Overview
For women and men who have isolated areas of fat despite a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Decherd and Dr. Isakson offer liposuction to help slim the body and improve one’s appearance and silhouette. Liposuction is not used for weight loss, nor should it be considered a part of any diet plan, but it can be helpful to reshape a specific body area. Common body parts where liposuction has proven to be successful include the tummy, the outer thighs, inner thighs, and flanks. In order for liposuction to be successful, one needs skin that will retract. After the fat is removed, the skin needs to shrink down to show the new shape. Therefore, San Antonio patients with loose and sagging skin may be better suited for a tummy tuck or other skin-tightening procedures.
Good Candidates
There are good candidates for liposuction, and some patients who it simply will not work for. Patients considering lipo must have relatively good skin tone. For example, if someone has experienced a massive weight loss, liposuction is probably not a good option. A skin-tightening procedure will garner better results. In addition, women who have had children are usually not good candidates for tummy liposuction, although they might be good candidates for outer thigh lipo. The ideal candidate is someone who is in pretty good shape and has a healthy skin tone that has areas that need reshaping. For example, there are some women who are in great shape but who have some fat deposits in the “saddlebag” area of the outer thigh. Removing this fat helps bring this one spot into proportion with the rest of their legs.
Surgical Technique
A common approach for liposuction among experienced surgeons is the tumescent liposuction method. During this procedure, we put in tumescent solution, which includes lidocaine and other medicines to help the process and decrease blood loss. Using a small incision, a metal tube with holes in the end is inserted via a fanning motion; during this process, fat is removed from the affected areas. As the procedure continues, we switch to progressively smaller tubes (cannulas) to prevent contour irregularities.
Liposuction – Dr. Michael Decherd – San Antonio, TX
Before & Afters
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During/After Surgery
Liposuction is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Once the patient is released to go home, they wear a tight compression garment to try and promote skin contraction and help obliterate the potential space where the fat once existed. After a short period of rest, patients are encouraged to move around as best they can in order to promote healthy circulation. Bruising will most likely occur. In most cases, the bruising is gone after a few weeks. Patients will also be swollen, which can last up to 1-2 months. It takes several months for the final results to appear.
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Board Certified, MD
Dr. Decherd
Dr. Decherd is a fourth-generation doctor who chose plastic surgery because he enjoys helping people look and feel their best.
Board Certified, MD
Dr. Isakson
Dr. Isakson is a board-certified plastic surgeon with specialized fellowship training and extensive experience in aesthetic surgery.
