgery.
• An ointment is included to use on your incision sites, as well as a natural laxative called SurgiLax, which will help with any constipation that you may have from narcotics or medication.
• We offer a private on-site fully accredited operative suite that has the highest level of safety, confidentiality, sterility, and professionalism.
• Dr. Freed has a medical spa that he encourages his cosmetic surgical patients to benefit from. At Freed Plastic Surgery, we believe that if you spend money on surgery, it’s important that you take care of that “investment”.  Schedule a skincare consultation to learn more.