Category: Liposuction

3 Minute Read:

If you are thinking about undergoing liposuction to sculpt one or more areas of your body, you might wonder exactly how the fat will be removed.

First, let’s talk about the many benefits of lipo.

Why Should I Consider Liposuction?

Liposuction is a highly versatile cosmetic procedure that can remove stubborn, diet and exercise-resistant fat from almost any part of the body, including:

• Under the chin
• Upper arms
• Tummy & waist
• Back
• Hips
• Buttocks
• Thighs

Lipo permanently removes unwanted fat for a smoother, more fit appearance. However, it can’t prevent you from regaining weight in the treated areas, so a healthy diet and exercise are recommended after the procedure.

How Has Liposuction Changed Over the Years?

Liposuction was invented by an Italian physician in 1975 and was first performed in the United States in 1982.

Liposuction initially faced a somewhat bumpy road, as some unqualified individuals offered cheap liposuction services and delivered less-than-ideal results in addition to risking patients’ health.

The procedure uses a thin tube (cannula) inserted into the fat through tiny incisions in the skin. A medical vacuum attached to the cannula sucks fat cells from the area, but before this, the surgeon must loosen the fat to prepare it for removal.

Originally, the only way to prepare the fat was to move the cannula back and forth repeatedly, and this process is still in use.

Fortunately, techniques have improved significantly, and today, liposuction is one of the safest cosmetic surgeries. It is less invasive than other fat-reduction procedures, and more advanced options are available to prepare the fat for removal.

Advanced Liposuction Fat Preparation Options

While traditional liposuction still uses the cannula to break up the fat, this method often leads to more bruising and post-operative discomfort.

The following advanced liposuction options may result in an easier recovery and better results:

• Tumescent Liposuction Technique

The tumescent technique involves an anesthetic liquid being injected into the targeted areas of fat which causes the fat to swell and liquify, making it easier to remove.

• Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL)

Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) uses high-frequency sound waves to loosen the fat before removal. The surgeon inserts a specially designed cannula to deliver thermal and vibratory energy deep into the fatty tissue to allow larger amounts of fat to be removed.

These advanced techniques help patients achieve better-looking results with less discomfort and faster recovery times.

How Else Can Liposuction Be Useful?

The benefits of liposuction aren’t just limited to fat removal. This technique is also useful when used for fat transfer. Fat is a natural augmenting material, and it can be used to increase volume throughout the face and body. Fat can also be used in reconstruction procedures to fill in divots left from Mohs surgery or other skin cancer removal treatments.

This multi-step treatment first removes the fat with gentle liposuction techniques, purifies the removed fat, and injects that fat into the desired body or face area.

Want to Learn More About Liposuction in Pasadena, CA?

If you want to learn more about your available advanced liposuction techniques in or near Pasadena, California, please contact our office at 626-432-5032.

Dr. Hung Also Offers Liposuction in Newport Beach, CA

You can also reach Dr. Hung at his Newport Beach, California, office to ask questions about liposuction or schedule a consultation at 949-574-8292.

4 Minute Read: 

With the new decade beginning, more than one of you is likely thinking about improving your physique. Looking fit and sculpting your body always tops the list of New Year’s resolutions. For some, this means plastic surgery.

Body contouring allows men and women who are close to their ideal weight trim, sculpt, and enhance their physical contours. 

Liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are popular body enhancement surgeries. And while many people know the names of these procedures—through media or word of mouth, they do not always know what they can actually accomplish. 

While there is so much that these procedures can do, there are also certain things that they cannot. It is beneficial to understand what these treatments are and how they work so that you have realistic expectations.

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes a targeted amount of excess fat from various regions of the body. 

Some of these regions include the:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Thighs
• Back
• Buttocks
• Arms
• Chest
• Under the Neck

Various techniques can be implemented during a liposuction procedure. Two of the most common methods are the tumescent technique and the ultrasound-assisted technique (UAL).

Tumescent Liposuction

1. Small incisions are made in the area of desired fat reduction.
2. Sterile fluid is injected through those incisions that cause the fat cells to swell
3. A hollow tube is inserted into the incisions, and a rapid back-and-forth-motion breaks up the fat.
4. This tube is attached to a vacuuming device that permanently suctions out the fat

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction

1. Small incisions are made in the area of desired fat reduction.
2. Ultrasound energy is applied to the treatment area to liquefy the fat cells.
3. The liquified fat is suctioned out through a hollow tube.

What Is Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery, also known as abdominoplasty, sculpts the midsection by removing excess fat and skin and tightening loose or separated abdominal muscles.

An incision is made across the lower abdomen from hip to hip. This incision is placed low enough that it can easily be covered by underwear or bathing suits. 

What Can Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Not Do?

Liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are incredibly beneficial when they are chosen for the right reasons. These procedures are designed to be about body sculpting, not weight loss, and the combination of these procedures can provide optimal results for patients who have excess pockets of fat and loose abdominal skin.

Neither of these procedures is an alternative to weight loss or a healthy lifestyle. Instead, they should only be performed on those who already work out and are close to their ideal weight.

Liposuction cannot address skin laxity, and tummy tuck surgery does not remove fat in the regions surrounding the lower abdomen.

When Are Body Contouring Procedures Appropriate?

Did You Lose Weight?

When you gain weight, your skin thins as it stretches over your expanding contours.

Unfortunately, even though it can expand, it cannot always contract after the weight is lost. Its inability to do so often results in loose, hanging skin that is only eliminated through a surgical procedure like abdominoplasty. 

Tummy tuck surgery eliminates the abdominal skin laxity that resulted from significant weight loss while liposuction removes the localized fat deposits that remain. These procedures are often the final step in a substantial weight loss transformation.

Did You Have a Baby?

Pregnancy and childbirth create lasting abdominal damage and the development of fat pockets across the body. This is due to the rapid fluctuations in weight and hormone levels. 

Body contouring like liposuction and tummy tuck surgery can help restore your body after pregnancy.

Do You Have Age-Related Laxity?

Some people who develop loose skin on their abdomen or excess pockets of fat on their abdomen do not fall into either of the above categories. This is because skin laxity and excess fat is another side effect of aging. 

Body contouring counteracts the physical changes that occurred due to the aging process.

How About More Information?

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of body contouring or if you would like to set up a consultation with Dr. Hung, contact his office by calling his Pasadena office at (626) 432-5032 or his Newport Beach office at (949) 574-8292. You can also fill out his online contact form. 

Dr. Hung offers plastic and reconstructive procedures for men and women in Pasadena and Newport Beach.