Liposuction

We offer our patients ultrasonic liposuction and tumescent liposuction surgery options when diet and exercise are not enough to achieve their desired body shape and size. If you have lost some weight on your own, but cannot get rid of stubborn fat in localized areas, you can benefit from the body contouring procedures available at our facility near Palo Alto and San Jose. With ultrasonic and tumescent liposuction surgery, we can quickly remove stubborn fat from selected places on the body, sculpting and slimming down areas that have been resistant to diet and exercise.

Ultrasonic/Tumescent Liposuction Surgery

Liposuction surgery begins with the surgeon inserting a narrow tube called a cannula near the areas to be treated. The cannula suctions out excess fat, and the surgeon smoothes out the skin, trims away any excess, and stitches the incisions. There are several liposuction techniques used during body contouring surgery. The "super wet technique" injects an amount of fluid into the fat-extraction sitesóapproximately the same amount of fluid as the amount of fat to be suctioned. We also offer our Palo Alto and San Jose area patients tumescent liposuction surgery, which uses even more fluid for the fat extractionóup to triple the amount. Another technique is ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (or, UAL). A special cannula is inserted and liquefies the fat before it is suctioned.

In most cases, liposuction will be an outpatient surgery. Your surgeon will discuss the appropriate body contouring technique with you during your consultation at our office in Los Gatos, near Palo Alto and San Jose. To find out if tumescent liposuction surgery, super wet liposuction, or UAL liposuction surgery is right for you, contact the Cosmetic Institute today.

After Liposuction Surgery

Following body contouring surgery, elastic bandages are used to keep the skin immobile and to reduce swelling. For more involved liposuction surgery, patients will be closely watched for any complications. Stitches are usually removed within one week, and most patients will return to the workplace after a few days.

Health Concerns

Complications with ultrasonic liposuction or tumescent liposuction surgery are rare, but may include fluid loss, a reaction to anesthesia, blood clotting, and infection. Other, milder risks may include pigmentation changes of the skin and numbness of the skin. The selection of your surgeon for your ultrasonic liposuction or tumescent liposuction surgery is of utmost importance. Your surgeon should be vastly trained and experienced, and should have a superior reputation and technologically advanced facilities. The surgeon will recommend that you quit smoking for two weeks before and two weeks after your body contouring procedure. If you live near the Palo Alto, San Jose area and are considering liposuction or tumescent liposuction surgery as a method of body contouring, contact the Cosmetic Institute in Los Gatos today.