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What is Liposuction?

One of our most popular plastic surgery procedures is liposuction, which can be performed on its own or used in conjunction with other cosmetic treatments. With liposuction, unwanted fat is broken up and removed from the body using suction through a small, thin tube called a cannula. Liposuction creates a slimmer, more defined, and more shapely appearance. Dr. Hutchinson offers liposuction in the privacy of her fully AAAASF accredited operating room at her practice on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York City.

What Areas Can be Treated?

  • Face
  • Neck
  • Arms
  • Breasts
  • Chest
  • Back
  • Hips
  • Abdomen
  • Flanks
  • Buttocks
  • Thighs
  • Knees
  • Calves
  • Ankles

Dr. Hutchinson is wonderful. I had liposuction in the thigh area, knees, abdomen, and upper arms. The first few days of recovery were pretty unpleasant in terms of getting up, sitting back down, and walking around, but after about three or four days, it was fine. I took pain medication for about a day and a half. The bruising took about a month to completely clear up. And it was absolutely worth it. 

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Benefits of Liposuction

Liposuction is a very popular cosmetic surgery procedure with an extremely high patient satisfaction rate. Liposuction is considered a safe body contouring procedure and has many benefits, including the following:

  • Can treat a wide range of areas, including the neck, arms, chest, breasts, abdomen, flanks, hips, and thighs, among others
  • Requires tiny incisions which create minimal scarring
  • Achieves a leaner, more sculpted and contoured figure
  • In men, removes excess fat in male breasts and love handles
  • Provides a better fit in clothes
  • Although not a weight-loss procedure, you may lose weight as a result
  • Helps reduce sweating and chafing caused by fat buildup
  • Improves confidence and self-esteem
  • Results are noticeable and long-lasting
  • Can help to improve overall lifestyle, including better exercise habits and healthier eating 

Ideal Candidates for Liposuction

  • Are in good overall health
  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle
  • Have areas of stubborn fat that persist despite dieting and exercise
  • Have good skin tone and quality, with elasticity and without significant stretch marks
  • Have realistic expectations for what liposuction can do
  • Understand that liposuction cannot be used as a weight loss procedure
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Using Liposuction in Other Procedures

For certain women, liposuction may be the preferred technique for breast reduction, and this option is often the best alternative for breast reduction in teenagers and for men who are interested in gynecomastia correction. 

In most patients who are appropriate candidates for liposuction, the procedure may be performed alone, or it may also be combined with autologous fat grafting to correct contour irregularities. Liposuction may accompany other cosmetic surgery, such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, a tummy tuck, an eyelid lift, or a facelift.

Dr. Hutchinson will discuss all of the procedures you’re interested in during your consultation for liposuction in Upper East Side.

What is Microsuction?

Microsuction is a specific form of liposuction that uses a fine cannula to define the jawline, reduce a double chin, and eliminate small areas of facial fat. The incisions are tiny — a quarter-inch in length — and are placed beneath the chin or under the earlobes. Microsuction is excellent for addressing smaller areas of fat for individuals in their 20s and 30s who have skin that is elastic with good tone.

Once the fat is removed, the skin will contract and redrape, producing better neck contour and a more defined jawline. Microsuction is most appropriate for patients without significant excess skin or neck laxity, who may be better suited by a neck lift to tighten and reshape their necks.

The best candidates for microsuction share some of the following criteria:

  • Are young adults
  • Have a small amount of fat localized under the chin and jaw
  • Have good skin tone with no laxity

What Sets Dr. Hutchinson and Her Staff Apart?

Dr. Hutchinson seeks to exceed her patients’ expectations and provide the highest level of care for each individual patient. In addition, every member of our staff is dedicated to promoting your well-being and maintaining the strictest standards of patient centric care at our Upper East Side practice. Here are some of the special qualities that patients appreciate about Dr. Hutchinson.

Utmost Trustworthiness and Honesty

Dr. Hutchinson will determine the best procedure to achieve your aesthetic goals. She will explain all surgical options and what results can be obtained, and she will never try to convince you to undergo a surgery you don’t need.

Outstanding Skill

With exceptional operating skills and the manual dexterity required to perform technically complex surgeries, Dr. Hutchinson delivers remarkable results.

Extensive Knowledge and Experience

Dr. Hutchinson applies in depth knowledge and many years of experience to properly evaluate each unique patient and their needs in order to determine the ideal course of action.

Excellent Judgment

Expert judgment is a highly valued quality in a surgeon. Dr. Hutchinson is able to professionally manage any unexpected situation that may arise in the operating room. 

Getting Ready for Liposuction

In order for you to experience a smooth procedure and recovery, Dr. Hutchinson will provide you with detailed and precise instructions to be followed before liposuction in NYC. These instructions include:

  • Stopping smoking
  • Advice on appropriate weight management, diet, and nutrition
  • Requirements for medical clearance and blood tests prior to surgery
  • Details on maintaining a healthy lifestyle (including diet and exercise)
  • Advice on which medications can complicate recovery

Liposuction Procedure Details

Liposuction is a minimally invasive outpatient cosmetic procedure that uses only tiny, imperceptible incisions and a tumescent infusion solution. This tumescent solution is comprised of local anesthetic solution (lidocaine) and medication to reduce bruising and bleeding (epinephrine.) The procedure is usually performed using IV sedation anesthesia for patient safety and comfort.

Dr. Hutchinson will make several tiny incisions. She will then inject the tumescent solution, which makes it easier to remove the fat cells. Various liposuction cannulas are then inserted through the incisions to loosen up and suction out the fat in order to both reshape your body and sculpt a better contour.

Tiny stitches are used to close liposuction incisions and optimize healing.

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FAQ

What size will I be after liposuction?

What should I expect after liposuction?

Are liposuction results permanent?

How much weight can you lose with liposuction?

How much does liposuction cost?

What size will I be after liposuction?

Liposuction is not intended as a means of weight reduction, nor is its purpose to achieve a specific body size. In order to help you understand what results are possible with liposuction, Dr. Hutchinson will discuss specific details of your current body size and shape, as well as other physical characteristics. Factors that may impact your results include the following:

  • Existing scars
  • The amount of fat that needs to be removed
  • The number of areas that can be treated
  • Quality, tone, and elasticity of skin
  • The amount of fat under the skin 
  • Any prior surgery in areas to be treated

What should I expect after liposuction?

Although every patient will have their own personal experience and recovery after their liposuction in Upper East Side, there are some shared guidelines. These include:

  • Wearing a compression garment
  • Expecting some discomfort, swelling, and bruising for the first few days
  • Avoiding strenuous physical activity until you are given clearance
  • Carefully following Dr. Hutchinson’s instructions
  • Understanding that final results will depend on how your body heals and how your skin shrinks and re-contours after fat is removed

Are liposuction results permanent?

Liposuction results are permanent because the fat cells that are removed during surgery will not come back again and your body does not create new ones. However, if you gain significant weight, the remaining fat cells can grow and expand. Follow a healthy diet and exercise routine after liposuction so as to maintain your new, slimmer physique.

How much weight can you lose with liposuction?

Liposuction is designed to sculpt and contour your figure and is not considered a weight loss procedure. Only a moderate amount of fat can safely be removed at a time. Liposuction usually does yield a reduction in weight due to removal of fat, but the numbers are variable and depend on each individual patient.

How much does liposuction cost?

The cost of liposuction varies from patient to patient. Liposuction is a customized procedure that is performed specifically for the needs of each individual. The cost of liposuction typically depends on the number of areas of the body that are treated and the size of the treatment areas.

Your Liposuction Consultation

Before your liposuction procedure, you will have a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson to determine whether you are an appropriate candidate for this surgery. During this initial meeting, Dr. Hutchinson will take your medical history and ask you what areas of your body you’re having issues with. She will also ask what your goals for the liposuction procedure are. 

She will perform a physical examination focused on the areas you want to improve, and she will also take medical “before” photos which she will later review with you.

Dr. Hutchinson will then go over your surgical options, and together with you she will develop a bespoke treatment plan that is designed to achieve your cosmetic goals. Once this plan has been established, Dr. Hutchinson will inform you of what you need to do both before and after the procedure to ensure a successful operation and smooth recovery. This consultation is the ideal time for you to voice any questions or concerns so that Dr. Hutchinson can explain everything you need to know. You will be given plenty of time, and you will also be given the opportunity to schedule your procedure if you decide to proceed. 

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Recovery and Results

After liposuction, you may experience mild swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the treated area. Compression garments or elastic bandages may be used to help reduce these symptoms as the area heals. Patients can typically return to work and other activities as soon as they feel comfortable, which is usually after a few days. Exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for two weeks.

Dr. Hutchinson will give you special instructions on how to care for your treated areas and reduce any complications after your liposuction in NYC. The results of your liposuction may not be visible until after swelling and bruising subside and the skin has shrunk down to accommodate the smaller volume. This may take several months, and results will appear gradually over the course of time.

The results of liposuction are often permanent as long as patients maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. If substantial weight is gained after this procedure, the results may be altered.

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What Risks are Involved?

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures, and serious complications are extremely rare. Although it’s considered very safe, certain risks are associated with any type of procedure. 

Some of these risks include infection, scarring, hematoma, irregular contour, or unsatisfactory results. You can minimize potential risks by closely following Dr. Hutchinson’s instructions before and after your procedure. 

If you are concerned about any risks associated with liposuction, please bring them up to Dr. Hutchinson during your consultation. She will go over how likely these risks are to affect you specifically after taking into account your medical history and skin type.

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Liposuction with Dr. Hutchinson

Board certified aesthetic plastic surgeon Dr. Olivia Hutchinson seeks to exceed her patients’ expectations and provide the highest level of care for each individual patient. Providing excellent results on Manhattan’s Upper East Side for 20 years, Dr. Hutchinson is widely respected and beloved by her patients. Her practice is built on the desire to ensure the finest surgical experience for her patients — something that is evident in her care, results, and high end concierge services. To book your consultation for liposuction in NYC with Dr. Hutchinson, contact us online or call us at (212) 452-1400.

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