Body Contouring Liposuction (Liposculpture)

Treatment Locations:
-    Abdomen
-    Back and “love handles”
-    Thighs and lower extremities
-    Breasts
-    Arms
-    Neck, chin and jowls of face

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction surgery removes unwanted, localized deposits of fat cells from the body for body contouring. It is not a treatment for obesity. Rather, it is used to improve a person’s silhouette, eliminating stubborn fat deposits that remain despite diet and exercise. Common areas of stubborn fat deposits are thighs, buttocks, and stomach for women, and love handles and stomach for men. However, almost any area of the body can be treated, including the neck, chin, face, breasts, etc. 

Dr. Ilya Reyter specializes in performing liposuction. He is an expert in doing liposuction using only local anesthesia, known as tumescent anesthesia, thereby avoiding the risks associated with general anesthetics. Dr. Reyter is on clinical faculty at the Keck School of Medicine, at the University of Southern California (USC), where he teaches other physicians to perform this procedure.

The liposuction procedure is performed using thin instruments, known as cannulas. These cannulas are inserted through tiny 1-2 millimeter incisions placed in inconspicuous locations on the skin. Using a high pressure vacuum, unwanted fat cells are carefully extracted as the cannula is moved back and forth. The result is that bulging areas of excess fat are flattened, and an improved contour of the body is achieved.

What is the Tumescent Technique?

Liposuction was revolutionized by the invention of the tumescent technique nearly two decades ago. The modern tumescent liposuction technique was invented and pioneered by a dermatologist and represents one of the most significant contributions to the field of cosmetic surgery. The tumescent technique is the safest form of liposuction and reduces the risks of the procedure, including bruising, pain, and downtime compared to liposuction under general anesthesia. Large volumes of saline solution mixed with the local anesthetic lidocaine and epinephrine (adrenaline) are infused into the regions of excessive fat deposits. The expansion of the fat layer with the dilute local anesthetic numbs the fat, constricts the blood vessels to minimize bleeding, and enables Dr. Reyter to safely remove unwanted fat and achieve rapid patient recovery.

Who are the best candidates?

The best candidates for body liposuction and liposculpture have localized fat deposits disproportionate to the rest of their bodies, good skin elasticity, and are in good health. They will have tried to eliminate the fat bulges through diet, exercise, and weight loss, but have reached a point where no further progress is being made. Also, the best candidates for this procedure are patients that have realistic expectations. Liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss, and the ideal candidate should be, at most, only slightly to moderately overweight. Generally, if a person will be satisfied with a 50% improvement in their silhouette, then liposuction is a good option for them. 

How will my skin look after surgery?

After liposuction, your skin will look similar to how it would have looked if you were able to lose the same volume of fat through diet and exercise alone. Skin imperfections present before liposuction, such as stretch marks, dimples and ripples, will likely remain unchanged following the procedure. Marks from the procedure itself are minimized by the use of very thin cannulas, measuring only several millimeters in width. These thin cannulas also allow the fibrous connections between your skin and body to remain and will facilitate tightening of skin with good elasticity. In some patients with hanging skin, liposuction can provide reduction of the hanging skin. However, in patients with very large amounts of excessive skin and poor elasticity, a skin excision and muscle tightening procedure may be suggested.

What will my recovery be like?

An expert in liposuction, Dr. Reyter uses only local anesthesia to perform the procedure, so the recovery is rapid, and you will avoid the usual hangover feeling and nausea experienced after general anesthesia. Post operative pain is typically so minimal that most patients report needing no pain medications after liposuction. Dr. Reyter recommends that patients go home to rest at home for a few hours after the treatment. Afterwards, activity may be increased as tolerated. With the local anesthesia technique, most patients are able to resume normal activities within 48 hours, and to resume an exercise routine within two to five days.

What areas can be treated by liposuction?

In men, the areas most frequently treated with liposuction are the "love handles", abdomen, chest, and neckline. In women, they include abdomen, waist, hips, lower back, inner and outer thighs, knees, breasts, and neck. Patients with age related volume loss often elect to have a fat transfer procedure simultaneously performed, whereby the removed fat is transferred to the areas of fat atrophy on the face, thereby restoring a youthful appearance.

How are the benefits of liposuction measured?

The results of liposuction are measured in lost inches not in lost pounds. This is a technique designed to improve the contour and silhouette of the body by focusing on stubborn fat collections. While the weight of the fat removed may not be great, the resulting change in body shape can simulate a dramatic weight reduction. Prior to beginning the procedure, Dr. Reyter takes great care to mark the areas of concern for the patient, and plans a treatment that will make the most dramatic improvement in body shape. Cosmetically speaking, successful liposuction is measured in reduction of clothing size and changes in how clothing fits rather than by pounds of weight.

Is the fat removal permanent?

Tumescent liposuction permanently removes fat cells to improve your body's contour. Commonly, people ask Dr. Reyter what will happen should they gain some weight after liposuction. With careful fat removal technique, mild weight increases should not result in significant shift of fat to other areas. However, excessive weight gain after surgery may cause accumulation of fat in untreated body areas. Patients prone to wild fluctuations in body weight are therefore not ideal candidates for liposuction. 

Will I need a second procedure?

After performing numerous procedures and teaching liposuction for years, Dr. Reyter is able to achieve most patients’ desired results in just one carefully performed treatment. However, some patients may require a fine tuning touch-up within the first year. 

Will liposuction get rid of cellulite?

Unfortunately, there is no real effective treatment for cellulite. Liposuction will not eliminate cellulite, although many patients do notice an improvement in the appearance of their cellulite after the fat cells are removed and the contour of their body is changed. Yet, if the skin is not perfectly smooth before the procedure, it will likely not be perfectly smooth after the procedure.