What are the most common liposuction benefits?
- Instant and permanent fat removal
- The ability to target stubborn areas resistant to diet and exercise
- Can be done without general anesthesia
- Extremely high rate of patient satisfaction
- Minimal downtime
Liposuction has been the standard in minimally invasive body contouring for the last 50 years. Liposuction in Charlotte NC is used to sculpt, define, shape, and flatten almost everything from the neck down to the ankles. More recently, fat obtained through liposuction has been used as a natural volume enhancer in areas such as the cheeks, lips, breasts, and buttocks.
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is a method where a layer of fat underneath the skin can instantly and permanently be removed through a small hollow tube referred to as a cannula. Liposuction is great for stubborn areas resistant to diet and exercise such as the belly, love handles, thighs, and bra rolls. Liposuction is often combined with other procedures such as tummy tucks and cosmetic breast surgery to further enhance these results through additional shaping.
Am I a candidate for liposuction?
The best candidates for liposuction are adults who are within about 30 percent of their ideal body weight but who have stubborn pockets of fat they’d love to get rid of—on the stomach, the thighs, the upper arms, etc. For some of these patients, exercise and dieting have usually been done to try and get rid of the fat, but it remains a bother. Skin in the intended area of treatment for liposuction should also have firmness and elasticity to it and not be excessively lax or droopy.
Getting Arm Liposuction
Ideal liposuction candidates meet these criteria:
- Patient is a nonsmoker (or will cease smoking for several weeks before and after the procedure).
- Patient has no significant or advanced illnesses that could prevent healing.
- Patient is not obese.
- Patient is within 30 percent of their ideal body weight.
- Patient has firm and elastic skin in the area he or she intends to have lipo.
- Patient is of sound mind and has realistic expectations for their procedure.
- Patient has not been oversold on the potentials of liposuction as a method of weight loss.
Poor liposuction candidates include:
- Persons with blood disorders.
- Persons who are unhealthy.
- Persons on certain drugs that may cause excessive bleeding.
- Persons who are currently obese.
- Persons with very poor skin elasticity.
Liposuction Testimonial
Liposuction FAQs
I don’t want regular liposuction—I want Smart liposuction.
With the rising popularity of liposuction, devices have emerged to assist the surgeon with fat removal. Techniques such as laser and ultrasound are among such devices. Contrary to popular belief, these devices are used in addition to traditional liposuction and not in lieu of. These devices have at times made the process of physically removing the fat slightly easier for the surgeon; however, in Dr. Pratt’s experience, consistency in results are independent of the device and always related to surgical technique.
Will my skin tighten after the fat is removed with liposuction?
The ideal candidate for liposuction has a youthful, elastic quality to their skin. Because youthful skin has a natural tendency to “bounce back”, it will indeed conform to your new contour. Looser skin, especially skin with stretch marks is not as resilient, and may require a skin removal procedure done in combination with liposuction to optimize your results.
Do I need general anesthesia for liposuction?
Absolutely not. Liposuction can be done effectively with and without a general anesthetic. Our ability to be able to offer both mild sedation or general anesthesia allows Dr. Pratt to tailor your surgery specifically to your needs.
Can you take out the fat and use it somewhere else?
Yes. Fat grafting is one of Dr. Pratt’s specialties, as he routinely incorporates fat grafting as a way to add volume and shape to areas of the body such as the face, breasts, and buttocks. This is routinely done using a mild sedative, or can be incorporated in a more comprehensive surgery like a mommy makeover.
What will recovery entail?
Downtime from liposuction in Charlotte NC typically ranges anywhere from 2 to 5 days, depending on the extent of liposuction performed. A compression garment can easily be worn underneath work clothing, and will be worn for approximately four weeks. Being active is always encouraged after any surgery. Modifications, however, of your normal routine may be required. Dr. Pratt will make recommendations that guide you in your recovery.
Why choose Dr. Pratt in Charlotte, NC?
Dr. Pratt creates a compassionate, all-inclusive atmosphere at his south Charlotte practice where his patients feel that his approach is undeniably comprehensive and tailored specifically to their needs. His philosophy of focusing on what it is required to restore a youthful appearance rather than an unnatural or overdone look has always been his approach to cosmetic surgery. His aesthetic surgery practice has been one almost exclusively based on word of mouth and patient referrals, which is a testament to the quality of his work and consistency in the results.
After receiving his medical degree at the University of Florida, Dr. Pratt completed eight years of surgical training, where he did his general surgery residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC and a plastic surgery fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He maintains his staff plastic surgery privileges at four local Charlotte area hospitals.
He continues to take emergency room and facial trauma call at most of these facilities including the Level One Trauma Center in uptown Charlotte, NC. Bespoke Plastic Surgery and Dr. Pratt are located in the heart of Ballantyne in beautiful south Charlotte, where his private practice is dedicated exclusively to cosmetic surgery of the breast, body, and face.