In Office Liposuction: Fad or For Good?

What if there was an option to get rid of fatty tissue that diet and exercise can’t touch, in about an hour, without a trip to the hospital? In office liposuction may sound too good to be true, but it continues to be a great option for women looking to treat small pockets of fat, and is especially useful to reduce and sculpt stubborn areas like the lower abdomen (also referred to as a mons pubis reduction).

 

So is in office liposuction just a passing fad, or can be it be a viable alternative for patients looking for body sculpting in less time and with lower costs than traditional liposuction? Let’s take a look.

 

Team “Fad”: Demand Has Decreased

 

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, demand for cosmetic surgery procedures has decreased year over year for the past few years, a trend which has been attributed to the economic recession. Despite the downturn, however, recent polls show a higher approval rating of cosmetic surgery by young adults, and in 2011, liposuction took the top spot for most procedures performed, with over 300,000 cases between 2010 and 2011, representing a 13% uptick. Other things that might predict a further upswing: in office liposuction techniques, such as laser-assisted ProLipo, allow for cheaper, quicker options with less downtime. The laser helps to melt fat and tighten skin as it goes, for a better overall result.

 

Team “For Good”: Results Are Forever

 

One of the reasons liposuction is a worthy investment? Once fat cells are removed, the body does not replace them by creating new fat cells. While remaining fat cells can swell to a larger size if a healthy lifestyle is not maintained after the procedure, it is unlikely that you will see fat growth resume in the treated areas. The better technique your surgeon has, the better your results, so make sure your in office liposuction is performed by a trained cosmetic surgeon in an appropriate and accredited clinical setting.

 

Discuss with a Doctor

 

For women in Minnesota and beyond, Dr. Erhard is a board certified gynecologist and cosmetic surgeon with a practice emphasis in liposuction, particularly In Office Laser-Assisted ProLipo, as well as 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.

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.