Liposuction Mobile, AL
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According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 203,100 liposuction cases were performed in the US in 2010. Surgical removal of unwanted fat goes by many names, such as liposuction, suction-assisted lipectomy, lipo, and lipoplasty. The intent of liposuction is to remove fat in areas unresponsive to diet and exercise. Problem areas may affect how clothing fits and how one feels about one’s appearance.
What Should You Expect During Liposuction?
Randy Proffitt, MD, FACS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, uses two techniques to perform liposuction in his Mobile office. He was the first doctor on the Gulf Coast to use ultrasonic liposuction, which uses ultrasonic vibrations to break up fat cells, making it easier to suction out the unwanted fat.
Dr. Proffitt also uses the tumescent technique, which involves instilling a saline solution mixed with both a local anesthetic and adrenaline in the area to be suctioned. Adrenaline constricts blood vessels and reduces bruising, while local anesthetic helps minimize postoperative pain. Using smaller cannulas and other instruments yields a smoother appearance and fewer irregularities than was initially seen when liposuction was first developed.
However, Dr. Proffitt does not offer laser liposuction. This liposuction method directly transfers heat and may cause burns and unsightly scarring.
Where Does Dr. Proffitt Perform Surgery?
Dr. Proffitt performs most liposuction cases involving the abdomen, thighs, hips, arms, and back under general anesthesia at an outpatient facility. The areas to be liposuctioned are meticulously marked before surgery. The incisions are tiny, and sutures are absorbed.
Immediately after your procedure, Dr. Proffitt will place a compression garment (a girdle) on you to help keep swelling at a minimum. The girdle must be worn for six weeks. Dr. Proffitt performs liposuction under general anesthesia with the supervision of a board-certified anesthesiologist. Small areas such as neck, knees, and touchups are done locally in the office.
Before & After photos
* Individual results may vary.
How Long Will Recovery Take?
Your first postoperative appointment will be approximately three to four days after your surgery. At that time, Dr. Proffitt will examine you and let you return to normal activities. You may also remove the compression garment to shower, but it should be worn all other times for the next six weeks. You may feel bruised and sore for several weeks. Strenuous activity should wait for three weeks after surgery.
What Are the Risks?
- You may have some contour irregularity. Although infrequent, it is easily corrected under local in the office.
- Infections from liposuction procedures are very rare. Dr. Proffitt has never encountered one in his 20 years of practice.
- Infrequently, excessive bruising may occur.
What Results Should I Expect?
Even though you may see immediate results, the final contour may take three to six months. To learn more about liposuction in Mobile, Alabama, please contact the office of Dr. Randy Proffitt, board-certified plastic surgeon. Call our plastic surgery practice at 251-344-0322 or send us an email to learn more about liposuction in Mobile, Alabama.
More information about Liposuction – by Dr. Randy Proffitt
I couldn’t have even imagined that it was possible to achieve these results. Doctor Profitt removed almost 3 kilos of fat and almost 3 kilos of loose skin. The new belly button he made is a masterpiece. The stomach is flat and I finally got a waist. The liposuction results are great too. The staff at his office are all very nice and helpful. Whenever I needed more painkillers I simply called them up and they prepared another prescription right away. All the follow up appts were great too. They do make you feel special 🙂 doctor Profitt is gonna treat you individually. He’s very kind and thorough in what he does. I’d recommend Dr. Profitt to anyone.
How is liposuction performed?
I like to use the tumescent (infusing a solution into the area to be suctioned) technique and occasionally ultrasonic liposuction. The areas most commonly performed include the abdomen, thighs, hips, arms, and back, as well as inner thighs, and occasionally touch up on the lateral chest wall during or after breast surgery.
Liposuction is usually done under general anesthesia with the patient asleep so they have maximum comfort during the procedure. The tumescent fluid is instilled. Usually, I place local anesthetic (which helps with discomfort after surgery) as well as adrenaline (which helps reduce blood loss during the procedure) in the tumescent fluid. How much depends on how large the area is and how much I will remove.
Usually, I like the tumescent fluid instilled to equal the amount of fat I expect to take out. For instance, in the abdomen, if I estimate that I’m going to take out about a liter and a half of fat, then I will instill a liter and a half of tumescent fluid.
After the tumescent fluid is in place and the 7-10 minutes for the epinephrine to take effect has passed, I make three small incisions on the abdomen—one at the top of the umbilicus (belly button) and then two at the lower aspect of the abdomen on either side. Then, the liposuction is performed in the abdomen through these ¼ inch incisions.
Whether or not I use ultrasonic liposuction, the incisions remain small and are closed with absorbable sutures. Once the liposuction is done, the patient is placed into a girdle before awakening in the operating room. I do not use any drains at all.
The amount of time it takes depends on how many areas are liposuction. For instance, the abdomen alone takes one hour. Suppose we’re doing two areas, such as the hips, or what I call the saddlebags, or the lateral thighs, in addition to the abdomen. In that case, these are done in the prone position with the patient lying on their stomach, and changing position adds approximately 15 minutes to the procedure.
The patient goes home once the anesthesia has worn off in an hour or two and follows up in my office in approximately four days. After three days, patients are instructed to remove the girdle and shower/wash all incisions. All that needs to be applied to the incisions are small band-aids. The girdle is immediately put back on and should be worn for six weeks, day and night, except to shower.
Regarding restrictions, I typically tell patients they can expect to be off work for approximately three to four days. So, if the patient has the procedure on a Thursday, they will be back at work or school by that Monday. Strenuous exercise should be curtailed for at least 3 weeks.
Who are good candidates for liposuction?
In general, liposuction is intended for those areas of stubborn fat that the patient cannot get rid of by diet and exercise alone. With the tumescent solution, the procedure has minimal bruising, and the additional tumescent technique helps alleviate discomfort. Once six weeks are up, the patient can go without the girdle. I do tell patients that they may see an additional reduction in size for up to six months.
How Much Does Liposuction Cost?
The overall cost of liposuction in Mobile, AL, is affected by anesthesia fees, hospital fees, post-surgery garments, and medications. Price is also impacted by medical tests, surgeon’s fees, and the exact techniques employed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liposuction
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Get the sculpted body you have always wanted. Achieve your dream body, starting with liposuction. If you have questions about liposuction in Mobile, Alabama, or would like to book a consultation, please contact Randy Proffitt, MD, FACS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, today.