Liposuction Gainesville, Florida

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction, also referred to as lipoplasty, is performed to remove excess fat and adjust the contour, shape, and size of various areas of the body. Liposuction is not meant to be a weight loss procedure but rather a means of eliminating pockets of fat from the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, upper arms, and facial area that do not respond to exercise or a healthy diet.

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What are the different types of Liposuction?

There are a number of different liposuction methods available, such as tumescent injection liposuction and ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, designed to meet a patient’s needs given the amount of fat that needs to be removed and other factors. During your consultation at our clinic, Dr. Gaines will determine the liposuction method best for you.

360 Liposuction refers to liposuction that is done 360° around the body. It incorporates liposuction to all of the areas generally treated during a Brazilian Butt Lift (abdomen, flanks, waist, lower back, lateral thighs, medial thighs) without the extra step of purifying that fat and injecting it back into the buttocks. This procedure is particularly good for patients who already have a moderate amount of volume in the right distribution in their buttocks, but still want to accentuate this area. This is also a great procedure for those who may not be able to accommodate the activity restrictions necessary for a BBL.

The Liposuction Procedure

During the liposuction procedure, Dr. Gaines inserts a cannula or tube through a tiny incision. Using the cannula, liposuction specialist Dr. Gregory Gaines breaks up walls of excess fat and then extracts these fat deposits using vacuum suction.

Liposuction Recovery

When you visit our practice, we will be able to provide you with more in-depth post-surgical instructions following liposuction. In general, it is recommended that patients refrain from strenuous physical activity for approximately a month to allow your body to heal. It should also be noted that some post-surgical swelling may last up to six months after liposuction.

What makes an ideal candidate for the procedure?

Liposuction is a great treatment option for healthy adults who want to reduce pockets of fat from one or more areas of the body. Stubborn fat can cause a significant amount of frustration. You may not feel good in the clothes you like to wear. You may avoid wearing a bathing suit, short sleeves, or shorts. If you are healthy and within 30% (about 20 pounds) of your ideal body weight for your height, you may be a good candidate for liposuction. To achieve the best results, it is helpful to also have good skin elasticity and muscle tone. If you smoke and you would like to have liposuction, now is a great time to start avoiding tobacco products altogether. This will allow your body to be adequately prepared for surgery and the recovery that comes after. Finally, the best candidates for liposuction know what their body contouring goals are and what their reasoning is for wanting to improve their shape. It is important to keep in mind that liposuction does not treat cellulite. If this is the primary reason for wanting surgical body contouring, another option may need to be considered.

Dr. Gaines prioritizes patient comfort and satisfaction. During your consultation, you and he will discuss your goals, your expectations, and the scope of improvement that liposuction can achieve.

Is liposuction a weight loss procedure?

No. It is imperative that patients recognize liposuction as purely a body contouring procedure. Yes, it works by removing some fat cells in a localized area. However, a patient's weight after liposuction is not likely to be much different than it was before surgery. What will be different is their shape! Removing fat cells via liposuction isn't about the scale, it's about the mirror.

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How much fat can be removed?

There are limitations to the amount of fat that can be removed in a single liposuction procedure. Generally, doctors remove three to four liters of volume from one or more treatment areas. Anything more than this increases surgical and recovery risks. Three to four liters of volume can amount to six to eight pounds. Patients should understand that, because we look at liposuction as a body contouring procedure, we may not recommend removing the max amount of fat in every situation. Often, the best results are achieved by removing less than the maximum amount. Furthermore, the conservative removal of fat can protect the patient from unnecessary surgical risks.

What are the risks of the procedure?

Liposuction is a minimally-invasive procedure with relatively few risks. That said, patients should undergo liposuction only from a surgeon with ample training and experience. A thoroughly trained, experienced, and careful physician knows how to mitigate risks such as:

  • Contour irregularities due to uneven fat removal
  • Skin discoloration due to damage from the movement of the surgical cannula
  • Fluid accumulation in the surgical area
  • Infection
  • Prolonged numbness in the treatment area
  • Damage to surrounding tissue or internal organs
  • Excessive fluid removal that results in kidney or heart problems

Can Liposuction surgery be combined with other procedures?

Liposuction is sometimes performed in combination with tummy tuck / abdominoplasty. At our Gainesville clinic, we can determine if liposuction is the best treatment to meet your needs or if an alternative procedure may be used instead.

See what our patients are saying…

"Dr. Gaines and his staff are very professional, and courteous. They went above and beyond what my expectations were. I had considered going to another doctor in the area, but after researching, I decided to go to Gaines Plastic Surgery. His bedside manners are great! He proves that he truly cares about his patients, and the treatment he provides. I highly recommend anyone wanting to have surgery done to consider Gaines Plastic Surgery. He and his staff are amazing!!"

- Anonymous

What Areas of the Body Can Liposuction Treat?

Liposuction is commonly performed on areas of the body that tend to harbor unwanted fat regardless of diet and exercise. While known to sculpt the midsection by removing excess abdominal fat, liposuction can be performed on many more areas of the body. These include:

  • Chin and neck
  • Flanks and hips
  • Muffin top
  • "Side boob" area of the breasts
  • Male breasts
  • Inner and outer thighs
  • Just above the knees
  • Calves
  • Backs of the arms
  • Back fat

Do Men Get Liposuction?

Men absolutely do get liposuction! It's common to envision how liposuction can help a woman achieve the slimmer, more feminine curves that she craves. Men, on the other hand, don't have to suffer in silence when unwanted fat is lingering on any part of the body. While the procedure itself is performed in the same manner on both men and women, the difference that we see in our patients is that men often want to target different areas or achieve a different overall aesthetic.

Some of the goals that we help men accomplish through targeted liposuction include:

  • Achieving a more sculpted-looking midsection
  • Enhancing the definition of the chin and jawline 
  • Eliminating enlarged breasts (gynecomastia)

Will Liposuction Achieve Permanent Results?

The goal of liposuction is to enhance the body and facial contours through the elimination of excess fatty tissue. The procedure permanently removes the unwanted fat cells, up to several liters of them. In this sense, the results of liposuction are permanent. You won't gain any new fat cells after your procedure. That said, it's important to maintain habits that support weight stability after you receive liposuction. Arguably, weight management through healthy eating and regular exercise is the primary way to enjoy prolonged effects from your body contouring procedure. Also, the aging process will inevitably, at some point, affect your physical appearance. This may not relate to your weight but to the ongoing decrease in tissue firmness and elasticity.

When Can I Work Out After Having Liposuction?

It's important to engage in healthy lifestyle habits in order to maintain the results of liposuction body contouring. At the same time, it's also imperative that you not rush this process. Your body may require up to six weeks to fully recover from your liposuction procedure. Until you receive full clearance from your doctor, you mustn't return to your normal exercise routine. Doing too much too soon after liposuction can significantly increase the risk of infection, poor wound healing, poor scarring, bleeding, bruising, hematoma, seroma, and other avoidable complications.

In general, your post-surgical recovery period, as it pertains to exercise, may look like this:

  • You can engage in light walking right away. Walking promotes blood flow and can help prevent blood clots after surgery. You can walk as soon as you feel well enough, and should walk five to 10 minutes a few times a day. As you regain your energy, you can increase this duration. However, keep it light. No powerwalking.
  • You may resume some aerobic activity a few weeks after your liposuction procedure. More rigorous aerobic exercise may resume about four weeks after surgery. When you begin running, jumping rope, cycling, or other aerobic activities, do so with great care. If you notice pain or lack of stamina, don't push it. Build back to your normal level of intensity slowly to achieve the greatest gains. 
  • Resistance training or strength training. Resistance training is an integral aspect of improving muscle tone and body contouring. You may receive clearance for this type of exercise at about four weeks post-op. However, you may need to postpone exercises that target the treatment area for as long as eight weeks. For example, if you've had liposuction on your midsection, you may be cleared to perform squats and other leg exercises but not crunches or other forms of abdominal conditioning. 

Schedule Your Liposuction Consultation Today!

Liposuction can remove excess fat and restore youthful contours to different areas of the body. Gainesville plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Gaines can use liposuction to treat the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, and upper arms. It only leaves slight scarring.

Feeling wholly confident in your skin can be life-changing. If you feel that you might benefit from liposuction, and would like to learn more about the procedure, call (352) 333-9600 or fill out the Consultation Request Form on this page to schedule your personalized appointment with Dr. Gaines today!

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What happens in a consultation?

01. Get to know Dr. Gaines and our aesthetics team.
02. Discuss your personal concerns and goals.
03. Receive a personalized procedure plan.

“From consultation to recovery Dr. Gaines and his staff were fantastic! My surgery was a breast reduction with a lift and I am beyond happy with my results. The surgery changed my life!”

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