Liposuction
Liposuction is a fat removal procedure that can help you eliminate stubborn fat that just won’t budge — no matter how healthy you eat or how many hours you spend at the gym. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Cook is a body sculpting expert who performs liposuction in Midland to help his patients achieve slimmer, firmer body contours that they love.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a plastic surgery procedure that can remove excess fat and re-contour nearly any area of the body for a slimmer look. While liposuction is not a cure-all treatment for patients struggling with weight loss, it can help create a smoother, leaner figure for those who are at or near their ideal weight.
Many patients desire liposuction to effectively slim and reshape fat deposits that are unresponsive to dieting efforts and exercise.
Since fat cells cannot regenerate, their removal with liposuction is considered to be permanent.
With advanced liposuction techniques, our highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeon—Dr. Kevin Cook, MD—can help you attain the physique you have always wanted. Each procedure is always highly customized based on a patient’s unique needs and desired outcome.
Benefits of Liposuction
Liposuction can eliminate stubborn, diet-and-exercise-resistant fat pockets from a range of body areas. Common liposuction treatment areas include the:
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Abdomen
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Love Handles (Flanks)
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Arms
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Thighs
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Knees
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Calves
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Buttocks
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Chest
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Neck
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Back
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Chin
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Face
Dr. Cook can custom-tailor each liposuction procedure to meet your unique needs and expectations. Liposuction can be combined with tummy tuck surgery, breast surgery, or other procedures to provide a more complete cosmetic makeover. To learn how liposuction can help you achieve your individual cosmetic goals, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Cook today.
The consultation process provides Dr. Cook with an opportunity to analyze your medical history, conduct a physical exam, and determine your liposuction candidacy. These one-on-one conversations allow him to carefully listen to your personal concerns and desires.
Dr. Cook can then design a surgical plan to make your goals a reality. He values patient education, and will thoroughly discuss the potential risks and benefits of liposuction, empowering you to make well-informed decisions and feel confident about your treatment plan.
Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck for Abdominal Sculpting
While liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are both popular body contouring options that can improve the look and shape of the abdomen, the two procedures are intended to correct different concerns. Liposuction is meant to address isolated fat bulges, while a tummy tuck is designed to treat stretched musculature and loose skin on the abdomen.
While a tummy tuck may remove a modest amount of stubborn fat, the surgery is not an effective means of selective fat reduction. Similarly, liposuction can target pockets of fat in virtually any part of the body, but cannot improve skin laxity or tighten excess skin.
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In researching your treatment options, it is important to recognize the distinction between liposuction and abdominoplasty. Dr. Cook can help you determine the best procedure to achieve your aesthetic goals after listening to your concerns in a consultation. In any case, neither procedure should be pursued as a method of weight loss, and patients should be at a healthy weight when considering surgery.
Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, though Dr. Cook recommends that a friend or family member spend the first night with you so you may fully relax. Local or general anesthesia will be used, depending on the size of the target area and the volume of fat being eliminated.
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During the procedure, Dr. Cook will first break up, and then remove, excess fat from the target area with a surgical tool called a cannula. The procedure typically requires only a small incision.
Liposuction Results & Recovery
After liposuction, patients typically experience some swelling or bruising at the target sites. Oral pain medication can be used to easily manage any post-operative discomfort.
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In addition, a compression garment is usually worn for several weeks following the procedure to aid in the healing process. Most patients return to work and their normal daily activities within one week.
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Depending upon the extent of your liposuction procedure and the number of target areas, Dr. Cook will recommend that you avoid strenuous exercise for four to eight weeks. Though the eliminated fat cells will not regenerate, remaining fat cells can still store fat. Therefore, regular exercise and healthy eating habits are essential to maintaining and optimizing your results.
Liposuction Scars
Since Dr. Cook uses thin cannulas to extract the targeted fat, liposuction incisions are usually very small and leave minimal post-surgical scarring when compared to other body contouring procedures. These incisions are placed within natural contours near the treatment site(s) whenever possible and can heal very well.
After your surgery, Dr. Cook will provide detailed post-operative instructions that outline proper wound care. Following these measures can promote optimal healing of your incisions, which may allow any visible scarring to fade to some extent over time.
Liposuction Cost
Since liposuction is a highly customized procedure that can be performed almost anywhere on the body, there is no fixed cost. The full price of your liposuction treatment with Dr. Cook will depend on a variety of factors including the:
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Area(s) being treated
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Volume of fat to be removed
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Complexity of the procedure
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Type of anesthesia required
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Post-operative medications
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Post-operative garments
At the end of your consultation with Dr. Cook, he will provide a comprehensive price quotation for your liposuction procedure. For those interested in financing the cost of their plastic surgery, we partner with a few third-party financing companies to offer low-monthly payment options and low-interest loans to qualified applicants.
Side Effects from Liposuction
Liposuction can cause some degree of temporary bruising, swelling, tenderness, or soreness at the extraction site(s) during your recovery period. These reactions may continue for a few weeks to months after treatment, but should subside as the healing process progresses.
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A long-term effect of liposuction is that the extracted fat cells do not regrow, which may distribute fat elsewhere on the body in the event of future weight gain. Fortunately, side effects from liposuction are generally minimal, and complications occur very infrequently. Dr. Cook will conduct a full assessment of your medical history and unique needs before the procedure to ensure you can safely undergo treatment.
