Dr. Charlotte Ann Rhee is a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Huntington, Long Island NY that specializes in liposuction surgery.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction, also known as lipo, is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure used to remove localized areas of fat from the body through a small thin tube called a cannula. The fat from the targeted area is suctioned from the body through this tube to help patients achieve a slim and balanced appearance. Liposuction is a popular procedure and is often used in the combination mommy makeover procedure. Other involved procedures include tummy tuck and breast lift surgery.
Ideal Candidates for Liposuction
Most patients make for good candidates for this generally safe procedure. Ideal candidates for liposuction include patients who are:
- In good overall health
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Struggling with unresponsive fat deposits
- Realistic about procedure results
- Not looking for a weight loss substitute
It is very important for patients to remember that liposuction cannot be used as a means for major weight loss. It is instead used to remove localized areas of stubborn fat after the patient has attempted other natural weight loss methods.
How Is Liposuction Performed?
There are several different techniques currently available for patients seeking liposuction treatment. New technologies have improved the accuracy of this procedure for both patient and doctor, and allow patients to achieve their desired results through a much less invasive procedure. Liposuction is performed through a tumescent technique, and may also include the assistance of ultrasound imaging or laser energy.
Can Liposuction Be Combined With Other Cosmetic Procedures?
This procedure may be performed alone, or can be combined with other cosmetic procedures, such as a facelift, breast reduction or tummy tuck, to achieve maximum results.
Patient Testimonial for Dr. Rhee
When Will I See Results After Liposuction?
The results of the liposuction procedure may not be visible until after swelling and bruising subside. This may take several months, and results will appear gradually throughout this time.
Is Liposuction Permanent?
The results of liposuction can be permanent, as long as patients maintain a healthy and active life. If substantial weight is gained after this procedure, the results may be altered. Liposuction should not be used as an alternative to a healthy lifestyle. In cases where patients do not continue to eat healthy and exercise, the fat deposits tend to return.
Recovery After Liposuction: What To Expect
After the liposuction procedure, patients may experience mild swelling, bruising and discomfort in the treated area. Compression garments or elastic bandages may be used to help reduce these symptoms while the area heals.
Dr. Rhee will give you special instructions on how to care for your treated area and reduce any complications after the procedure.
When Can I Return To Normal Activity After Liposuction?
Patients can return to work and other regular activities as soon as they feel comfortable, which is usually after a few days. Exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for a few weeks.
Is There Anything I Need to Do to Prepare for Liposuction?
Although liposuction is not an overly invasive procedure compared to what it used to be, patients still need to follow the pre-procedure protocols for surgery. This means not smoking for two weeks prior to your procedure and for at least two weeks after. You’ll need to stop taking aspirin or other medications or supplements that can reduce the ability of your blood to clot. This will limit your bruising. Depending on the area or areas Dr. Rhee is treating, you may want to prepare for a few days of laying low. You’ll be able to walk and get about, but you probably won’t feel like going to the store or doing other chores for a few days.
How Can I Maintain My Results from Liposuction?
Liposuction permanently removes fat cells. They are gone for good. If you don’t gain a ton of weight, you will not build new fat cells and you will maintain your results for the remainder of your life. It’s important to mind your eating and lifestyle choices if you want to truly benefit from your new slimmer contour for the long haul. If you gain weight, the weight doesn’t usually initially build in the areas treated, as many of the fat cells have been removed. But other fat cells can expand and if you gain enough weight new fat cells can be created.
Once most patients see their new slimmer contour, they want to make the necessary lifestyle changes to maintain them. Eating a healthy diet, making exercise a part of your life, and simply staying active are all you’ll need to do to maintain your slimmer contours for the rest of your life.
Body Contouring Recovery with BodyFly
During recovery, patients should be wearing compression garments in order to reduce swelling and bleeding. For those that want more than the average surgical bra can look to BodyFly. BodyFly is a line of body shaping activewear for patients that are recovering from breast or body surgical procedures. Dr. Rhee founded this company in 2016 to offer patients wardrobe options that incorporate compression benefits with fashion.
Additionally, BodyFly can benefit patients that have not had surgery or are recovered during their regular workouts. Our technology offers moisture wicking fabric, excellent breathability, enhanced circulation and a reduction in soreness which leads to longer stamina while exercising. Let BodyFly enhance your workout while supporting your body. For more information visit here.
Is Liposuction Painful?
Modern liposuction has come a long way from when it was first introduced in the U.S. in the 1980s. At that time, liposuction was a pretty violent procedure that caused extensive bruising, tissue trauma, and blood loss. Patients needed to be under general anesthesia because the doctor had to move the cannula back and forth quite aggressively to break loose the fat.
Today, liposuction with Dr Rhee is much easier. The procedure is typically performed under sedation or “twilight” anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. She uses the tumescent technique, where a saline solution containing lidocaine is first injected into the target areas to minimize the pain and firm the fat, making it easier to remove. The solution also contains epinephrine to constrict the blood vessels, limiting blood loss and bruising. A cannula is then inserted to suction out the fat and liquid. The cannulas used in modern liposuction are much smaller, so the corresponding incisions needed to access the fat pockets are very small, usually not even requiring stitches.
Thanks to these changes, liposuction procedures with Dr. Rhee are quite easy to take. Recovery is fast, bruising is much less than it formerly was, and patients generally only need over the counter pain medication to handle the soreness of the procedure. This is not acute pain, and it is easy to manage.
Will Liposuction Leave Noticeable Scarring?
Because Dr. Rhee can use very small cannulas, she doesn’t need to make lengthy incisions to gain access to the targeted areas. In most cases, the incisions made are only 4 to 5 mm long, less than a quarter of an inch. These tiny incisions fade over time and become virtually invisible.
Will I Have Loose or Sagging Skin After I Have Liposuction?
Liposuction performed by inexperienced doctors can result in areas of loose, sagging skin. That’s because the practitioner didn’t gauge the elasticity of the patient’s skin prior to moving ahead with the liposuction.
As a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Rhee has extensive experience with both liposuction and plastic surgery to remove loose, sagging skin. During your consultation for liposuction, Dr. Rhee will examine the skin and support tissue in the areas you’re seeking to address. If she feels your skin has adequate elasticity, she will recommend liposuction. Your skin’s elasticity will allow it to tighten down to the slimmer contour once the underlying fat is removed.
However, if Dr. Rhee feels you have loose, sagging skin in the area, liposuction is not the right treatment approach. Removing fat under this loose skin will only make it looser. For these patients, surgery to remove the loose skin (possibly in combination with some limited liposuction as well) would be a better solution. For instance, a patient seeking to have liposuction on their abdomen could be better served with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) than with liposuction on its own.
Risks Of Liposuction Surgery
Although liposuction is considered safe, there are certain risks associated with any type of procedure. Some of these risks may include infection, scarring, allergic reactions, hematoma or unsatisfactory results. Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures and is almost always performed with no serious complications.
You can minimize potential risks by choosing an experienced doctor and by following his/her instructions before and after your procedure. To learn more about the liposuction procedure, we encourage you to call us today and schedule a consultation.
Schedule A Consultation
If you are interested in learning more about our Liposuction Surgery, call (631) 424-6707 today to schedule an appointment.