Liposuction Information and Photos

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure. It is ideally suited to eliminate bulges of fat from different areas of the body with minimal scarring and quick recovery times. When done properly it is easily tolerated and very safe. Although the amount of weight loss is not remarkable, because the fat is taken from targeted areas, the changes in body contour can be dramatic.

Who benefits most from liposuction?

The body has certain places where it prefers to store ‘slow burning’ fat. This varies from individual to individual. These bulges of slow burning fat give the figure its particular shape, whether it be an ‘hourglass’ or a ‘pear’ figure. Unfortunately, if you don’t like these bulges, they can be hard to get rid of as they are ‘slow burning’ fat. Even with diet and exercise, you will probably lose weight in other areas before you lose those bulges.

Fortunately, liposuction targets these areas specifically. Once the fat producing cells in those areas are eliminated or reduced in number, the body starts storing fat in other areas. In this way, the body contour is changed.

Liposuction does not affect muscle tone or skin tone. A person with hanging skin is probably a better candidate for dermatolipectomy or tummy tuck. Many women find that certain parts or their body, such as their thighs, hips, or abdomen are out of proportion with the rest of their body. Targeting these specific areas with liposuction, the surgeon can literally sculpt a figure that is more attractive to the patient. Liposuction is often combined with other procedures.

What type of liposuction technique does Dr. Rodriguez use?

Dr. Rodriguez exclusively uses the manual suction assisted tumescent liposuction technique with thin cannulas.

There are several liposuction techniques. Techniques are based on the amount of anesthetic injected to the tissues (wet, superwet, tumescent), the method used to suction the fat (manual suction via syringe, power assisted, ultrasonic, laser), and the size of the cannulas used (thin, regular).

Dr. Rodriguez has experience with all of the techniques but prefers the use of the tumescent technique with thin cannulas throughout the procedure to enhance smooth tissue contours. He believes that the thin 3 mm cannulas are essential for a uniform result. Some surgeons use larger 5 mm cannulas and can extract the fat faster, but Dr. Rodriguez feels strongly that a thin cannula is the only option for a great result!

To read more about why Dr. Rodriguez thinks small cannula tumescent liposuction is better than ultrasonic or laser liposuction watch the video, Tumescent lipo vs. laser lipo-Which is the best?.

What type of anesthesia does he use?

Liposuction can be done under local anesthesia for small areas. For more extensive areas, ‘twilight’ anesthesia or general anesthesia is administered. In Dr. Rodriguez's AAAASF accredited Surgery Center he prefers the use of twilight anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. This eliminates the risk of pulmonary embolism which is the main risk involved in the use of general anesthesia . With twilight anesthesia patients wake up and recover much faster. Read more in Dr. Rodriguez's blog about types of anesthesia used in cosmetic surgery.

What is the post op recovery like?

You will be sore for the first few days following your liposuction surgery and will have some bruising. All of Dr. Rodriguez's patients are custom fitted with a special garment and padding for at least 10 days following a liposuction procedure.

Is Liposuction Right For Me?

What is the cost of liposuction?

The cost is highly variable and depends on the areas being liposuctioned. In general the physician's fee per area is $1500 to $2000. Other costs include hospital fee and anesthesia.

When other procedures are being performed a professional discount is usually applied. Financing is available. Please call the office at 410-494-8100 for a consultation or Contact Us to discuss your individual needs.

Liposuction Portfolio images

View before and after photos from our portfolio of images: