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Body Contouring (Liposuction)

Over the past decade body liposuction (also known as lipo-contouring, lipoplasty and lipo-sculpting or body sculpturing) has become the most common and popular cosmetic operation performed in the United States.  Liposuction is a technique developed for removal of fatty deposits through very small skin incision.  Liposuction is especially effective for removal of localized, genetically predetermined, fatty deposits that are particularly resistant to dieting and exercise. In women, the most common areas for liposuction (lipocontouring, fat removal) are the abdomen, hips, and the lower extremities. In men the most common areas are the "love handles", the abdomen, and the breasts (gynecomastia, reduction of the male breast).  In women, liposuction may also be used to teduce the breast volume thus avoiding long incisions, but unlike a breast lift or breast reduction this approach does not relocate the nipple/areolar complex into a higher position.  Having used power-assisted liposuction since 1998 with very satisfying results, Dr. Zemplenyi does not find a real need for ultrasonic liposuction, VASER laser or laser- assisted liposuction in his practice at this time.  Should convincing, literature-based evidence of increased efficacy of these techniques becomes available, Dr. Zemplenyi may adopt these additional liposuction technologies in our practice in the Bel-Red Center.  Dr. Zemplenyi also feels that his technique of liposuction yields much quicker and more predictable results than do serial injections of various fat dissolving substances known as (mesotherapy).  At Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Surgery we not only serve patients from Seattle, Bellevue, and the entire Puget Sound region, but patients also travel to see Dr. Zemplenyi from locations as far as Oregon, California, Florida and New York.

Pre-operative Consultation

During your consultation for liposuction, Dr. Zemplenyi will address your cosmetic concerns and will advise you whether liposuction may be the right solution for you.  He wishes you to understand realistic goals, expectations and risks of liposuction so that you are empowered to make an informed decision about a custom tailored procedure that best fits your individual needs. Liposuction is best employed as a contouring body contouring technique as opposed to a weight-loss procedure.

Fat cells extracted by liposuction are permanently removed and do not appear to recur.  However, a stable weight must be maintained following the surgery because weight gain will cause enlargement (increase in volume) of the remaining fat cells elsewhere.  Liposuction is definitely not an alternative to weight loss or exercise.  The best candidates are those people in good health who have localized deposits of fat.  Liposuction also results in contraction of the overlying skin envelope but this effect is not fully predictable. Thus, in some patients with large excess of skin tissue skin contraction is not likely to be enough and an excision of additional skin or skin/fat layer is required, especially on the abdomen.  An abdominoplasty ("tummy-tuck" or "mini tummy-tuck") may be combined with liposuction in selected patients and may be necessary to achieve the desired contour.

Surgery & Anesthesia

Our goal is to perform all surgeries safely without any pain or recollection of the procedure and with the least amount of discomfort, nausea or any other anesthetic side-effects.  Patient's comfort and safety are paramount, and complete monitoring is performed for all patients undergoing any anesthetic.  Since all levels of anesthesia are available in our Medicare-certified surgical center we are able to tailor the technique to patient's needs, desires and wishes.

Since his training in liposuction in 1987 and as a result from his large experience with this procedure over many years, Dr. Zemplenyi's prefers lipoplasty (liposuction) using modified tumescent technique along with power-assisted liposuction, usually administered under sedation anesthesia (twilight sleep) for ultimate patient comfort.  The tumescent technique provides enough numbing for the area so that liposuction can be performed solely under local anesthesia with mild sedation achieved with oral sedative medications. However, at the Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Cosmetic Plastic Surgery we find that most patients, if given a choice, prefer to undergo sedation anesthesia when larger areas of the body are being contoured. In this manner, patients are very comfortable during the operation and have no recollection of the procedure. Yet, at the completion of the surgery the patients are comfortable and ready for discharge home usually within one hour accompanied by a responsible adult.  (Please the section on Anesthesia and Pre-operative instructions).

Using a prudent approach, Dr. Zemplenyi limits the amount of fat to be safely extracted in one session.  Our lipoplasty technique consists of infiltration of a large volume of a very dilute local anesthetic solution into the areas to be contoured suctioned. The fatty layer thus becomes inflated and firm (tumescent). The solution contains Lidocaine to provide numbing, and Epinephrine to constrict blood vessels. With this technique of liposuction little bleeding and bruising are usually  encountered. Special oscillating, power-driven, metal suction tubes (cannulas) of various sizes are inserted into the fatty layer through small skin incisions placed so as to be hidden once healing occurs. The cannulas, attached to a vacuum pump, remove fat as they are passed back and forth into the fatty tissues. The fatty layer becomes very noticeably reduced in volume, and multiple small tunnels are formed.  With liposuction  the overlying skin contracts and contours over the remaining fatty layer muscles by collapse and contraction of the tunnels created in the fatty layer. An improved body contour, with a normal look and feel of the skin is achieved, though minor amounts of skin rippling may persist.  A compressive garment is applied at the end of the procedure.

After Your Surgery

In order to promote contouring of the sculpted areas, patients wear a compressive garment all the time during the first one to two weeks, and then at night for the subsequent several weeks.  The amount of discomfort is moderate and depends on the areas that have been contoured.  Most patients take the prescribed narcotic medications for the first several days and then resort to Tylenol or anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen.  Following liposuction patients are encouraged to walk the night of surgery, and most patients are able to return to work in two to four days, and resume some exercise in about two weeks.  Patients are seen for a check-up in about one week. The small incisions are closed with absorbable sutures, and drainage of fluid from these incisions usually ceases in about two days.  Massage and smoothing out of the suctioned areas with a pastry rolling pin filled with either cold or warm water is may be helpful in some patients.  The final cosmetic result is not achieved for three to four months until resolution small areas of swelling and residual contour irregularities.

Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Surgery has provided Plastic Cosmetic Surgery, Non-Surgical and Reconstructive procedures to satisfied patients in Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Renton, Woodinville and other Greater Seattle / Eastside Washington locations.
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