Liposuction is the removal of fatty deposits in the body to contour and shape your figure. It works best when your weight is stable and, can be applied to almost any area of the body. The hips can be brought in, a prominent belly can be reduced, or the excess roll under the chin can be removed. It is not a replacement for weight loss, although you will obviously lose some weight secondary to the procedure. The key point is that it targets specific areas for reduction. It doesn't prevent you from gaining weight again in the future, but it does change where that weight will go if you do. Because the "diet-resistant" areas are often targeted -- hips, stomach, and thighs for women, stomach, and flanks for men -- liposuction can address the most difficult areas to lose weight.
The procedure can be performed under local, twilight, or general anesthesia depending on which areas are addressed and an overnight stay in the hospital may be required for observation if a large volume of removal is anticipated. For smaller, or isolated areas, the procedure can be performed with very little downtime. Common areas treated are the stomach, the waist, the flanks or hips, thighs, knees, under the chin, the chest, the back and along the "bra line", even the cheeks or calves.
Dr. Davis also has the option to use any fat "harvested" from the liposuction portion of a procedure to enhance other areas of the body. The popular "Brazilian Butt Lift" which has received so much media attention lately, is in fact, just this -- using fat taken from the hips, abdomen, or elsewhere to augment the buttocks filling them out and giving them a more prominent and pleasantly rounded shape. Medically, this is commonly called a fat graft. Obviously, the amount of contouring and augmentation achievable is dependent on the amount of fat available to transfer. Extremely thin patients may not be good candidates unless they actually gain weight! Other popular areas to augment include the cheeks, lips, and breast.
While the results of the procedure can be noticed immediately, patients will inevitably develop swelling that takes several weeks to subside. It takes approximately two weeks for half the swelling to disappear, and three or more for two-thirds of the swelling to subside. This is a normal aspect of healing for everyone. Patients undergoing fat grafting, in particular, are cautioned to keep their activity at a minimum for the first three weeks in an effort to give the grafts a chance to reconnect a new blood supply in the "host" area.
Most patients can expect to spend the first few days taking it easy at home. Dr. Davis prescribes muscle relaxants and pain relievers as appropriate to keep his patients comfortable during this early period. By the end of the first week, most patients resume driving. Most patients will also return to work after a week off, but many can return in 4-5 days if motivated. You will be required to wear a support garment under your normal clothes for several weeks, and you are encouraged to be up and about the day after your procedure. Low impact lower body exercise can be started in about 3 to 4 weeks, and unrestricted activity and full exercise can be resumed in four to six weeks.
Dr. Davis and his staff see his patients frequently and regularly after their procedures. Healing properly and well is as important as the operative procedure toward achieving an excellent result. Dr. Davis is committed to excellent patient care and is always available for any future needs or questions that may arise.
