Dallas Liposuction Procedural Information

• Introduction
• Am I a good candidate for liposuction?
• What does liposuction entail?
• Are there safety concerns associated with liposuction?
• How should I prepare for my liposuction procedure?
• What will happen the day of my surgery?
• What should I expect during my recovery?
• When will I begin to see my results?
• Choosing a plastic surgeon
• Make sure your surgeon is board certified
• Ask about the surgeon's hospital privileges

Introduction

Many men and women find themselves struggling to get rid of stubborn pockets of unwanted fat. Even with exercise and a healthy diet, some areas of fat remain. If you have problem areas caused by stubborn fat and seek a smoother body contour, liposuction may offer the enhancement you seek.

Liposuction (lipoplasty) removes problem deposits of fat from specific areas of the body, face or neck. It can be used to contour the thighs and hips, smooth the abdomen, shape the calves or eliminate a double chin.

Though basic liposuction information is provided on this website, the best way to get answers to specific questions about your needs is to schedule a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. For individuals in the Dallas area considering a liposuction, Dallas plastic surgeon, Dr. White is ABPS certified and will gladly address any questions and concerns you may have during consultation.

Am I a good candidate for liposuction?

Men and women of all ages and body types can benefit from liposuction treatments. It should be noted, however, that liposuction is not a weight loss program, but a procedure used to contour the body. Candidates should already be fairly close to their ideal weight before undergoing liposuction. The procedure is commonly sought by people who have deposits of excess fat making certain areas appear disproportionately large.

Though people of almost any age can be good candidates for liposuction, good skin elasticity is needed to achieve a smooth contour. You may be a good candidate for liposuction if you seek fat removal or contouring in any of the following areas:

• Abdomen and midriff
• Flanks and hips
• Inner and Outer Thighs
• Anterior and Posterior Thighs
• Inner knees
• Back and breasts
• Chin and neck
• Arms
• Calves

Though liposuction offers great benefits to the look and contour of the body, there tends to be some confusion as to what the procedure can and cannot do.

Liposuction can

• Be performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures or in several areas at once. Though their may be additional risks involved with combining procedures, your plastic surgeon can help you evaluate these risks and decide which combinations are safe to undergo.
• Be used as a treatment for gynecomastia (male breast enlargement).

Liposuction can't...

• Serve as a substitute for dieting and exercise
• Treat cellulite

A personal consultation with your surgeon is the first step for any patient considering liposuction. Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. Steven White believes in careful patient consultation to assess your physical and emotional health, discuss your aesthetic goals, and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Issues you should be prepared to discuss during consultation with Dr. White include:

• Medical conditions, both past and present
• Current medications, including nutritional supplements and herbal remedies
• Previous surgeries
• Weight loss history and goals

Since some medical conditions may complicate a liposuction procedure, you should be prepared to discuss any conditions you may have such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. Any surgeries you've undergone near the targeted area may also complicate the procedure and should be discussed with Dr. White.

Depending on the areas in which you would like treatment, you may be asked to undress for assessment of the extent of correction needed. Be prepared to discuss your specific treatment goals and to point out the exact areas where you would like to see improvement. Dr. White will likely assess your skin elasticity the thickness of the underlying fat in the target area. He will also check your weight and ask if you are planning to lose or gain weight in the future. Weight fluctuation after liposuction can affect the contouring results achieved.

What does liposuction entail?

Liposuction uses small incisions made near the treatment area. These incisions are concealed within the body's natural folds whenever possible. A thin, hollow tube, called a cannula, is then inserted through the incisions and used to break apart and suction out unwanted fat using a vacuum-pressure unit, or in some cases, a hand-held syringe.

There are currently several variations to the basic liposuction technique. The method Dr. White uses with you depends upon your individual features, physical needs and aesthetic goals.

• Tumescent Liposuction: a technique where fat is pre-injected with a dilute solution of saline and small amounts of adrenaline. This technique reduces bleeding, swelling, and fluid loss and offers a shorter period of recovery than traditional methods.
• Ultrasound assisted lipoplasty: a two step technique using sound waves to liquefy the fat before it is suctioned out. This approach makes is easier for the surgeon yet may result in greater risk to the patient regarding injury to the skin and nerves so Dr. White does not typically recommend it.

Are there safety concerns associated with liposuction?

Though thousands women undergo liposuction each year and experience no major complications, the procedure does carry some degree risk. It is important you be well informed of these risks when considering liposuction. Dallas cosmetic surgeon Dr. White sees the discussion of potential risks and complications as one of the most important aspects of patient consultation. During your consultation, he will discuss these potential complications with you, listen to your safety questions, and offer instructions on how to minimize your risk.

How should I prepare for my liposuction procedure?

It is important to follow Dr. White's instructions when preparing for liposuction surgery to ensure the best possible results. Those instructions may include:

• Refraining from smoking for several weeks before and after surgery
• Avoiding certain medications
• Arranging for help following surgery, such as a ride home and in-home care for the first 24 hours

What will happen the day of my surgery?

For your comfort and convenience, Dr. White maintains privileges in several hospitals in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. Liposuction is generally performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the day of surgery.

During surgery, medications will be administered to ensure comfort. General anesthesia will most likely be used to allow you to sleep during the procedure. Dr. White uses only doctors (anesthesiologists)-not nurses (CRNA's or anesthetists)-to administer anesthesia to his Dallas cosmetic surgery patients. He will carefully monitor your physical status throughout the operation and during your recovery.

What should I expect during my recovery?

When the procedure is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area wearing a compression garment over the treatment area. The garment is used to aid healing and control swelling and should be worn continuously throughout your first stage of healing. Though you may experience some soreness, it is generally well-controlled with medication.

You will be encouraged to get out of bed shortly after the surgery. Keep in mind that the speed of your recovery depends largely on the extent of your surgery. Though everyone heals at a different pace, you can expect your recovery to roughly follow this general time line:

Within the first week

• The swelling will reach its peak and then begin to subside.
• You may return to non-strenuous work.
• Your stitches may be removed

After several weeks

• Bruises will fade and eventually disappear,
• You should regain normal sensation in treatment areas
• Normal exercise and activities may be resumed
• Swelling will continue to subside.

When will I begin to see my results?

After liposuction, your results will emerge gradually as your swelling and fluid retention subsides. Though you may notice some improvement in shape after a couple of weeks, it may take three months or more for your final results to appear.

Liposuction results are permanent, as long as you maintain you postoperative weight. Even if you do gain a few pounds, you may find that the weight distributes itself more evenly on you body after the procedure. Patients report great improvement to their body contour after liposuction, rejoicing in their smooth, sleek appearance and their boost in self-confidence.

Choosing a plastic surgeon

When considering undergoing liposuction, Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. White believes choosing a qualified surgeon to perform it is one of the most important factors. Though it's hard to believe, not all physicians who perform cosmetic surgery have had formal surgical training. It's important to research the credentials of all surgeons you consider for your procedure. Dr. White is fully trained in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery as well as Otolaryngology (head and neck surgery). He invites potential patients to fully explore his training, experience online or during a personal consultation.

Make sure your surgeon is board certified

Find out if your doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Surgeons with this certification have completed a minimum of five years of surgical training following medical school, including a plastic surgery residency program. During this intensive program, surgeons learn to perform surgical procedures for the entire body and face. At the same time, they develop their technical skill and aesthetic judgment. After training, a surgeon must pass comprehensive oral and written exams before being granted certification.

Both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery require their members to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons with this certification have completed approved training and examinations in plastic surgery including both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.

Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. White is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as the American Board of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery. He is one of the few plastic surgeons in the United States certified by both of these boards.

Ask about the surgeon's hospital privileges

It is very important to find out if your surgeon has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the procedure you are considering, even if you are planning to undergo surgery in your doctor's office or at a surgery center. Before granting privileges, hospital review committees evaluate a surgeon's training and competency for specific procedures.

Dr. White maintains surgical privileges at several area hospitals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

To find out more, click on Making Sense of Certification.

Click here for Tummy Tuck/ Liposuction Patient Comments

For more information on cosmetic eyelid surgery, or to schedule a consultation with Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. White, call 214.696.6676 or contact us online at usaplasticsurgery.com.

       

STEVEN J WHITE, MD
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL OF DALLAS
TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN DALLAS
PROFESSIONAL BUILDING 3, SUITE 814
8230 WALNUT HILL, DALLAS, TX 75231-4485

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