A Beginner’s Guide to In Office Liposuction

Liposuction on an outpatient basis, in an ambulatory surgery center or an accredited clinical setting, is becoming the option of choice for patients looking for a less expensive and less time intensive option. Enter: in office liposuction. Suction away unwanted fat and sculpt and smooth out the silhouette in less time and for lower costs than traditional lipo. Not surprisingly, surgeons see an uptick in the number of patients interested in liposuction during the summer months, when scrutiny on the body is at an annual high. But no matter what season or how busy your schedule, in office liposuction can be a viable option and a wonderful solution for many women. 

 

What areas can be treated with in office liposuction? 

 

Technically, most areas of the body can be treated with in office liposuction, though the most popular include the lower abdomen (also referred to as a mons pubis reduction), the waist, the legs, the arms and even the chin. These are often the areas of a woman’s body where fat cells resistant to diet and exercise tend to accumulate. (We call them our trouble zones!) The good news is, the body does not generate new fat cells to replace the ones taken away during liposuction, so once removed, those rolls are gone for good.  

Can in office liposuction be done in place of a diet? 

The answer to this is a resounding “No.” Liposuction should never be used as a weight loss tool. In fact, patients should be relatively close to (or on their way to) their ideal weight range when they undergo the procedure. In office liposuction is unique in that a modest volume of cells can be removed in a single procedure (compared to up to five liters in traditional liposuction), further emphasizing its intended use as a targeted solution for stubborn pockets of fat rather than as a broad way to address body weight.  

What surgical techniques and tools will be used for in office liposuction? 

This depends on your doctor and their tools and techniques of choice. Options include Laser-Assisted ProLipo, which uses high-powered lasers to deliver energy to heat tissues and cause skin retraction, or tightening. This particular technique has been nicknamed “Lunchtime Lipo,” as it can be performed in an hour.   

For women in Minnesota and beyond, Dr. Erhard is a board certified gynecologist and cosmetic surgeon with a practice emphasis in liposuction and mons pubis reduction. If you are interested in learning more about what these procedures can do for you, email Dr. Erhard and her team at info@mngaclinic.com or read more about the procedures at http://mngaclinic.com/AestheticServices/LiposuctionInOfficeProLipo.aspx.