Liposuction in the South Florida Area

Liposuction is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed on men and women in the United States. Liposuction's ability to sculpt specific areas of the body makes it a popular choice for Dr. Blane Shatkin's Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Weston area patients, as well.

Liposuction

Do you find it nearly impossible to get rid of fat in your problem areas - such as hips, thighs, ankles, back, arms, stomach, or chin - no matter how healthy your diet or how vigorous your exercise routine? If so, consider liposuction. During this procedure, performed at our facility in Weston, Florida, Dr. Shatkin uses appropriate liposuction techniques to remove stubborn fat deposits. He takes his time sculpting your new body, leaving you with a more trim, and defined physique. Dr. Shatkin specializes in both tumescent and ultrasonic assisted liposuction. Read more detailed information about the liposuction procedure.

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The Liposuction Procedure

The first step of the liposuction procedure is to make a small incision in the affected area. Dr. Shatkin then inserts a tube, or cannula, attached to vacuum pump or syringe. An up-and-down motion is used to break up the fat cells and suck them out. This may be repeated with as many sites as you have requested for the surgery.

There is more than one way to perform the liposuction procedure. Some involve the direct injection of fluids, such as a saline solution mixed with local anesthetic and often a drug that contracts the blood vessels. Sometimes, only enough fluid to keep the patient hydrated and sedated is used, other times the liquid is used to make the fat cells swell up so that they can be reached more easily by the vacuum device. The more fluid is used, the longer the surgery takes.

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction

Another method of liposuction uses ultrasound technology. Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) employs use of a special cannula that gives off sound energy, which bursts the walls of the fat cells and breaks down the fat. It is then pulled into the vacuum device. UAL takes longer, and is more expensive, than other kinds of liposuction, but it is precise, thorough and gets to the fat in hard-to-reach places.

As for being a quick-fix substitute for conventional weight loss, liposuction is not recommended for the overweight. It is most effective on people of normal weight, usually over 40, who have pockets and pouches of fat around the belly, thighs, buttocks or arms.

Recovering from Liposuction

Recovery from a liposuction procedure is a little different from for other cosmetic surgeries. You may experience blood or fluid drainage. You will need to wear a tight-fitting undergarment beneath your clothes for a while. The good news is that all of this clears up and within a few months, when your body will assume the contours resulting from the liposuction procedure.

Consult Our Liposuction Specialist in Weston

If you are interested in undergoing liposuction, and you live in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Weston area, contact the practice of liposuction surgeon Blane Shatkin, MD.