Liposuction in Virginia Beach, VA
Also serving Chesapeake & Norfolk
Liposuction has become the most sought after fat reduction plastic surgery procedure today. In the hands of a skilled surgeon, the results are no less than amazing. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kevin Bounds has perfected the liposuction procedure and his technique to produce natural-looking, sculpted areas of the body, including the hips, thighs, buttocks and tummy. Plastic Surgery of Virginia Beach serves the residents of Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News and surrounding communities in Virginia.
Before and After Liposuction Results
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What is Liposuction?
Liposuction (lipo) is a fat reduction surgical procedure that specifically targets and removes fat deposits and reshapes, sculpts and firms the targeted areas.
Although no surgical procedure should be considered a substitute for proper diet and exercise, liposuction often helps in reaching your ultimate fitness and physique goals. Simply stated, lipo can be beneficial in eliminating problem areas that do not respond to conventional weight loss methods.
How is Liposuction Performed?
A small incision is made in the area where the fat cells will be removed. A solution, consisting of epinephrine and a local anesthetic, is injected which controls pain and minimizes blood loss during the procedure. A thin, hollow tube-like instrument called a cannula is then inserted and gently moved around to break up and vacuum out the fat cells. The area is then carefully recontoured, leaving just a minute layer of fat to avoid the appearance of any rippling of the skin.
The First Few Days After Liposuction
Immediately following liposuction, the treated area will be fitted in a compression garment. This garment continuously applies slight pressure to the treated area as it heals. Wear your garment at all times, removing it only to shower or launder. Some patients purchase two garments so they always have one on-hand while the other is being laundered.
Bruising and swelling are normal right after surgery, and this can last for a few days to weeks. If you experience discomfort, you can take pain medication. Most patients find their pain is well-controlled with over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, or we can prescribe medication if needed.
Incisional bleeding and drainage is to be expected during the first day of recovery. Our team will provide complete instructions for caring for your healing incision. In general, you must keep them clean and dry at all times.
Focus on resting and relaxing after surgery, but do not confine yourself to bed or the couch. Dr. Bounds encourages you to get up periodically and walk around the house to promote good circulation.
Note that during the first few days after liposuction, you will need help with childcare and other household chores. It may feel uncomfortable to bend over, reach for an overhead cabinet or lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. Having a spouse, family member or friend available to help is highly recommended.
Week One To Week Three
Most patients return to desk jobs after the first week of recovery, as the swelling and bruising have peaked and most of the discomfort has subsided by this point.
You will no longer need help around the house to take care of your children and yourself.
Light exercise is permitted, as long as you avoid strenuous activities.
Continue to wear your compression garment as directed.
Week Three To Week Six
After three weeks, you can resume more of your normal routine, as long as you are cautious about it. If you have a physically demanding job, you can return after three weeks.
You can also resume moderate exercise such as light weightlifting, jogging and riding a stationary bike. During this timeframe, listen to your body and refrain from any activities that cause pain or discomfort.
After three weeks, you may switch to a second-stage compression garment such as Spanx, which is more comfortable than the first garment but continues to provide slight pressure as your body heals.
After Six Weeks
After the six-week mark, you can return to your regular routine, including normal employment and exercise. There are no restrictions or limitations at this point.
Keep in mind that most of the swelling resolves by three months, but it can take up to a year to completely subside. You will gradually see an improvement in the appearance of the treated area and can enjoy your final cosmetic result around the one-year mark.
Please feel free to reach out to Dr. Bounds and our team at any point during your liposuction recovery if you have any questions.
Am I a Candidate for Liposuction?
The ideal candidate for liposuction is at a relatively normal stable weight, has good skin tone and ideally no more than 15 pounds of fat to lose. Those who follow a healthy lifestyle that includes proper diet and regular exercise typically have better and longer lasting results. It is vitally important to remember that liposuction is not recommended as a technique for weight loss – rather it is intended to shape, flatten and firm difficult areas of the body. While considered a fat reduction surgery, liposuction will not stop fat from returning.
How Much Does Liposuction Cost in Virginia Beach?
Liposuction fat reduction costs vary greatly based on the area of the body in which the procedure is performed. Costs will be discussed during your consultation. We are proud to offer CareCredit® and ALPHAEON financing to our clients whom wish to use convenient monthly plans. For more information, visit our financing page.
Liposuction FAQs
Is liposuction a good weight management strategy?
Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, nor a shortcut to reaching your ideal weight. In fact, it is important that you give diet and exercise a chance before you consider the procedure. Overweight patients should ideally be within 20 pounds of recommended weight.
What types of fat can liposuction effectively target?
Liposuction is best for localized areas of fat that never seem to shrink and seem immune to traditional lifestyle approaches. For example, a person may exercise regularly and lose weight through a balanced diet and still retain excess fat in the hips or thighs.
In addition to the hips and thighs, patients commonly seek reductions in the abdomen, buttocks, arms, neck or back. Liposuction is sometimes used to treat jowls and cheeks, although Dr. Bounds may recommend alternative procedures for facial areas.
Some types of fat cannot be removed by liposuction. In many obese individuals, the abdominal fat that produces the unwanted overhanging belly profile surrounds internal organs. Because it is located below the muscle, it is not safe to attempt to remove fat from the intra-abdominal region.
Does liposuction treat cellulite or stretch marks?
Liposuction is not a treatment for improving the appearance of skin. The elasticity of a patient’s skin is a key factor in how the skin will look after the procedure. If skin is elastic and muscle tone is good, the skin will conform well to the new body shape. With skin that has been stretched and is less elastic, folds of skin may be apparent after removal of fat.
Cellulite and stretch marks are also not likely to improve as significantly, although there may be a slight smoothing of the area, depending on the firmness of your skin. A patient with realistic expectations will be pleased by the way the procedure can sculpt the body, restoring the attractive proportions of a fit and balanced profile.
Will the fat return?
If you change the lifestyle behavior that led to obesity, you will not need to worry about those pockets of fat returning. The cells that were removed during liposuction are gone, and will never grow back. But if your weight begins to rise again, adjoining fat cells will expand to store the excess caloric intake. Regular exercise and eating nutritious foods in limited quantities are the best ways to preserve your new shape.
With over two decades of experience performing liposuction surgery, Dr. Bounds’s goal is to ensure that you achieve a natural appearance that makes you feel great about your new look. Plastic Surgery of Virginia Beach is passionately committed to reflecting your inner beauty. Using the latest and most advanced procedures for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Kevin Bounds and his team offer body sculpting procedures to the residents of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News and the surrounding communities in Virginia. Contact us today!
