Liposuction

When you live in an area that is treasured for beautiful weather and endless outdoor activities, it’s natural to want your body to look its best. For many of us, our natural genetics don’t always cooperate, holding onto pockets of unwanted fat in spite of how well we take care of ourselves. Dr. Richard Chaffoo strives to deliver the best Liposuction San Diego has to offer and he performs liposuction to help women and men handle those stubborn, little imperfections that detract from a smooth, fit look.

When you decide to undergo cosmetic surgery, it’s important to feel comfortable and confident about the plastic surgeon you choose. San Diego Liposuction patients appreciate triple board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Chaffoo because he makes their goals a priority and strives to exceed their expectations with natural-looking improvements. To learn more, request your complimentary cosmetic consultation online or call (800) 373-4773 for an appointment.

Before and After Photos

Benefits

Liposuction is consistently among the most popular body contouring procedures, but it should not be considered weight-loss surgery. Liposuction is designed to fine-tune the contours of your body, and it’s important that you are already at or close to your ideal weight when you undergo the procedure. Some of the common areas Dr. Chaffoo helps his San Diego and La Jolla patients improve with liposuction include:

Ideal Candidate

Liposuction works best when removing areas of fat that are resistant to proper diet and exercise. These areas of stubborn fat are typically the last areas the body chooses when burning off fat, which means that you tend to lose weight in other places first, and these “trouble spots” remain. You may be a candidate for liposuction if you are:

It is important to remember that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It is a “finishing touch” once you have already reached a stable weight and healthy lifestyle.

Your Liposuction Choices

Dr. Chaffoo, a plastic surgeon in San Diego, helps determine if you are a good candidate for liposuction at a private consultation by listening to your cosmetic goals and completing a thorough physical examination. If Dr. Chaffoo determines liposuction is the best option for you, he will then decide which technique will best suit your needs. The most common method he uses for San Diego-area patients is called tumescent liposuction, which Dr. Chaffoo performs using general anesthesia.

Tumescent Liposuction

This technique involves the injection of a saline solution that includes an anesthetic to numb the area being treated, limit bleeding, and saturate the fatty tissue. Tumescent means swollen and firm, and the swollen fatty tissue is easier to break up and suction from the body. A thin, hollow tube called a cannula, inserted through a tiny incision, is used to remove the fat.

Power Assisted Liposuction

Dr. Chaffoo also combines power-assisted liposuction (PAL) with the tumescent technique for certain areas. PAL uses a vibrating cannula to loosen fat. This can be especially helpful in the areas of the back, flanks, and chest, as well as in revision cases. The addition of PAL reduces tissue trauma for less swelling and bruising and a more accurate and complete removal of unwanted fat.

The Liposuction Procedure

Different liposuction techniques share some general steps when it comes to the procedure. Based on decisions made during your consultation, Dr. Chaffoo marks the existing contours of your body to guide the procedure. He then saturates the treatment area or areas with a tumescent solution that includes a diluted local anesthetic and epinephrine, a hormone that helps limit bleeding during the operation.

Once the fatty tissue is swollen and firm, Dr. Chaffoo makes small incisions. In traditional liposuction, fat is removed using small, stainless steel tubes inserted through the incisions. Manual liposuction requires the surgeon to vigorously move the cannula to break up the fat.

Recovery and Results

Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, meaning you will most likely return home on the day of the operation. Patients whose procedures are performed using general anesthesia remain under observation at our office for at least an hour before being allowed to return home. You will need someone to drive you home

Mild bruising, swelling, and soreness are common in the first few weeks following liposuction. You will be instructed to wear special compression garments designed to reduce swelling and promote incision healing, usually for a few weeks. Dr. Chaffoo provides detailed instructions tailored to your needs to help enhance the speed and comfort of your recovery.

Patient experiences vary after liposuction. Although you should be able to return to work within just a few days, take care to avoid activities that place strain on the body for at least 2 weeks. The improvements from liposuction are immediately noticeable for most patients in spite of temporary swelling. To maintain your slimmer, sculpted shape for years, continue following a sensible diet and regular exercise routine.

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