What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat areas that do not respond to diet and exercise. Liposuction slims and reshapes these areas and improves your body contours and proportion. Often liposuction accompanies other surgical procedures like an abdominoplasty, breast reduction and BBL.  Liposuction can be done on the Liposuction is not an effective treatment for cellulite—the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips and buttocks—or loose saggy skin.

Areas where liposuction may help:

• Abdomen      
• Flanks (love handles)
• Lower Back
• Upper Back 
• Buttocks
• Chin
• Hips
• Knees
• Thighs
• Upper arms
• Waist

Liposuction Surgery

Dr. McDonald performs most liposuction procedures with general anesthesia or sedation. Liposuction is performed through small, inconspicuous incisions, referred to as “poke holes” to access the various areas. These holes are small enough they often heal closed without sutures.

Small temporary drains may be placed beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluid. The drains are removed anywhere between 2 days and 2 weeks post surgery, depending on the patient and procedure.

You will go home from surgery in a compression garment or elastic binder.  These help to control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours.

Recovery After Liposuction

Post surgery, you will be instructed to wear a compression garment over your treatment areas. These help to control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours. You need a garment (faja) that will cover all areas where liposuction occurred.  It’s helpful to buy a few in various sizes as you will want to wash them and your swelling will decrease throughout recovery. As the swelling goes down, the new contours will develop.  You can expect to feel bruising/tender in some areas even for 3 months after your liposuction procedure.  

What is the Cost for Liposuction?

The cost for liposuction varies greatly, depending on how many locations are needed and if it’s supplementary to another procedure.  For Liposuction alone, it is an outpatient procedure and costs between $4,500-6,500.