Liposuction

Most patients will experience minimal discomfort after their liposuction procedure. The use of anesthesia certainly helps reduce any pain or discomfort that you may experience during the liposuction process.

For any discomfort post-surgery, Dr. Li will provide you with pain relief medication prescriptions as well as be available for any follow-up questions and/or concerns to help you through a safe and comfortable recovery.

VASER stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance.  It is a technology that delivers ultrasound waves to tissues which in isolation does not remove fat per se, but it helps to disrupt the bonds between fat cells and liquify it, making it easier to remove with subsequent liposuction.  VASER also allows fat to be removed from areas where it tends to be more tethered (superficial fat), allowing for the creation of muscular definition and etching.  In general, when VASER is used in the right hands, it tends to create smoother liposuction results.

Renuvion is a radiofrequency and helium gas-based energy device that is often paired with liposuction.  It is applied underneath the skin after liposuction and helps to shrink the connective tissue bands between the skin and muscle, which are left over after fat has been removed.  Contraction of these bands results in immediate reduction in skin laxity, however, results also improve over time as the energy causes new collagen to develop in treated areas.

The number of appointments you will need for liposuction will depend on the complexity of your case. Dr. Li will want you to return to remove any drains as well as to monitor your progress. 

The initial healing period will have significant swelling and while contour improvement is already present, the final body shape and contours will take months of healing time, patience, and lymphatic massages before appearing.  It is also important to maintain results after surgery by continuing to eat well and exercise, to avoid refractory weight gain and muscle loss.

Liposuction only requires tiny incisions, a few millimeters wide, across the treatment area for the cannula to enter your body. This means that the scars are small. Furthermore, a skilled and experienced surgeon like Dr. Li will smartly hide all incisions in concealed areas and underneath skin folds whenever possible to ensure minimal scar visibility.

You can start walking right away but any strenuous exercise will have to wait four weeks, especially high-intensity cardiovascular exercises.

Absolutely! Most of our patients who receive Liposuction in Los Gatos, San Jose, and the Bay Area will combine it with a Tummy Tuck or Brazilian Butt Lift and even with a Breast Augmentation. If you have any personal desires or aesthetic goals you’d like to achieve, please discuss them with Dr. Li during your consultation and he can guide you on the best approach for combined procedures.

There are some potential risks and side effects that can occur with Liposuction which are important to disclose. These include but are not limited to:

• Blood clots
• Bruising
• Change in skin sensation that may persist
• Internal scarring
• Fluid retention
• Infection
• Contour irregularities or asymmetries
• Rippling or loose skin, worsening of cellulite
• Risks from anesthesia
• Thermal burn or heat injury from ultrasound

If you observe any of these side effects or anything out of the ordinary, please contact our office right away so that we may help you.

When looking for the right Liposuction plastic surgeon, it is not a decision that should be made in haste. It is important to seek out surgeons with board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which means he or she has undergone a rigorous board certification process by the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Other things that are worth considering include how many years of experience they have, their ability to achieve results consistently, and if they have any specific expertise and access to modern technologies such as VASER and Renuvion.  Finally, while it shouldn’t be a determining factor, a good bedside manner, and positive personality always help!

Remember, this procedure is for YOU and it’s important that you are comfortable with whomever you choose.