Over time, our bodies change. The effects of gravity, age, genetics, and lifestyle choices can leave small fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. Weight loss or gain and pregnancy can also leave behind areas of fat that change the shape of your body.
You may consider liposuction and other body contouring procedures for many reasons, including targeted fat reduction, boosting your self-esteem and confidence, and reversing post-pregnancy changes.
Liposuction is not used to help you lose weight, so you should be close to your desired weight and use liposuction only to help contour targeted areas and improve your overall appearance.
Many plastic surgery procedures require general anesthesia during the procedure, but board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew H. Steele offers the option of liposuction under local anesthesia. We are the only practice that performs awake liposuction in Midlothian when you want a trimmer figure and the benefits of being awake during the procedure.
The procedure for awake liposuction works in the same way as traditional liposuction. During awake liposuction, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic. While you may feel pressure as if someone is pushing on the area, you do not feel any pain during the procedure.
Dr. Steele makes small incisions in the treatment areas and inserts a cannula, a small hollow tube. The tube helps to remove fat from the surrounding tissue before it is suctioned out through the cannula.
This contours areas of the body that have not responded to diet and exercise. There are a variety of different liposuction techniques, but our practice prefers using power-assisted liposuction, which helps to safely separate fat from the surrounding tissue and then remove it in a manner that minimizes contour irregularities. Liposuction is often combined with Renuvion j-plasmas radiofrequency for optimal skin contraction after liposuction.
Any time you are under general anesthesia, as with traditional liposuction, there are potential risks, but with awake liposuction, those risks are eliminated.
Awake liposuction can treat the same areas of the body as traditional liposuction, including the abdomen, chin, waist, arms, thighs, chest, and bra rolls. Dr. Steele can improve contouring because you will be able to move and give him more control over the area on which he is working. Adjustments can be made throughout the procedure, allowing for optimal body contouring.
Awake liposuction in Midlothian has a much shorter recovery time for a variety of reasons. Without general anesthesia, there is a quicker initial recovery that is not complicated by the nausea or vomiting some people can experience. The techniques are less invasive, and using local anesthesia allows for a more controlled and targeted approach.
This approach also helps reduce postoperative swelling and bruising. Because you are not under general anesthesia, you can immediately begin to move. Early mobilization helps promote blood circulation and speeds recovery. Procedures that are done under local anesthesia are also completed more quickly than under general anesthesia, which reduces your exposure to potential complications.
All liposuction procedures permanently remove fat cells. Your body has a finite number of fat cells, and once those are removed, your body cannot regenerate more. When you gain weight, the fat cells you have expand in size.
While the fat removal is permanent, the results of liposuction you experience when you have achieved your desired weight can change dramatically if you gain weight. The fat cells that cover and protect your muscles can expand with weight gain and you can lose the benefits of awake liposuction in Midlothian.
It is important to make an informed decision about any surgery you choose. We encourage you to call our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Steele, who can answer your questions about our exclusive fat-removing procedure, awake liposuction in Midlothian.
