liposuction utah

Liposuction Salt Lake City, Utah

A very common cosmetic surgery procedure is liposuction. Liposuction is designed to permanently remove fatty tissue on the body.  It is an elective procedure that allows the plastic surgeon to remove undesirable, subcutaneous fat in isolated areas that do not respond to diet and exercise. The areas where liposuction is commonly performed include, but are not limited to, the hips, thighs, abdomen, knees, ankles, face and neck.

Liposuction is most successful in people with good skin tone. Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity. Rather, healthy choices in both diet and activity are recommended to maintain optimal results from liposuction. To ensure the safety of the patients, there is a limit on how much fatty tissue can be removed at one time.

Liposuction in our Salt Lake City office is usually done under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis in our AAAASF certified surgical suite. Dr. Petersen makes small, discreet incisions in the areas to be treated. A cannula (metal wand tool) is inserted through the incision and attached to a suction machine. The total time for liposuction will vary depending on the number of areas treated. Liposuction is frequently combined with other cosmetic procedures such as abdominoplasty.

As mentioned, liposuction is not a fix-all cosmetic surgery to fix obesity. A variety of factors can affect the results of liposuction. These factors include physical condition, genetic makeup, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, and skin elasticity.


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Recovery

liposuction

After the procedure, expect a fair amount of swelling and bruising in the two weeks following liposuction. Special garments that we provide must be worn preceding the cosmetic surgery. These garments will apply pressure to minimize swelling, provide support while healing, and assist in the reaction of the skin. These garments should be worn for up to six weeks.

Results may be noticeable almost immediately and as swelling subsides, the results will continue to improve. We encourage you to be up and walking soon after surgery. Increase your activity daily until full activity is resumed at 2-4 weeks. You will be ready to return to office work in 2-5 days or for more active employment, 10-14 days. Avoid the sun until all bruising has subsided. Sunscreen should be used routinely because it’s easy to get sunburned during recovery due to decreased sensation.

Possible Complications

As with any cosmetic surgical procedure, complications can occur. Cosmetic surgery complications include contour irregularities, skin discoloration, asymmetry, scar tissue, tape burns, collection of blood or fluid under the skin. Uncommon complications include loss of sensation, skin breakdown, fat embolism, serious infection or shock. Bleeding does occur during liposuction. There is a limit to the amount of fat that can be safely removed in a given procedure. These complications are not common and can be addressed.

Following liposuction, the scars will go through a maturation process. During the first 8-12 weeks, they may be red and possibly raised. The scars will mature over 12 months and become pale, flat and soft. You may experience numbness, burning, tingling around the incision site, but these symptoms are almost always temporary. Please let us know if you are prone to keloid scars.

Give our Salt Lake City office a call today at 801-261-5791 to set up your consultation and get the fatty tissue ridden from your body by using a safe cosmetic surgery procedure. And let us help you see yourself from a new perspective.


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