Liposuction Chicago

Sometimes fat is hereditary and no amount of exercise or caloric intake control will make it budge. Liposuction is a surgical method to get rid of localized fat deposits that are unresponsive to health and fitness efforts.

Liposuction Candidates

Liposuction candidates must be in good health with reasonable expectations of the surgery. Your skin must be firm and elastic and you should have good muscle tone. Liposuction is not appropriate for people with chronic life-threatening illness or medical conditions that could compromise healing.

Preparing for Liposuction

You will first need to meet with our plastic surgeons for a consultation to discuss liposuction and determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. Our plastic surgeons may ask you to have some medical testing done prior to liposuction.

If you smoke, you will be asked to stop in the weeks leading up to your procedure, as smoking can increase the risk of bleeding and other post-operative complications.

The Day of Surgery

After arriving at our surgical facility, you will be escorted to our operating room. An anesthesiologist will administer medication to help you drift into a comfortable state so you will not feel anything during surgery. Our plastic surgeon will make a few tiny incisions within the treatment area and insert a cannula underneath the skin. The surgeon will move the cannula back and forth to break up the fatty tissue. In some cases, the surgeon will use ultrasound energy to help break up the fat. Then, the surgeon will suction the fat out of the body using a vacuum or special syringe. The incisions are closed with sutures, and a binder-type garment may be placed to help the body adjust to its new curves.

Recovering from Surgery

Full liposuction recovery will take several weeks. During your liposuction recovery, you should stay at home and rest and not engage in any physical exercise or activity, as this could affect the outcome of your procedure. Our surgeons will meet with you to follow up and clear you to return to work or school.

Potential Risks

Liposuction is generally a safe procedure, but it does carry a slight risk of complications. Potential liposuction complications include:

• Uneven contours
• Skin / nerve damage
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Loss or accumulation of fluid
• Unfavorable scarring

If you are concerned about the risks of liposuction, or would like to explore less invasive alternatives, please ask our surgical team to provide more information.

Other Considerations

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure or a substitute for diet and exercise. It also will not effectively treat cellulite (i.e., dimpling on the thighs, hips, buttocks).

Liposuction may be combined with another plastic surgery procedure for more comprehensive results. Many plastic surgery patients couple breast augmentation and liposuction, or tummy tuck with liposuction, to improve the contour of the breasts, stomach, thighs and/or hips. We can explain these combinations in greater detail during a surgical consultation.