In her Portland-area plastic surgery practice, Dr. Elisa Burgess offers liposuction for fat removal from specific areas. Liposuction, or lipoplasty, is a procedure that removes excess fat from areas such as the abdomen, back, thighs, or neck using a specialized suction device. The procedure is designed to subtly improve trouble areas that don’t respond to diet and exercise. Oftentimes, liposuction may be done in conjunction with other cosmetic surgeries.
If you are bothered by persistent, localized fat deposits on your body, you may want to consider liposuction with Dr. Burgess. The best results occur if you are at your target weight before surgery. If you have skin dimpling before surgery, you will still have it after surgery. You should not be pregnant, nursing, and preferably not smoking.
Liposuction is usually performed with local or general anesthesia. The procedure involves making small incisions over the area of concern, injecting a diluted anesthetic fluid, inserting a narrow suction tube into the fat layer, and then carefully removing the fat. Sutures are used to close some of the incisions. Others are left open for drainage. Burgess Plastic Surgery also offers Coolsculpting as a non-invasive fat reduction.
VASERlipo is an ultrasonic liposuction technique. This proven technology is a gentle alternative to traditional liposuction and offers quicker recovery times so that you can return to your routine. The technique can be used in a hospital-like setting for moderate to major fat removal, or in conjunction with other major cosmetic surgeries.
Liposuction is an outpatient surgery, so patients can go home the same day with family or friends. Patients will have special garments to wear following surgery, which support the surgical site and help to minimize swelling.
Individualized instructions will be given with regard to massage. Dr. Burgess will encourage you to walk around after surgery. Bruising, drainage, swelling and aching are likely and discomfort may be managed with medication. Swelling may cause some temporary loss of feeling at the operative site. It is imperative to avoid any strenuous activity or heavy lifting for at least four weeks. Traveling long distances is not recommended in the first month following surgery. Ensure that you attend all scheduled exams following surgery. Scars from the procedure will be noticeable at first, but will improve during the next 12 months. Results of the procedure are not permanent, as aging and weight fluctuations play a role. Understand that results are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and may require future revision surgery.
As with any surgical procedure, complications and side effects are possible and may include hematoma or seroma, infection, asymmetry, skin dimpling, or other unforeseen risks.
If you are interested in learning more about the Liposuction or VASERlipo procedures Burgess Plastic Surgery offers, call 503-699-6464 or submit an online contact form to schedule a consultation. You can speak with Dr. Burgess herself and get the answers you need.
