Liposuction, more commonly known as lipo, aims to remove fat from target areas to improve the contour and shape of the body. Some of the most common areas to treat are the abdomen, thighs, neck and arms.
Before starting the journey of finding your very own liposuction specialist, it is important to have a good idea of what your overall goals are for body contouring. The price can vary drastically depending on how much fat needs to be removed, what areas of the body require liposuction and the type of liposuction technique used. As a result, the average cost of this procedure is usually between $3000 to $6000 in the United States.
Finding a liposuction surgeon starts with their board certification. Make sure your doctor is recognized by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) and that the doctor has a membership with the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS). This ensures the doctor has received high standards in training, ethics and experience in liposuction. By simply visiting these websites, you are narrowing down your search to the most accredited and experienced liposuction doctors.
Another way to find a great liposuction surgeon is by simply talking to your friends and family. If you have a friend or relative that has had a successful liposuction procedure, you’re in luck as this saves you a lot of time in researching the doctor. You’ll have a firsthand account on what you should expect from the doctor and possible results you can expect.
In case you didn’t know, the cosmetic surgery industry has been experiencing a boom in popularity since 2010 and plastic surgery offices are stepping up their marketing campaign. As a result, you may hear promises of “safer” or “better” liposuction from different doctor practices. In summary, this is purely marketing hype since there is no published data on liposuction safety or which specialty is superior to the rest.
Perhaps the most foolproof way to review a doctor is by looking at before and after photos of their previous liposuction patients. You want to see photos of patients who had the same areas of the body targeted for liposuction as you. This way, you can get a good idea of what the results might possibly look like. If the doctor doesn’t have very many photos available, chances are he or she is not as experienced as other doctirs. It might be a better idea to choose a different doctor.
Looking at patient reviews is another way to check if the doctor is right for you. Online reviews are easily manipulated or embellished so the best thing to do is ask your doctor if you can speak directly with one of his previous patients. This is another way to get a first-hand account on what the doctor is like and what to expect from the operation.
Depending on your goals and preferences, there are various liposuction approaches and techniques to choose from:
Laser Liposuction: Laser liposuction is a fancy name, but in essence it uses standard liposuction techniques via a cannula and small incision to suck out the fat, except here there is added help using laser energy. There aren’t any hardcore clinical data on how much laser actually helps but surgeons argue that heat allows for a more efficient removal of unwanted fat. Smartlipo is a popular laser liposuction procedure.
Cryolipolysis: More commonly known as Coolsculpting, this technique relies on the principle that fat cells get damaged and dissolve when exposed to 39° Fahrenheit or cooler temperatures. On the desired area, a specialized device is placed on top of the skin which delivers just the right temperature to melt fat cells underneath. Absolutely no incision is made and the procedure is considered to be painless and requires no anesthesia. There are also no known major side effects since there is no surgery involved and destroyed fat cells are simply digested and processed by the body.
Liposuction: Traditional liposuction is a time-tested fat removal procedure and is arguably the most effective technique available. Typically, local anesthesia is used in the procedure. A strategically placed small incision is made on the abdomen and a cannula is used to suction out fat from the desired area. In the right hands, this method can be very effective and offers great precision for body contouring. Perhaps the only downside is it requires a few days of recovery since this is a considered a surgical procedure.
Once you have determined a qualified, board-certified surgeon for liposuction, the next step is to schedule a consultation. This is perhaps one of the most crucial steps in your journey as it gives you an opportunity to evaluate and determine whether the doctor is right for you. Here are a few to get you started:
When it comes to any plastic surgery, planning plays a huge role in the experience you will have and can even impact the results you will get. Just remember that preparation is key and never choose a doctor who is not board-certified!
- KT
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