Body

Body Contouring Liposuction

Liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess deposits of fat that fail to respond to diet and exercise, improving the contours and proportions of your body and ultimately enhancing your self-image.

Liposuction can be used to remove excess fat from the thighs, hips, buttocks, abdomen, arms, back, chest, legs and face.

Liposuction with Birmingham, Alabama plastic surgeons William J. Hedden, M.D. and Christopher J. Schaffer, M.D. provides long-lasting results as long as patients maintain their weight and a good overall level of fitness. Many patients choose body contouring with our board-certified plastic surgeons because of their commitment to outstanding results and a high level of patient safety and satisfaction.

If you are bothered by excess deposits of fat that don’t respond to diet or exercise located anywhere on your body, liposuction may be right for you. Liposuction may be used to reduce localized fat deposits of the:

Problem areas that can be addressed with liposuction:

Ideal candidates for liposuction are:

Liposuction can be performed alone or along with other plastic surgery procedures, such as a Facelift, Breast Reduction or Tummy Tuck.

Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise. It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite (the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips and buttocks) or loose, saggy skin.

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By choosing a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) for your liposuction procedure, you can be assured that you are choosing a highly-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon. ASPS Member Surgeons must meet rigorous standards for training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery.

During your liposuction consultation, be prepared to discuss:

Your liposuction surgeon will also:

Be sure to ask questions at your consultation. It is very important to understand all aspects of your liposuction procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether preoperative stress or excitement about your anticipated new look. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

Secondary procedures are sometimes recommended to reduce excess skin. Special considerations are needed when large amounts of fat (usually more than 5 liters) are suctioned.

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The decision to have liposuction surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits of liposuction will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.

The risks of liposuction include:

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all of your questions directly with your plastic surgeon. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.

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In preparing for liposuction surgery, you may be asked to:

Your liposuction procedure should be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, licensed ambulatory surgical center or hospital. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you for at least the first night.

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Anesthesia choices for liposuction surgery include local anesthesia, intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Liposuction is performed through small, inconspicuous incisions.

First, diluted local anesthesia is infused to reduce bleeding and trauma. A thin hollow tube, or cannula, is then inserted through the incisions to loosen excess fat using a controlled back and forth motion. The dislodged fat is suctioned out of the body using a surgical vacuum or syringe attached to the cannula.

Liposuction assisted with laser or ultrasound liquefies the fat before it is removed from the body.

Laser Assisted Liposuction focuses low-energy waves delivered by a thin laser fiber that is inserted through small incisions. The laser energy is focused on the part of the body where you would like to have a fatty pocket removed. After the fat is melted, a small cannula is used to suck out the liquefied fat.

Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction uses a special cannula that vibrates very rapidly and gives off ultrasound energy. As the cannula passes through the fat cells, the ultrasonic waves liquefy the fat cells, which are then suctioned out. The ultrasound can be administered either above the skin (with a special emitter) or below the surface of the skin (with an ultrasound cannula).

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Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself. Following your physician’s instructions is key to the success of your liposuction procedure. These instructions may include:

During your liposuction recovery, a compression garment or elastic bandages may cover treatment areas to help control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours. Small temporary drains may be placed in existing incisions beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluids.

It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion during the time of healing.

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your liposuction recovery period:

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It may take several months for the swelling and fluid retention commonly experienced following liposuction subside. As it does, your new improved body contours and enhanced self-image should continue to develop.

The results of liposuction will be long-lasting provided you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it’s natural to lose some firmness, but most of your improvement should be relatively permanent.

Although good results are expected from your liposuction surgery, there is no guarantee. In some situations it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

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Procedure Information American Society of Plastic Surgeons

To find out more about contouring your body with Liposuction, please contact Hedden Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama today.

Contact Us Today

Hedden Plastic Surgery

Greystone Cosmetic Center 140 Village Street Suite 100 Birmingham, AL 35242

Map & Directions

phone: (205) 980-1744 toll-free: (800) 433-3366

Liposuction body contouring at Hedden Plastic Surgery improves your body’s contours and proportions by removing deposits of excess fat.

Hedden Plastic Surgery & Spa Greystone 140 Village Street Birmingham, AL 35242 phone: 205-980-1744 or 800-HeddenMD (433-3366)

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