Liposuction is one of the most commonly offered cosmetic surgery procedures. When performed on the appropriate candidate, liposuction is a powerful body contouring procedure but it is not an alternative to diet and exercise. The best candidates for liposuction have areas of excess fatty tissue surrounded by areas of good skin tone.
Liposuction is broken up into two or three phases and can be performed in both awake patients, or patients treated with general anesthesia. The first phase of liposuction is to inject tumescence solution into the area to be treated. This numbs the area and reduces blood loss. Once the tumescence or wetting solution is placed and has had several minutes to take effect, the fat either can be suctioned immediately or treated first by an intermediate step using ultrasonic (VASER liposelection) or laser (SMART liposuction) energy that liquefies fat and may tighten the skin.
The fat is then gently suctioned away and the patient is asked to where a compressive garment like a girdle or Spanx for a few weeks to help mold and flatten the treated area.
BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS
Browse a photo gallery of Washington University Physician patients' before and after photos of liposuction procedures.
To learn more details about liposuction, review photos, or learn when we are having a free seminar please visit us online at westcountyplasticsurgeons.wustl.edu.