Liposuction

Do you have an area of your body that is disproportionately thick or flabby? Perhaps you have inherited physical characteristics that you’ve always wished you could change. Have you found that a balanced diet and rigorous exercise isn’t enough to sculpt your figure? Consider liposuction to help you achieve the trim appearance you deserve, and the confidence that goes with it.

Liposuction, which is also known as liposculpture, is a procedure that can help recontour the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas. You may be interested in this procedure if you are discouraged by excess fat on your body that has not responded to dieting or exercise. Sometimes, stored fat deposits continue to remain no matter how many crunches, laps, miles, or other workouts you do; liposuction targets those difficult areas. However, it's important to know this procedure is not a substitute for living a healthy lifestyle and works best when paired with healthy eating habits and exercise. Common liposuction areas include:

Hips
Buttocks
Thighs
Stomach
Flanks (love handles)
Knees
Arms
Neck (double chin)

Lipo 360

While traditional liposuction focuses on only one area at a time, Azalea Center also offers Lipo 360 which is the option to have multiple areas addressed at one time. Lipo 360 uses the same technique of traditional liposuction—using suction to remove fat cells from the body—but targets all areas of the midsection. Areas can include the upper and lower abdomen, obliques (love handle area), and your mid and lower back using 360-degree, circumferential liposuction. Dr. Bridgett Moore can go over traditional liposuction and Lipo 360 to help you determine which option is best during your one-on-one consultation.

If you’re considering traditional liposuction or Lipo 360, this information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Bridgett Moore, will discuss your concerns and the two of you will craft a unique treatment plan to reach your aesthetic goal during your scheduled consultation!

Our main office and outpatient surgery center is in Valdosta; Azalea Center for Plastic Surgery has a satellite office in Tifton, Georgia. These two locations give patients in Valdosta, Tifton, Adel, Cordele, Albany, Moultrie, Douglas, Thomasville and north Florida easy access to our team.

It’s important to understand that liposuction can enhance your appearance and self-confidence, however, it won’t completely transform the shape of your body. For this reason, ideal candidates should have realistic expectations. The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who store excess fat in certain areas. Candidates should be in good physical health and should understand that this procedure is not a weight-loss mechanism. Liposuction carries greater risk for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, poor blood circulation, or those who have recently had surgery near the area to be contoured.

During your consultation, Dr. Moore will explain the process with you while also discussing your concerns and the goals you wish to achieve with this procedure. Dr. Moore will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery and how to plan for the recovery process.

For the procedure, through tiny incisions (about ¼ inch long), a narrow tube, or cannula, is inserted and utilized to suction out excess fat. Dr. Moore and her team members will be sure to monitor you throughout surgery and immediately afterward.

After your procedure, you are required to wear a tight-fitting elastic garment that helps with the contour and smoothness of the skin. This garment is generally worn for four to six weeks. You will be provided a prescription for medication for discomfort, while the numbness should fade gradually. Within a day or two, most patients are up and moving around; however, strenuous activity should be avoided for one to two weeks. If you experience swelling or bruising, those symptoms should fade over a month’s time. Cellulite (dimples in the skin) that was present before surgery will likely be present afterwards. Occasionally, permanent sagging of the skin happens when the amount of removed fat tissue exceeds the skin’s ability to shrink. This is most common with overweight patients who have an aggressive reduction of fatty areas.

Within three to six months post-surgery, final results from this procedure are visible. The body contouring that results from liposuction can be dramatic in a variety of areas. Legs and hips are often thinner and more defined. Stomachs can be flatter, and double chins can be more sculpted to reveal a natural neck contour.

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