At the Aventura Center in Miami, liposuction brings contour and youthfulness to many areas of the body and face. Dr. Sam Gershenbaum utilizes tumescent liposuction with many other procedures, including facelift and abdominoplasty, performed at our cosmetic surgery center in Miami, Florida. Liposuction, also known as liposculpture, can be used for the removal of large or small amounts of fat to add shape and contour to the body, taking years off a patient's appearance, and helping you live a healthier lifestyle.
Liposuction is an approach to body contouring that removes excess subcutaneous fat through tiny incisions. Liposuction can be used alone or in combination with other procedures for cosmetic, posttraumatic, or reconstructive surgery. The distribution of fat is determined by three factors: heredity, metabolism and diet. Heredity determines the location and number of individual fat cells, which are fixed and unchanged after puberty. Metabolism and diet may increase or decrease the amount of fat in each cell, however it will not affect the number of fat cells or their distribution.
At the Aventura Center facility, located just north of Miami, we use liposuction for the most precise removal of fat deposits, because it is the only proven way to reduce fat in localized areas of the body. There is no way to "spot" reduce or selectively diet away specific areas of localized fat. With liposuction, the actual fat cells are removed, making the procedure permanent. As a result the body will always have less fat in the treated areas. If weight is gained following this procedure, the remaining fat cells will enlarge along with the other fat cells throughout the body, however, your body will retain these improved proportions.
Liposuction is suitable for patients with minimal to moderate fat accumulation that is not
correctable by restrictive weight loss, dieting, and exercise. Liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss, although it has been reported, perhaps anecdotally, to have the beneficial side effect of stimulating patients achieve better weight control.
The ideal candidate for liposuction has localized areas of excessive fat and otherwise normal body weight and good skin elasticity, and is also free of any complications or preexisting medical conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, skin/connective tissue disorders, etc.
Improvement in technique at our Miami center has made liposuction possible to treat patients of all ages. Liposuction is not successful in treating generalized obesity. Patients who are generally overweight, but who exhibit unsightly bulges of fat, are also candidates for treatment of these areas.
Because liposuction does not reduce the amount of skin present, the best results are obtained in those patients with good skin tone/elasticity because their skin readily contracts to the newly contoured frame. Pleasing and satisfactory results can also be obtained in older patients with somewhat less skin elasticity. Those patients with more skin laxity, or poor elasticity may benefit from or require removal of the excess skin to achieve intended results, as would be the case in an abdomen with hanging loose skin or abdominal "apron"in Miami, liposuction is now nearly as common for men as for women. The areas commonly treated are:
- Abdomen (Abdominoplasty)
- Calves and Ankles
- Hips and Waist
- Chest - Male and Female
- Flanks and Back
- Arms
- Inner, Outer, Anterior Thighs
- Under the Chin/Double Chin Area
- Buttocks
- Face
- Knees
In a related procedure, fat augmentation or transfer can be used for cosmetic purposes. These fat cells can be harvested to be used for cosmetic augmentation and contouring of different areas of the face, including the brow, cheeks, jaw line, and lips. It can also be used in the tops of the hands, and to aid in the correction of body contour defects. Fat may also be frozen and saved, to be used later, until desired results are obtained. The buttocks are also a common area for fat augmentation.
- Liposuction Surgery
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Liposuction Surgery in Florida
Through tiny incisions, no more than the width of a pencil eraser, a tiny stainless steel tube or "cannula" is used to sculpt the fat in treated areas. The small cannula reduce trauma and allow greater precision and control.At our facility in Aventura, just north of Miami, Florida, we use a method known as tumescent liposuction, a state-of-the-art technique in which large volumes of saline with local anesthesia and medications are used to reduce bleeding. Tumescent liposuction allows the removal of more fat with less bleeding. It is a safer procedure, producing superior results. Because diluted anesthesia remains in the fat after liposuction surgery, postoperative discomfort is greatly reduced and easily controlled with medications.
Dr. Sam Gershenbaum also believes that this advanced liposuction technique of superficial liposculpture, combined with the tumescent technique is a primary reason for his exceptional results. Dr. Gershenbaum performs superficial liposculpture where fat is meticulously sculpted or "planed down" just under the skin surface, allowing the skin to contract and redrape over the newly contoured frame. A thick layer of fat connected to the undersurface of the skin will prevent optimal skin retraction.
Liposuction surgery is also performed in the deeper layers as well, when larger amounts of fat are being removed. Because much of the work is done just under the skin layer, which has elastic properties, superficial liposculpture allows greater skin retraction, as well as the ability to feel and correct contour irregularities.
Ultrasonic liposuction is another method that uses ultrasonic energy waves transmitted to the tip of suction cannula to emulsify, or break down, the fat cells before suctioning. It is associated with a higher complication rate and is not able to be used for superficial liposculpture because of potential damage to the skin.
Since fat (adipose) occupies volume without much weight, patients will often experience a significant difference in their contour and measurements, yet actual weight is minimally affected. One liter of fat weighs only 1.5 to 2 pounds.
Treatment of "cellulite" is a common question, although it has no precise medical meaning. Most people use the word to refer to dimpling and irregularities that occur on the surface of the thighs. While liposuction is not a cure, it will remove fat and reduce contour. However, it is important to know that liposuction surgery will not remove irregularities, ripples, waviness or dimpling of the skin.
Miami liposculpture surgeon Dr. Sam Gershenbaum prefers liposculpture patients to be at their normal weight. Dr. Gershenbaum believes he can better contour problem areas that may not be adequately treated if the patient has been on a diet that will not be maintained. Dr. Gershenbaum always emphasizes healthy eating and exercise.Liposculpture surgery is performed at our facility in Miami, and depending on the extent of the surgery, may be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, epidural or under general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes one to two hours per area.
Following liposuction surgery, half-inch foam padding is applied to the treated areas, which significantly reduce bruising. An elastic binder or girdle is applied over the foam padding. The foam padding is removed after four days. The remaining support garment is worn continuously for one to two weeks, and then may be removed during sleep for up to two additional weeks. Sutures (stitches) are removed seven to ten days after the surgery. Bruising (discoloration) will, in most cases, subside two- to three-weeks.
Although dramatic contour changes can often be seen with the removal of the foam padding in four days, postoperative swelling can remain for four to six months. Discomfort is usually minimal, and is easily controlled with oral medications. Light exercise often starts after one week with more strenuous exercise beginning at two weeks.
In Miami, and throughout the country, liposuction has become one of the most commonly performed procedures. As with most cosmetic surgery procedures, complications are unlikely when performed by a skilled and competent surgeon. Complications such as bleeding, anesthesia risks, infections, scarring, permanent numbness, and fluid accumulation under the skin are all reduced by the expert skill and precision Dr. Gershenbaum brings to our center in Aventura, just north of Miami.
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