Liposuction Conveniently located to serve Houston and Montgomery County
Liposuction | Liposuction for Men | Brachioplasty | Tummy Tuck | Inner Thigh Lift | Body Lift | Procedures for Men | Mommy Makeovers
Liposuction in The Woodlands, TX, (also known as lipo) is a very common plastic surgery procedure. The reason is simple: the results tend to be extremely satisfying, and many of us have body areas we desire to be thinner. Dr. Rivela and the caring staff at Rivela Plastic Surgery will help you make the right surgical decision during your consultation.
Because this procedure is so common, and the techniques for performing it are changing quickly, Rivela Plastic Surgery combines state of the art equipment, specialized staff training and advanced technology to create the best possible liposuction results in The Woodlands and the surrounding Houston areas, providing patients with remarkable body transformation. This page is on traditional liposuction. For information on SmartLipo, click here.
Liposuction is designed to remove fat from areas of the body, leaving areas looking smoother and better-proportioned. It can remove fat and sculpt the body in ways not possible by other means.
This cosmetic surgery procedure can treat chunky thighs, love handles, double chin, saddle bags and others. Liposuction has become a popular cosmetic surgery procedure because it is very effective and leaves small scars.
Ideal candidates for liposuction are those that have a stable weight and want to improve upon their body contour. Ideal candidates should also have good, elastic skin that will shrink well after liposuction.
Your Consultation with Dr. Rivela
At Rivela Plastic Surgery, we will customize your liposuction procedure in order for you to achieve the best results possible. To that end, we provide you with a comprehensive consultation prior to your procedure. Dr. Rivela will examine you and discuss recommendations for the type of liposuction procedure and recovery program to yield the best results.
In your initial consultation, Dr. Rivela will evaluate your health, determine where your fat deposits lie and assess the condition of your skin. He will explain the body-contouring methods that may be most appropriate for you. For example, if you believe you want liposuction in the abdominal area, you may learn that an abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” may more effectively meet your goals, or that a combination of traditional liposuction and laser treatment would be the best choice for you.
Be candid in discussing your expectations with Dr. Rivela. He will be equally honest with you, describing the procedure in detail and explaining its risks and limitations.
To learn more about our liposuction services and the various fat removal techniques available at our facility, contact Rivela Plastic Surgery today and schedule a consultation appointment. It is important to have a good understanding of the procedure before making a decision. Also, please view before and after liposuction photos of our previous patients.
Your Liposuction
At Rivela Plastic Surgery, we will customize your liposuction procedure in order for you to achieve the best results possible. Liposuction using general anesthesia or heavy IV sedation is somewhat less safe than liposuction totally by local anesthesia. Micro cannulas permit smoother results after liposuction. A liposuction cannula is a small stainless steel tube that is inserted through an incision in the skin and removes subcutaneous fat.
Anesthesia: General or sedation
Location of operation: Surgery Center
Length of surgery: 30 minutes-5 hours, depending on the extent of fat to be removed
Length of stay: Outpatient for small and medium volume; overnight for large volume
This page is on traditional liposuction. For information on SmartLipo, click here
Your Liposuction Recovery
When liposuction is done totally by local anesthesia, patients can usually depart from the surgical facility within 30 minutes of the completion of surgery. When general anesthesia is employed, patients typically require 1-3 hours of post-anesthesia observation before being discharged.
Most patients can return to a desk-type job with two days after tumescent liposuction. Because of the significant decrease in swelling, inflammation and pain after tumescent liposuction, patients are able to return to normal physical activities very soon after tumescent liposuction.
During the two days immediately after liposuction, the amount of pain experienced depends on the type of anesthesia used for liposuction. Soreness is usually the most intense 2-4 days after liposuction and then decreases steadily. The tenderness and soreness typically is quite bothersome for up to one month, but gradually subsides over the following next 4-6 weeks.
Discomfort: Varies from mild to severe. Anticipate 2-14 days of prescription pain medication.
Swelling: Peaks within three days and dissipates over 2-6 weeks with majority of swelling resolved within 4-6 weeks. As swelling resolves, it will settle to lower parts of your body. For example, following liposuction of your thighs, your knees and ankles will swell temporarily following liposuction of your abdomen, your genitalia will swell.
Bandages: Will be removed in 1-4 days. If drains are placed, they will be removed in 1-2 days and a liposuction garment must be worn continuously for 1-4 weeks, then patients may switch to a spanx or other compression garment for two months.
Stitches: Will be removed in 5-7 days.
Work: Most can return to work in 5-14 days, if they have stopped taking prescription medication. If your job requires lifting, wait 2-3 weeks.
Driving: May be resumed after you have stopped taking prescription pain medication.
Exercise: May be resumed in six weeks.
Final result: Will be seen after swelling has fully subsided in 2-6 months.
This page is on traditional liposuction. For information on SmartLipo, click here
Liposuction FAQs
What is Liposuction?
The concept of liposuction is surprisingly straightforward. Liposuction is a surgical technique that improves the body’s contour by removing excess fat deposits located between the skin and muscle.
What is Tumescent Liposuction?
Tumescent liposuction describes a form of liposuction that uses tumescent local anesthesia. The tumescent technique for liposuction has eliminated the greatest dangers associated with the older forms of liposuction.
What are Elastic Compression Garments?
Elastic compression garments (specially designed girdles) are intended to reduce bleeding immediately after surgery and reduce swelling the time that the body is healing. Most surgeons require that patients wear an elastic compression garment for a certain length of time after liposuction.
How much does Liposuction cost?
The fee for liposuction usually depends on how many areas are treated by liposuction. When only one area is treated by liposuction, the price is lower than when multiple areas are treated.
Am I a good candidate for Liposuction The Woodlands, TX?
A good candidate for liposuction is defined as any person who has realistic expectations, is in good health and is likely to be happy with the results of liposuction. Although liposuction can often provide very satisfactory improvements, be aware that liposuction results are rarely absolutely perfect.
What can I realistically expect after Liposuction?
After liposuction, the new body’s shape will be more or less permanent. If a patient does gain a moderate amount of weight after liposuction, then their figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape. Fat cells that are removed by liposuction will not grow back.
Which body areas can be treated by Lipo?
The most frequently treated areas for women are the abdomen, breasts, hips, outer thighs, anterior thighs, inner thighs, knees, arms, buttocks, cheeks and neck. In men, who comprise about 15-25% of liposuction patients, the most commonly treated areas include the chin and neck area, abdomen, flanks (or “love-handles”), and male breasts (gynecomastia).
Are there complications and risks?
The most dangerous aspect of liposuction is an attitude that ignores the risk of doing too much liposuction on a single day, or disregards the risks of doing multiple unrelated surgical procedures on the same day that liposuction surgery is performed. As judged by current worldwide experience, liposuction is amazingly safe. Rare problems that can potentially occur with any surgical procedure include infections, bleeding, skin ulcerations, and nerve injury.
What questions should I ask before choosing a Liposuction surgeon?
Decisions about liposuction should not be based solely on cost. The cheapest procedure might indicate that the surgeon does the procedure quickly and incompletely. Feel free to ask any question that comes to mind about liposuction. In fact, it is the patient’s responsibility to make sure that all important questions have been asked and answered before making any final decisions about having liposuction surgery.
What are the important characteristics of a safe surgical facility?
Liposuction can be performed in a doctor’s office, in an outpatient surgery center or in a hospital. A safe surgical facility for liposuction should minimize the risks of surgical infections. Surgeries should be done in operating rooms that maintain high standards for cleanliness.
How does Liposuction affect the skin’s appearance, and are there visible scars?
The appearance of skin after liposuction depends on the skin’s elasticity. Skin with good elasticity should appear smooth and natural after liposuction. Scars are not a common problem with modern liposuction which uses very small cannulas (micro cannulas) and thus require only a very small incision.
Is Liposuction a reasonable treatment for obesity?
Liposuction is not a good treatment for obesity. Liposuction is not effective, even as a last resort, for people who are unable to lose weight by dieting and exercise.
Is it normal to be anxious before having Liposuction Surgery?
Yes. Almost everyone has some nervousness before having a surgical procedure, including liposuction. Some people have more anxiety than others. Liposuction The Woodlands, TX
How does Abdominal Liposuction differ from a “Tummy Tuck”?
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a major surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia and involves liposuction and excision to remove fat, as well as a large excision of skin.
Get Started Today – Schedule Your Consultation
Contact the office of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lucian Rivela to find out more about liposuction in The Woodlands and arrange your informative consultation. With liposuction, you can achieve the effective fat reduction you deserve.
