Liposuction San Francisco

Is Liposuction for You?

No matter how healthy and physically fit you are, disproportionate contours that result from local fat deposits can detract from the way you'd like others to see you, in addition to the way you'd like to see yourself. These contours can occur anywhere on your face or your body.

Quite often, these fat deposits result from family genes you inherited, not from overeating or a lack of physical fitness. It can be disappointing when exercise and diet fail to remove these unsightly contours, even as they tone up the rest of your body.

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, can help slim and reshape specific parts of your body by removing regional fat deposits. It can do wonders for your self-image and for your general well being. In this section, you'll discover:

• What liposuction surgery is.
• How the liposuction procedure is done.
• What alternatives are available to you.
• What you can realistically expect from liposuction.
• How to proceed if you decide liposuction is right for you.

After you have reviewed the techniques of liposuction and have a general understanding of the results you'll get, you'll want to arrange a consultation visit with San Francisco liposuction surgeon Dr. Mosser in his office to discuss your specific goals. In this relaxed environment, he will explain:

• Whether or not you're a candidate for liposuction and why.
• The recommended type of surgery for your goals.
• The specific, step-by-step liposculpture procedure you will undergo.
• The outcome you can expect along with any risks or possible complications.
• Alternatives of liposuction that are worthy of your consideration.

The Three Forms of Liposuction

Though liposuction is often thought of as a single procedure, there are actually three main variations, each suited to removing excess fat deposits from specific types of body tissue. Tumescent liposuction requires an infusion of saline and an agent to constrict blood vessels and prevent bleeding before excess fat is removed. Quite often, this procedure requires an anesthetic.

In addition, ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty is also practiced, which uses ultrasonic energy to liquefy excess fat before it is suctioned away. A company has developed a form of ultrasound liposuction that is extremely safe, called Vaser liposuction (or Liposelection by Vaser). Dr. Mosser uses the Vaser technique regularly, and can explain the technology to you in detail when you visit for a consultation about liposuction in San Francisco. In addition, Dr. Mosser will explain which liposuction procedure is best suited to your specific goals and why.

Excess fat deposits can appear anywhere on the body. Liposuction is highly effective for reshaping these body contours. It yields its best results when reducing excess fat deposits from these areas:

• Cheeks
• Chin
• Neck
• Upper Arms
• Breast Area
• Back
• Abdomen
• Waist
• Hips
• Buttocks
• Thighs
• Inner Knee
• Calves
• Ankles

Liposuction has proven to be remarkably effective in removing double chins, fatty upper arms, enlarged breasts (male and female), and any excess fat in the abdomen. It is not effective in treating obesity; nor is it a quick-fix remedy for a poor diet and a lack of exercise. Furthermore, to the disappointment of many, it will not help with cellulite. Learn more about San Francisco Liposuction.

The Best Candidates for Liposuction

Liposuction can be performed conveniently for anyone in the Bay Area, and is best suited for those who are in good health and have stubborn fatty deposits resistant to diet and exercise.

Furthermore, liposuction candidates should plan on maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle following the procedure to ensure the best possible results. In arriving at realistic goals for your lipoplasty surgery, you should also take into account several key questions:

• Have you recently had dental surgery?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you suffer from cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure?
• Do you have an under-active or over-active thyroid?
• Do you suffer from Graves’ disease?
• Are you a nonsmoker?
• Do you have any medical conditions that could impair healing from surgery?
• Are you committed to proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, including moderate amounts of physical exercise?
• Can you fully disclose your health history to Dr. Mosser, including current medications, your use of vitamin and herbal supplements, as well as your use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs?

Surgery Specifics—What You Can Expect from Liposuction

Dr. Mosser performs liposuction in several locations in San Francisco. Plastic surgery procedures may be scheduled for the surgery center at 450 Sutter in Union Square, as well as California Pacific Medical Center, and St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco.

The specific surgery you will undergo depends on the unique characteristics of your body, realistic goals that you and Dr. Mosser have agreed on, and the specific conditions you want to correct.

After anesthesia is administered, Dr. Mosser creates tiny incisions – usually no more than ¼ inch in length – in the area containing the fat to be removed. Dr. Mosser then inserts a thin tube called a through the incisions and into the deep fat layer, moving it back and forth to break up unwanted fat cells.

With the help of a vacuum, Dr. Mosser sucks out the fat cells. Because a fair amount of fluid is lost in the process, patients are constantly supplied with intravenous fluids during the procedure.

Following the removal of the fat cells, Dr. Mosser closes the incisions and covers them with medical tape to prevent irritation to the surgical site.

Post Liposuction Recuperation

Immediately following liposuction, compresses may be applied to reduce swelling. Before you are released, Dr. Mosser will explain:

• How to care for your body.
• Medications to take orally in order to reduce pain and the risk of infection.
• How to monitor the surgical site for specific problems.

You will wake up wrapped in bandages and/or a compression garment, and may be groggy for the first day or two from the anesthetic and/or pain medications. You will probably be able to walk and move around fairly easily, although possibly with some soreness. In the first day or two following the procedure, you may have some drainage from the incision site that can be soaked with small pads. This is normal, and will go away rather quickly.

The area around your surgical site will be noticeably swollen in the days following your procedure; however, the majority of the swelling will resolve within a few weeks. All swelling should subside within four to six months. You will also have some minor bruising and/or minor tingling and burning sensations, which will also resolve in a few weeks. You can return to most normal activities within several days of liposuction.

You will also experience some numbness in the treated areas for four to eight weeks, which is normal and will go away with time. Furthermore, you will be instructed to wear a compression garment for six weeks.

It is important that you do not remove it or take a shower before your first post-op appointment. Once approved by Dr. Mosser, you may take the garment off for showering, but must wear it 24 hours per day for three weeks, and either during the night or day for three weeks after that.

Sutures will dissolve or be removed 7-10 days following the procedure, depending on your healing progress. You should not participate in any strenuous physical activity until cleared by Dr. Mosser.