Liposuction Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on by Y. Anthony Nakamura

Liposuction is a popular cosmetic procedure. This minimally invasive procedure removes stubborn, unwanted fat from areas like your stomach, thighs, back, arms, and legs. If you plan to get liposuction, knowing what you should and shouldn’t do in preparation and recovery can help you have an overall good experience with the liposuction process, start to finish.

Be Sure to Research

Before you ever consider going through the liposuction process, research the procedure and licensed medical facilities to get it performed. This will help you to determine whether the procedure is right for you and your goals.

Liposuction will help you get fat out of the areas where you want to contour your shape, but is not a suitable solution for weight loss. If after liposuction you have a lot of excess skin, you may want to consider adding in another procedure, such as a tummy tuck, to achieve the most naturally beautiful results. Do some research and speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Nakamura to find out more.

Following Aftercare Instructions

Once you undergo liposuction, you will want to ensure that you follow all of your plastic surgeon’s postoperative instructions. It is typically effortless to recover from liposuction. However, as every person and procedure is unique, always listen to everything Dr. Nakamura recommends to make sure that you heal quickly and correctly.

The most important advice that your plastic surgeon will give you is when to start moving around. Going on short walks, for example, encourages blood flow and help to minimize the risk of blood clots.

Within two weeks, you should be able to resume your normal activities. You will likely need to wait around six weeks to do things like heavy lifting and strenuous workouts. Dr. Nakamura may also recommend that you wear a compression garment to help to minimize swelling.

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle and Weight

Make sure you understand that liposuction is not a weight-loss cure. Just because some fat has been removed doesn’t prevent fat deposits from forming in the future. Also, if you put on too much weight, even the areas treated with liposuction will begin to get fat again. You want to make sure that you eat healthily and try to maintain your weight.

Instant Results Will Not Happen

One thing to keep in mind is to not expect that as soon as you have liposuction, you will have the body of your dreams. First of all, areas treated with liposuction may have some swelling for up to 5 weeks. And even after the swelling goes down, you may not have the exact figure you want. In most cases, you will not see full results until 6 to 12 months after liposuction. Getting and maintaining the figure that you love will also take eating healthy and exercise and time to heal.

Asking Questions

Dr. Nakamura welcomes questions of all types from his patients. He’s here to help you through the liposuction process and answer any questions and concerns you may have. Some people may think they shouldn’t bother their surgeon with simple questions, but this is necessary to make sure you know everything about the procedure and the recovery.

Armed with a little information and the help of a great plastic surgeon like Dr. Nakamura, your liposuction procedure will be a significant success. Just remember to ask questions, research, and follow all of the doctor’s instructions.

Interested in learning more about liposuction? Please call Accent On You at 817-417-7200 or contact us online. We are here to help you get the body of your dreams!

How to Achieve a Sculpted Waist

Posted on by Y. Anthony Nakamura

Hoping for a sculpted, toned waist drives many people to the gym or new diet plans. However, sometimes genetics or other factors such as the effects of pregnancy make it difficult to achieve the body contour you’re looking for no matter how much you exercise. For these patients, there are several procedure options available that offer a sculpted waist. Depending on whether you’re dealing with stubborn fat, loose skin, or both, your surgeon may recommend one treatment over another to help contour your waist.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a procedure chosen when the midsection has loose skin, damaged tissue, and excess fat. This is commonly caused by the rapid change in size during pregnancy or significant weight loss. During a tummy tuck, a long horizontal incision is made from hip to hip, as well as around the belly button so it can be repositioned and remain natural looking after the procedure is complete. Excess skin throughout the abdomen is removed and the abdominal muscles are tightened to create a smooth, tight, and toned appearance. Excess fat can also be removed during a tummy tuck using liposuction.

Mini Tummy Tuck

For patients with less extreme loose skin or excess tissue through the abdomen, a mini tummy tuck is available. A mini tummy tuck is focused on the lower abdomen alone, and reduces excess skin only below the belly button. The main benefit of this procedure compared to a full tummy tuck is reduced downtime and an easier recovery period overall. Your surgeon will recommend which type of tummy tuck is best for you after a consultation.

Waist Tuck

A waist tuck is similar to a tummy tuck procedure, but the incision extends around the waist and hip area to reduce excess tissue in these parts of the body. Often, patients choose this procedure because they want to reduce the appearance of a “muffin top.” Another benefit of the waist tuck is that the procedure can slightly lift the buttocks in addition to sculpting the abdomen, hips, and waist.

Liposuction

Liposuction has been in use for many years, and updated technology means the procedure is safer and more effective than ever.

Liposuction works by inserting a cannula below the skin through a small incision, which is used to manually break apart fat cells and suction them away. In some cases, Accent on You also uses VASER liposuction, in which an ultrasonic probe is used to “melt” fat before suctioning it away, which can reduce trauma and bleeding through the procedure.

Liposuction can be used strategically to contour the body, creating a balanced contour and the sculpted, curvy waist that you’re looking for.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re interested in sculpting your waist and unsure of which procedure is ideal for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Nakamura at Accent on You. He will work to understand your goals and recommend a treatment plan that will be most effective in addressing your concerns. To schedule your appointment, call our office at (817) 417-7200 or request your consultation online.