Despite a healthy diet and regular exercise routine, many people find that they can’t get rid of stubborn fat in areas of their body like the abdomen, thighs, back, or arms. Liposuction is a highly effective method of permanently removing these excess fat cells to reveal a toned, slimmer body contour.

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that is done to surgically eliminate stubborn areas of fat that won’t disappear no matter how you change your diet and exercise routine. Liposuction is a very versatile procedure and can treat many areas of the body, including the thighs, buttocks, hips, abdomen, upper arms, back, knees, calves, cheeks, chin, neck, and more! This can be an excellent way to also treat problem areas like a muffin top, love handles, or a belly pooch.

Liposuction treatments are minimally invasive, requiring only small, shallow incisions hidden in discreet locations for optimal scarring upon fully recovering.


Before & After


Who is a Good Candidate for Liposuction Utah?

Patients who have specific fatty deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise and desire a more proportionate, sleeker body contour can often benefit from liposuction. It’s also important that you have good skin elasticity and not too much excess skin from body changes that might result from extreme weight loss or pregnancy, for example, to ensure that this procedure doesn’t result in loose, sagging skin.

Fortunately, patients with poor skin elasticity may be better suited to another body contouring procedure, such as an arm lift, thigh lift, or body lift, where Dr. Howland can remove any excess skin through a more extensive procedure.

Finally, liposuction candidates should be near their goal body weight, and be healthy, non-smokers. It is important to understand that liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure for those who are obese, but rather a way to remove unwanted fat from specific areas of concern to achieve a more pleasing figure.

What to Expect From the Liposuction Surgical Procedure

Liposuction is performed using a small, thin tube called a cannula, which is inserted through small incisions at the treatment area. Dr. Howland will move the cannula back and forth to break up fatty tissue in a strategic way for even distribution of the remaining tissue. While Dr. Howland is performing these liposuction techniques, a surgical vacuum attached to the cannula suctions out the excess fat. How much fat is removed will depend on your goals and safety protocols.

The standard these days, whether using an advanced technique like laser-assisted liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, or power-assisted liposuction, involves injecting a special solution of local anesthetic, lidocaine, and other medications before proceeding. This is known as tumescent liposuction, which begins with injecting a numbing and blood vessel-contracting compound to make the procedure both more comfortable and easier to perform. This also has the benefit of minimizing the amount of bleeding and post-surgical pain.

Pairing Liposuction with Other Procedures

For some patients, their ideal results can’t be achieved with traditional liposuction alone. Thankfully, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Howland can recommend a customized treatment plan that pairs liposuction with other plastic surgery procedures to ensure you reach your ideal results.

Liposuction is frequently combined with procedures like a tummy tuck, for example. Tummy tuck patients have loose, excess skin through the abdominal region, sometimes in addition to stubborn fat deposits, and liposuction is commonly used to achieve a flatter tummy. Patients may choose to have liposuction in other areas of the body alongside their tummy tuck, such as the back or bra roll.

It can also be beneficial to pair liposuction with a breast procedure, such as an augmentation or reduction. Changing the shape or size of the breasts changes the proportions of the body overall. Liposuction Salt Lake City can be utilized to enhance a curvy body contour when paired with a breast procedure.

Liposuction Recovery and Results

Any side effects from liposuction procedures, including pain or discomfort, can be controlled with over-the-counter pain medication. Typically, liposuction patients need to wait one to two weeks before returning to work to rest and heal.

The majority of swelling and soreness in the treatment area dissipates within three to five weeks. The exact amount of downtime needed will depend on the invasiveness of the surgery and individual anatomy as well as your lifestyle. For example, patients with physically demanding jobs will require more time before they are ready to return to work.

During the liposuction procedure, patients can expect to have drains inserted. These drains will need to stay in place for about a week to help collect any excess fluids from the body during recovery. A special compression garment will also need to be worn to lessen any swelling.

It is important to follow Dr. Howland’s post-op instructions for a safe recovery experience. Read our blog to learn more about ” What to Expect After Liposuction Surgery

Liposuction in Salt Lake City, UT

To learn more about liposuction surgery and Dr. Howland’s superior, natural results, contact our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Howland. In a consultation with Dr. Howland, he can examine your problem areas and recommend a treatment plan that will best address your needs, with or without liposuction or other plastic surgery techniques.

FAQs about Liposuction

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