What is Liposuction?
Sometimes, even with a healthy diet and regular exercise, your body can still retain fat. Fat deposits can cause localized bulges in the face and neck, upper arms, upper and lower abdomen, flank areas (love handles), inner thighs, outer thighs, buttocks, and knee areas and calves. After trying various measures to control your weight, you should be rewarded with beautiful body contours. Our practice in Grand Rapids offers liposuction to women and men in the area looking to improve their appearance.
Dr. Dennis Hammond and Dr. Andrea Van Pelt understand that every case is different and strive to give you exceptional personal care. We have extensive experience with this procedure, have board-certified anesthesiologists on staff, and perform surgeries in our fully accredited facility. To learn more about liposuction in Grand Rapids, Michigan, request a consultation online or call us at (616) 464-4420.
Liposuction Before & After Photos
This woman had stubborn fat left over on her thighs after pregnancy and achieved nice results with liposuction. See more cases like this one in our before-and-after photo gallery of real liposuction patients.
*Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
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After
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Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction reduces excess fat deposits that cause localized bulges in various areas of the body. It is one of the more popular body contouring procedures performed at Partners in Plastic Surgery of West Michigan. Dr. Kath and Dr. Van Pelt often combine liposuction with a tummy tuck(abdominoplasty) for women and men with loose skin, loose muscle, and excess fat tissue in their abdominal area, as well as body lifts for more extensive contouring.
This procedure is performed by making tiny incisions in concealed areas and inserting a small tube (cannula) to break up and suction away the fat deposits. The cannula is passed back and forth until an appropriate amount of fat has been removed. The entire area is treated in this fashion, carefully removing small amounts at a time, while constantly checking fat thickness and contour as suctioning proceeds.
After suctioning is complete in one area, the opposite side is treated in the same way. The two sides are compared and contours are adjusted for the best match. Finally, the incisions are carefully closed and an elastic garment or dressing is placed on the skin to give gentle pressure and prevent fluid accumulation in the suctioned area.
Recuperation & Results
Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, so you’ll be able to return home on the day of surgery. However, you’ll need a trusted loved one to drive you and stay with you for at least the remainder of the day.
The length of your recuperation depends on the complexity of your procedure. For example, if you have liposuction of your neck or chin, you can expect to return to your normal activities in less than a week. Patients who undergo larger volume procedures, such as leg, buttock, or abdominal liposuction, may need to spend more time at home and off their feet. During your consultation, Dr. Kath or Dr. Van Pelt provides a more accurate timeline of your likely schedule so that you can plan accordingly.
Although swelling can persist for several weeks, discomfort is usually easily managed with prescribed pain relievers. A special compression garment reduces swelling and helps support the treated area of your body as it heals.
In the long term, your liposuction results have the potential to last indefinitely, provided you adhere to a healthy lifestyle and maintain a steady weight.