Liposuction Syracuse
“Liposuction is considered less invasive than most tuck procedures. In my experience, Pulsed Ultrasonic Liposuction (pUAL) is the most predictable, least traumatic form of liposuction.”
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is one of the most common procedures for improving the appearance of men and women. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Denis F. Branson frequently performs liposuction for Syracuse patients to achieve effective fat removal.
Often, the improved skin effects of liposuction have reduced the need for tuck procedures, like tummy tuck or neck lift. Removed fat can even be “recycled” during a facial fat transfer, replacing facial volume lost to the aging process.
There are 2 basic techniques for liposuction:
- Traditional Liposuction (Including Power Assisted)
- Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (Including pUAL)
Before suctioning, a solution of IV fluids is injected into the treatment areas, making the fat easier to remove.
Ultrasonic & Pulsed Ultrasonic Liposuction (UAL)
In Dr. Branson’s opinion, UAL gives the most consistent results for liposuction surgery. This is particularly true for areas that were previously difficult to treat, like the face, neck, “love handles”, abdomen, and your knees. UAL is also quite effective for treatment of gynecomastia (oversized male breasts).
Ultrasonic assisted liposuction has 2 effects: destruction of some fat cells, and “loosening” of fat globules. Like a warm knife through soft butter, this means less force is needed to move the instruments through your fat, allowing more precision in treating sensitive areas (such as the fullness under your chin). Because your fat is loosened and liquefied, less vacuum pressure is needed to remove your unwanted fat, thereby decreasing the risk of “waviness” in your skin.
While effectively treating your fat, continuous UAL energy can burn your skin. By quickly cycling the ultrasound energy on and off, pulsed UAL offers the optimum fat treatment, while minimizing risk of injuring your skin. In Dr. Branson’s experience, this allows more aggressive treatment (and improved results) in sensitive areas, like under your chin, around your knees, and at your calves and ankles. Pulsed UAL also allows better definition of areas like your waist, rib cage, and arms.
Surgery
For most patients, lipo is performed as an outpatient procedure. If large volumes of fat are to be removed, your surgery may require overnight monitoring at the hospital. Small, confined areas may be treated in the office setting.
Anesthesia
Your safety is our first concern. Choice of anesthesia is based on your medical history, the areas to be treated, the anticipated volume of fat removed, and your personal preferences. Common anesthetic choices include regional anesthetics (such as spinal anesthesia), general anesthesia, or a local anesthesia.
Care After Surgery
You will be given a compressive garment to wear after lipo surgery. Some people swear by their garment, others swear at it. Dr. Branson feels compression is most helpful during the first 3-5 days after surgery. After that time, use of compression is recommended, but not required. Like using an ace wrap for a sprain, most patients find that compressive support adds to their comfort.
You may use either the garment we give you, or any other support garment you find comfortable.
You may shower the day after surgery.
At your pre-op visit, you will be given a prescription for pain medication. An “achy” muscular pain is the most common complaint after surgery. Typically, discomfort is more prominent when there are changes in your activity levels, such as going from resting to active, or active to resting.
Most patients resume progressive activity 7-10 days after surgery. Normal activity levels may take 4-6 weeks. While complete healing takes one year, the biggest changes occur over the first 3-6 months. Patients with larger volume resections can expect recovery to take longer.
Results of Treatment
Your number of fat cells increases until you are 2-3 years old. After that time, your fat cells increase and decrease in size. How your body decides what cells will get bigger and when is not understood.
For this reason, there can be no guarantee of change in body contour. Some patients see remarkable changes in contour following relatively small fat resections, while other patients report no significant change in their clothing size following large volumes of fat removal.
Risks of Treatment
The results from liposuction surgery, both good and bad, are the result of surgical trauma. Liposuction trauma has three sources: mechanical trauma (from the instruments moving through your fat), vacuum trauma (from the vacuum used to remove your fat), and energy trauma (from ultrasound energy or the force needed to move the liposuction instruments through your fat). The goal is to apply “just enough” total trauma to achieve your desired result.
The risks are the same as for any other surgery, including bleeding, infection, scarring, irregular skin contour, irregular body contour, and possible need for additional surgery.
Liposuction Cost
The cost of this fat-reduction treatment option varies. Liposuction’s price is determined by factors like the amount of fatty tissue being removed, the number and size of treatment regions, and the time required to perform the procedure.
Request Your Consultation
To find out more about liposuction in Syracuse, request your consultation today by contacting our office.
I suppose the best compliment you can give a surgeon is referrals and returning for more. I had a few procedures eight years ago and will visit again this year. I travel from the South to see Dr. Branson. He is always learning new technology and techniques and I believe is a leader in esthetic surgical renewal (ahead of his time) My colleagues in Los Angeles (botoxed stiff) could only say how well rested I looked and that my skin was radiant. They had no clue of all that was done. And that’s just what I wanted. Can’t say enough great things about Dr. Branson’s work.