Liposuction

• Q: What’s Liposuction?
• Q: Why Should I Consider Liposuction?
• Q: How is Liposuction Performed?
• Q: What Should I Anticipate After the Procedure?
• Q: Am I a Candidate for Liposuction?

Q: What’s Liposuction?

Liposuction, also known as liposculpture or lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure specifically designed to reduce or eliminate the areas of fatty tissue deposits that are not easily managed by such routine weight loss regimens as diet and exercise. Liposuction removes fat that is resistant to these efforts and delivers a more pleasing body shape and appearance. This procedure can be applied to nearly any area of the body and is commonly used on multiple areas during an operation. The areas commonly liposuctioned include the abdomen (stomach), flanks (love handles) hips and thighs. The other areas frequently addressed include back, knees, breast, chin and neck. Less frequently asked for but also amenable to liposuction areas include buttocks, calves, ankles or the arms.

Go to our Liposuction Gallery

Q: How is Liposuction Performed?

Liposuction procedures generally lasts from several minutes to several hours depending on the amount of suctioning required. It can be done either under sedation for smaller procedures or with the patient under a general anesthesia and asleep for more extensive procedures. If you are to have a smaller procedure you will go home the day of the operation. You may need to be observed overnight in the hospital if you are to undergo a high volume liposuction procedure.

Dr. Rayham performs liposuction procedures in a hospital or ambulatory surgery or office based settings in Manhattan/NYC, Brooklyn or Staten Island, New York. Dr. Rayham utilizes several liposuction techniques. These include Traditional Liposuction, Power-Assisted Liposuction, Ultrasonic-Assisted Liposuction, and Laser Liposuction also known as “SmartLipo” or “CoolLipo” techniques. Each of these techniques have their own advantages and applications.

Traditional Liposuction is often used for run of the mill liposuction procedures or as an adjunct to abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure. Here tumescent anesthetic solution is injected into the areas to be suctioned and several minutes later liposuction is performed and excess fat is removed.

Power-Assisted Liposuction technique is often used for large areas and high volume liposuction. It is similar to the traditional liposuction technique with the addition of electric powered devise allowing more rapid suctioning. The end result in both techniques is dependent on surgeon’s experience, intra-operative assessment by manual palpation and visual observation.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Liposuction technique utilizes power of ultrasound frequency waves to break down the fat cells and induce contraction of the skin and the remaining soft tissues. The fat is then suctioned out with the traditional liposuction canellas/tubes. Again, the surgeon’s experience will be the determining factor to establish the end-result of the procedure.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction or “SmartLipo” or “CoolLipo” techniques use the power of laser to breakdown the fat cells and induce contraction of the skin and remaining soft tissues, similar to ultra-sonic liposuction. The dissolved fat then should be suctioned using the traditional liposuction canellas as well. Both ultra-sonic and laser-assisted liposuction have similar degree of efficacy and can be used for appropriate patients.

Dr. Rayham will be happy to evaluate you and choose the most appropriate type of liposuction technique, or a combination of several techniques, that would address your concern and suit your body structure and characteristics.

Q: What Should I Anticipate After the Procedure?

Your procedure may last from several minutes to several hours depending on the amount of suctioning required. Upon completion of your operation a tight compression garment will be placed around the operated areas to induce compression for faster healing and to decrease bleeding and swelling. The support garment may need to be worn for several weeks after the surgery. Although the immediate swelling disappears within weeks, it may take several months, and up to a year in certain areas of your body, for the final shape and contour to form. Right after the operation you may experience some pain associated with the surgery which is usually controlled well with pain medications. Upon discharge you will have prescriptions for pain medication that you will take as needed, and antibiotics that you will need to take for several days to decrease chances of infection. There are usually no sutures that need to be removed. While complications are rare, Dr. Rayham will discuss the risks of your procedure with you prior to proceeding with surgery. If is important to be well-informed ahead of time. You can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given to you after surgery.

If you live in New York or nearby and have had a relatively small area liposuctioned, you can go home the day of your procedure. Our out of town patients normally stay in one of our recommended hotels for a night and can be driven home or fly home the next day following their postoperative check-up with Dr. Rayham. Patients undergoing large volume procedures usually stay overnight in the hospital.

Q: Why Should I Consider Liposuction?

– To remove fat deposits from any of the following body areas:
Abdomen (Stomach) and Waistline/Flanks (Love Handles)
Back
Upper Arms
Hips, Buttocks, Thighs, Knees Calves and Ankles
Chin and Neckline

– To improve the contour of certain areas of your body.
– To create a more proportioned figure

Q: Am I a Candidate for Liposuction?

You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have any of the above concerns and if you are in overall good health to undergo an operation. Click here (hyperlink) if you’d like to email Dr. Rayham with a question or a concern. We also encourage you to call us toll free 1 866 435 5357 (1 866 435 5357) , or 1 877 Dr.Rayham (1 877 377 2492) to speak with Dr. Rayham or RR Plastix New York Plastic Surgery Center experienced office staff.