Liposuction
Liposuction is a known, routine, and judicious body contouring plastic surgery procedure, which has remained popular for more than three decades in the US. The procedure has become less risky over the years due to innovative surgical techniques. Several approaches to perform liposuction are available today, but the general steps in the procedure largely remain unchanged in each case.
Dr. Burton Sundin and Dr. Reps Sundin are board certified plastic surgeons providing liposuction and various other surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. Patients in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredricksburg, and surrounding locations have an opportunity to receive liposuction from the surgeons at MBody.
Anesthesia
Most of the liposuction plastic surgery procedures will involve only local anesthesia, but if the procedure requires substantial fat removal from multiple areas or is performed together with other surgeries, general anesthesia may be needed. Sometimes the surgeon may use mild sedation along with local anesthesia, depending on the patient’s anxiety levels.
One of the more popular techniques to perform liposuction is tumescent liposuction, which only requires the use of local anesthesia. However, if the patient has an allergy to the local anesthetic lidocaine, they may have to choose another liposuction technique.
Placement of Incisions
Once the patient has been placed under anesthesia, the surgeon will begin the procedure by making small incisions in discreet locations within the targeted area. The size of incisions may typically range between a quarter and a third of an inch. An experienced surgeon will keep the incisions well-hidden so that the subsequent scarring is not very unfavorable.
Accomplished plastic surgeons Dr. Burton Sundin and Dr. Reps Sundin receive patients from Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredricksburg, and nearby areas for liposuction.
Reducing Fat Tissue
The surgeon will introduce a thin cannula to eliminate or reduce the unwanted fat deposits through the incisions. As the vacuum tube penetrates the deeper fat tissue layers, the surgeon will gently manipulate it to dislodge the fat cells. These isolated cells will then be suctioned out through a pump or syringe attached to the other end of the cannula.
Sometimes the surgeon may add laser, RF or ultrasonic energy techniques at this stage of fat removal to make liposuction more precise and less aggressive. All through the fat removal stage, the patient will be administered replacement fluids through IV in order to make up for the loss of blood and fluid.
Wound Closure
Following the completion of fat reduction, the surgeon will close the wounds with dissolvable or removable sutures. Drain tubes will be placed below the skin for a few days to collect excess fluid and reduce the risk of infection. Both drain tubes and sutures may be removed in about a week to 10 days.
If the incisions are very minor, the surgeon may decide to leave them open in order to minimize swelling and bruising. If the procedure involves additional surgeries, the procedure steps may have to be adjusted.
For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Reps Sundin and Dr. Burton Sundin please visit:
Serving Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Fredricksburg, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Maryland Richmond, VA and surrounding communities.
