Liposuction
Conveniently located to serve Columbus, OH
"I had ‘Smart-lipo” on my stomach by another doctor in Columbus and it was a disaster! Later I found out the doctor wasn’t a real plastic surgeon. I wasn’t going to fall for any more gimmicks. I really did my homework this time to find the right plastic surgeon to help me and Dr. McMahan was the only one that passed all my tests. His liposuction procedure was so much easier and he magically cured my tummy. Dr. McMahan is the only plastic surgeon I will ever trust."
~ Susan, Grove City
Even though you are fairly close to your ideal weight, do you have a few bulges? Is your skin healthy and elastic in nature? If your answer is yes, then you may be an ideal candidate for liposuction. Liposuction can streamline your body contours even if you are not significantly out of shape. However, if you have an excessive weight problem, Dr. McMahan recommends that you get on a weight loss program before considering liposuction. To learn more about liposuction at our Columbus practice, contact our office today.
Technique
If you have some flab, rolls or tires that bulge out in awkward spots, Dr. McMahan will use liposuction to eliminate pockets of fat and smooth out your shape. The process can be performed using different techniques. If you select the suction method, small incisions will be made where there are pockets of fat to extract the fatty cells by means of a cannula (a hollow tube) which is attached to a specialized vacuum.
Tumescence
If the technique used is tumescent, adrenalin and a dilute anesthetic are injected into the area before the liposuction procedure. Blood loss and pain is minimized with this technique and considerably more fat can be safely removed than when the tumescent technique is not used. In addition, patients tend to have considerably less pain after surgery when the local anesthetic is injected, making recovery easier.
Ultrasonic Liposuction
There is also ultrasonic liposuction, which is a specialized technique that ruptures fat cells before attempting to remove them. This is particularly useful for tough fat areas like ‘love handles’ and male breasts. It can also be beneficial on areas that have been treated with liposuction before as the cannula vibrates through the scar tissue from the previous procedure.
American Board of Plastic Surgery
While liposuction may the perfect answer to streamlining your body, it is imperative that you select a true Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to perform the treatment on you. Taking shortcuts on your choice of surgeon is about the most harmful move you can make. Qualified and expert surgeons with training and experience should handle your liposuction for the best chance for improvement.
Avoid Recurrence
One of the greatest plus factors of liposuction is that fat cells once removed do not grow back or regenerate. If you do not binge eat, get regular exercise, and avoid getting excessively large again, those removed cells will not come back. So, liposuction is good motivation to keep a check on your weight and eating patterns, as well.
Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
The best candidates for liposuction are healthy individuals who want to improve their body contours and physique. Candidates should be at a stable weight with a BMI of 30 or less.
Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure and is specifically used for fat reduction. Please make sure to pair this treatment with healthy lifestyle choices.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours before and after the treatment. This will help prevent complications such as excessive bruising and swelling during the recovery period.
People with medical conditions that could result in healing-related issues should consider other alternatives for body contouring. Consult with us to learn more about treatments that are right for you.
Your Liposuction Consultation
A liposuction consultation begins with a discussion of your appearance goals. The selected areas for treatment will be physically examined. Be ready to discuss your medical history to help us plan and prepare for your liposuction.
Liposuction will not tighten muscles or shrink skin. If you are considering liposuction of the abdomen, we will determine if liposuction alone may be satisfactory or if a tummy tuck would be better.
You will be given an overview of liposuction preparation, information on the process, aftercare, and the timeline of your results. We will discuss your potential results to help you set realistic expectations.