Medical studies continue to prove that a majority of Americans are struggling to achieve their ideal figures. When you have tried dieting and exercise only to be met with failure and disappointment, you may wonder what other methods you can use to contour your body and lose fat deposits. Find out if liposuction is right for you by discovering how this procedure is done and who can be considered for treatment.

What is Liposuction?

This is a cosmetic procedure that is done almost entirely on an outpatient basis. It involves the use of specialized techniques, and these techniques have only advanced over time. Fat deposits are skillfully removed from the body during the procedure.

This procedure can be done one of various ways depending on how much fat you want to be removed and other factors. The basic types of liposuction are:

• Tumescent
• Ultrasound-assisted
• Laser-assisted

With tumescent lipo, a local anesthetic as well as lidocaine and epinephrine are used in the areas being treated before removing the fat. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses ultrasound technology to turn the fat into liquid. Laser-assisted liposuction utilizes laser energy to liquefy the fat deposits. This type of liposuction can be done on various parts of your body.

Candidacy for Liposuction

Our surgeon will not perform liposuction on just any patient. You must meet specific criteria before being approved for this procedure. Generally speaking, in order to qualify for this procedure, you must:

• Be at or close to your ideal body weight
• Have firm and elastic skin
• Have good muscle tone
• Be healthy with no life-threatening illnesses that could compromise healing
• Be a nonsmoker or be willing to quit smoking for a set time before and after the procedure
• Have a positive outlook on life and specific goals regarding body contouring

If you meet these criteria, you may be allowed to go through one of the available lipo procedures.

What About Recovery?

As mentioned, liposuction is done on an outpatient basis in most cases. After your procedure, you will be allowed to return home as long as you are stable and cleared to leave. Since this is a surgical procedure, a recovery period is required. It’s important to follow our team’s instructions during this time for an optimal outcome.

Talk to Our Surgeon

Liposuction can be a viable body contouring treatment if you have not been successful with dieting and exercising. You can determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure by learning more during a consultation at Old Town Med Spa in Chicago. Contact us today to book your appointment and get started!

Have you been considering taking dramatic steps to help you get the body you have always wanted? Most conversations about losing fat quickly revolve around liposuction. This method of body contouring has been around for a long time. Although considered very safe, lipo is a form of plastic surgery and deserves careful consideration. The following is a basic guide to this treatment option. It is designed to help you make an informed decision.

What is Liposuction?

In simple terms, lipo involves suctioning out excess fat from the body. There are different techniques used to accomplish this, depending on the specific wants and needs of the individual. In order to suction out the fat, a small tube is carefully inserted into the treatment area.

One of the most common methods used is known as tumescent liposuction. This technique involves injecting a diluted anesthetic to plump up the target area. When it is time to suction out the fat, the diluted anesthetic is removed as well. At a consultation, the options for this procedure will be discussed and a treatment plan will be created.

Who is a Good Candidate for Lipo?

The best way to know if you are a good candidate for this procedure is to sit down at a consultation. This allows us to get to know your medical history as well as what you are hoping to accomplish with liposuction. The following things increase your odds of being considered a good candidate:

• Being at or close to your ideal weight
• Being at least 18 years old
• Being a non-smoker
• Having a decent amount of skin elasticity
• Being in good general health
• Having realistic expectations for your surgery and outcome

This procedure is a good choice for those who feel certain areas of their bodies are not in proper proportion with the rest. It is NOT ideal for those who are wanting to address loose or sagging skin. Liposuction will also not help improve the appearance of cellulite. Finally, it is not recommended to treat obesity. Of course, during a consultation at Old Town Med Spa, we can determine whether or not you qualify for this procedure.

What are Common Treatment Areas?

This procedure is meant to help sculpt areas of the body that have been clinging to stubborn fat. Areas of the body that people frequently use this procedure for include:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Buttocks
• Hips
• Back
• Cheeks
• Chin
• Neck
• Chest area
• Calves
• Knees

Different Types of Liposuction

As technology and medicine have advanced, new methods of performing this surgery have been developed. The most commonly used ones are:

• Tumescent: This technique, which was described above, is the most commonly done. Many people are able to have it done under local anesthesia. The injected anesthetic helps to minimize discomfort during the entire procedure.
• Laser Assisted: With this technique, a laser is used prior to beginning to help break up and dislodge fat cells. The goal is to make them easier to suction out.
• Ultrasound Assisted: This technique works in a similar fashion, but it uses ultrasound energy to break up the fatty tissue instead. This helps to speed up the surgery when dealing with large areas.
• Suction Assisted: Here, a vacuum-like device is used to help remove the fat more efficiently.

Preparing for Your Consultation

Prior to sitting down at your consultation, you will need to think about your specific goals for this procedure. It is also a good idea to make a list of questions you have. We will have questions about your medical history, current medications, and any allergies you may have. Sometimes, a different procedure combined with liposuction will get you the best possible results. Tummy tucks and other lifts are good examples. We will discuss all of the options available to you at your consultation.

If you decide you would like to go forward with this procedure, you will be given some instructions on how to best prepare for it. You may be advised to cut out certain foods. If you are on medications such as blood thinners, you will be asked to stop taking them temporarily for a set amount of time prior to your surgery.

What to Expect the Day of Your Surgery

It is important to bring someone with you to drive you home after your procedure. They should also stay with you for the first night as you recover from the anesthesia. Prior to beginning, the areas of the body that will be treated are marked.

The type of anesthesia you will use will depend on several factors. Liposuction is either done under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. General anesthesia means you will be completely “out.” With local anesthesia, you will be awake and aware of what is going on but you will not feel any real discomfort. How long the procedure takes depends on both the number and the size of the treatment areas.

Recovering from Lipo

Exactly what your recovery process will look like depends on many factors. In most cases, you will not have to stay overnight anywhere. You will be restricted to light-duty activities for the first few days. You can expect to gradually start resuming your normal activities in the days and weeks to follow. A compression garment is typically required to help with healing.

After your surgery, you can expect a customized aftercare plan. This will include answers to questions such as:

• When can I resume exercise?
• When can I return to work?
• How long will I need to wear a compression garment?
• What medications will I need to take? For how long?
• When do I need to come in for a follow-up visit?

Are the Results Permanent?

This surgical procedure will permanently remove fat cells. Your body stopped creating new fat cells sometime in your teenage years. In that regard, your results can be permanent. However, the remaining fat cells left behind can still stretch and grow. In order to enjoy your results for years to come, it will be important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is why the best candidates for this procedure are those who are already committed to eating healthy and those who have developed a sustainable exercise routine. If you do end up putting on weight after your surgery, it will likely start in areas of the body that were not treated.

The Benefits of Lipo

There are many reasons to consider this surgery if you are unhappy with the way your body looks. Believe it or not, not all of them are cosmetic. The procedure can be beneficial to those who:

• Have lost a lot of weight: Many people work hard and lose weight only to find that certain areas of their bodies are not cooperating. Certain areas like to cling to stubborn pockets of fat, which can be frustrating and discouraging on your weight loss journey. Liposuction can help eliminate them, giving you the results you have worked hard for.
• Need to tone certain areas: Fat deposits do not always distribute themselves evenly. If this sounds like your body, lipo can help restore balance.
• Have lipomas: A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor that can develop nearly anywhere on the body. Common areas include the shoulders, neck, arms, and torso. Lipo helps to break up and remove these fatty tumors.
• Have Lipodystrophy Syndrome: This is a disease that causes fat distribution on the body to become abnormal. Many people are embarrassed as a result. Liposuction will help even things out, improving self-esteem.
• Have Lymphedema: This chronic condition causes fluids to pool under the skin. As a result, the legs and arms swell. This can be incredibly uncomfortable.

Common Misconceptions About the Procedure

Despite the popularity of this procedure, there are many common myths that are out there and believed. One of these is that liposuction is the most beneficial for those who are severely overweight. This simply is not true. Only small amounts of fat can be removed at one time safely. Most experts will agree that liposuction is much more accurately a body sculpting technique than a weight loss one.

Another common myth is that only women have this type of plastic surgery done. This has never been true, and men are turning to this option in growing numbers. Common target areas for men include the love handles and the abdomen.

Some people falsely believe that “liposuction” and a “tummy tuck” are interchangeable terms for the same procedure. The two procedures do go together quite nicely, however. A tummy tuck will address excess skin and underlying muscles, where lipo only deals with the excess fat.

One myth you will be happy to know is false is that liposuction will directly cause you to gain fat in other areas of your body. While it is true that weight gained in the future will likely not go to the areas of your body that were treated, it is not a given that this will happen. Proper diet and exercise can keep your entire body looking and feeling great.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you are interested in learning more about lipo and whether or not it is the right treatment option for you, get in touch with our team of professionals at Old Town Med Spa. A member of our team will be happy to speak with you. Scheduling your consultation is the first step in this process, which may be exactly what you have been needing to reach your body goals.

Old Town Med Spa has two locations in Chicago and proudly serves men and women throughout the surrounding areas. Contact us today to book a consultation for body sculpting. We look forward to speaking with you!

Your appearance says so much about you. It not only tells other people things about who you are, but it also impacts the way that you see yourself. If you struggle with what you see looking back at you in the mirror, it is going to affect your self-confidence. When a person’s self-confidence is affected by their appearance, everyone can tell. Fortunately, liposuction may be a tool that can help you regain your self-confidence.

The Best Candidates for Liposuction

Liposuction is a well-known procedure. Unfortunately, what people think they know about the procedure and the reality of what the procedure actually does are miles apart. Because of how popular the procedure is in the media, people think that it is a procedure that’s used by individuals who are obese and are looking to bring themselves down to a healthier size.

This is not true. It is designed for individuals who are at or close to their healthy body weight but are struggling to remove fat from stubborn areas on their body.

If you are battling with losing stubborn fat, you know firsthand where these stubborn areas are located. We are talking about your love handles, fat on your back, fat behind your arms, and fat underneath your chin. No matter how strenuously you diet or how hard you exercise, there is almost nothing that you can do to remove fat from those stubborn areas.

What makes matters worse is that if you are dieting and exercising but you’re not seeing the results you want, it negatively affects your self-esteem. It can lead to you asking yourself: Why am I working so hard but still not seeing the results that I want to see?

What liposuction does is pinpoint those pockets of fat that you have been fighting with and literally removes them from your body. It is a body contouring procedure. The goal is to help get rid of that extra fat and give you the body shape that you have always wanted.

How Does Liposuction Work?

During your initial consultation with us, we will be happy to go into detail about how liposuction can work for you. Basically, the procedure involves skillfully removing the fat from the preselected “trouble” areas.

There is a reason why liposuction has been used by millions of individuals around the globe. It has worked for them, and it may work for you! If you would like to learn more about this cosmetic surgical procedure, book an appointment at Old Town Med Spa in Chicago. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation and get started!

Vaser-assisted liposuction is commonly referred to as LipoSelection. This technology provides an option to traditional liposuction. This procedure removes deposits of fat from under the skin to improve the look of a specific part of the body. The best candidates for the procedure are in good physical condition and are interested in body sculpting or contouring. This process is not intended as a means of losing a lot of weight. In this procedure, sound waves are used by this technology to gentlyy reduce fat. This has led the way for smoothing and contouring the body with liposuction.

Vaser-assisted liposuction uses either anesthetics combined with a saline solution or tumescent liquid in an injection to treat a specific part of the body. Traditional liposuction uses a cannula along with specific movements to break down the tissues of fat. The Vaser procedure breaks apart the cells of fat with the vibrations from a high frequency ultrasound. A Vaser ultrasonic probe is used by the cosmetic surgeon and inserted into fatty tissues. This gently breaks down the cells of fat by gently loosening and disengaging the fat through the vibrations. The tumescent fluid is emulsified and infused into the targeted area of the body.

Once the emulsification process has begun, the fat cells and liquid are removed using a small cannula. To help ensure the comfort of the individual, a portion of the local anesthetic stays in the tissue. This process was designed to be gentler than the techniques used for traditional liposuction. The cosmetic surgeon has a lot more control to provide the person with the contoured and smooth look they desire. Vaser-assisted liposuction was also specifically created to loosen the fat pockets while preserving and protecting the other tissues. The saline solution is also much gentler on the body. The areas of the body best suited for this procedure include the love handles, abdomen, thighs, neck, chin, chest and arms.

If you would like to learn more about Vaser-assisted liposuction, are interested in having the procedure or would like to determine if you are a good candidate, please feel free to make an appointment with Old Town Med Spa. At our convenient locations in Chicago, our friendly and dedicated professionals will be pleased to explain the process in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!