LIPOSUCTION

SEATTLE

Stubborn is the word patients use most. You've done the diet, put in the gym hours, and there's still a pocket of fat that won't budge — that's not a discipline problem, it's anatomy, and Liposuction exists for exactly that gap.

WHAT IS LIPOSUCTION?

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure for both men and women which permanently removes fat from areas such as the neck, arms, abdomen and thighs. It is also a tool used to "sculpt" certain areas, such as the chest or abdomen, to help enhance the underlying musculature. It's an outpatient procedure that can be done with varying levels of anesthesia depending on the number and location of the areas performed. Though the fat is permanently removed, maintaining results with a healthy diet and exercise routine postoperatively is key to long-lasting results.

A CLOSER LOOK

A careful evaluation of your treatment areas is done to determine what will give you the most natural, proportional result. During your Seattle plastic surgery consultation, Dr. Megan will examine the location and volume of fat in each area you're interested in, assess your skin's elasticity and quality, and talk through which areas will respond well to Liposuction alone versus which may benefit from being combined with a skin-tightening procedure. Liposuction can be tailored to a single stubborn area or performed across multiple regions in the same session, depending on your goals and what your anatomy supports.

THE PROCEDURE
Liposuction is performed in our AAAASF Ambulatory Surgery Center, located on the 16th floor of the Nordstrom Medical Tower in downtown Seattle. Multiple small incisions (3 to 4 mm) are made in camouflaged areas such as the groin creases or belly button. A tumescent solution — a combination of saline, lidocaine, and epinephrine — is injected first to facilitate fat removal, decrease bleeding, and provide postoperative pain control. Small liposuction cannulas are then inserted through the incisions to remove fat, with continuous monitoring for uniform skin thickness and contour. Once the optimal contour is achieved, incisions are closed with a simple, dissolvable suture. Patients are placed in a compression garment afterward, worn for upwards of six months for the best results. Results take time and patience — Dr. Megan generally tells patients five to six months is needed to see final results.

HONEST COMPLICATIONS
Every surgery carries risk, and Liposuction is no exception. The most common complication is contour irregularities — unevenness in the thickness of the treated tissue. Bleeding, infection, delayed healing, and changes in skin sensation are also possible. Repeat liposuction in the same area increases both surgical risk and scar tissue, which makes an optimal outcome less likely the more times an area is treated.

WHEN WILL I SEE MY RESULTS?
Final results can take 5 to 6 months to fully reveal themselves. Removing fat creates significant swelling that takes time to resolve, and damaged fat cells are reabsorbed slowly by the body. With fine, detailed Lipo Sculpting especially, even a couple of millimeters of swelling can temporarily alter your final contour — patience matters here.

MAINTAINING RESULTS
Maintaining your results after liposuction depends on diet and exercise. Liposuction is not a weight loss tool — it's best used for stubborn areas of fat that resist diet and exercise. While removed fat cells won't regrow, the fat cells that remain can still grow larger, allowing treated areas to regain fat and bulk if your weight increases significantly.

COMBINING PROCEDURES WITH LIPOSUCTION
Most procedures Dr. Megan performs in her Seattle practice involve some area of liposuction. Tummy Tucks often include liposuction of the waist or flank region to improve the torso as a whole. Breast Lifts and Breast Reductions often include liposuction to the lateral chest or axillary fat pad for a more complete result. During your consultation, Dr. Megan will go through where liposuction may enhance your specific surgical plan.

AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE?

The best candidates for Liposuction are in good overall health and at a stable weight — this isn't a weight loss procedure, so we're looking for patients who are already close to their goal weight and dealing with stubborn, isolated pockets of fat that haven't responded to diet and exercise. Motivation to maintain your results afterward matters too, since the fat cells that remain after surgery can still grow larger if your weight increases.

Beyond the basics, your candidacy — and which areas make sense to treat — comes down to a few specifics I evaluate in person during your consultation:

Your skin's elasticity. Good skin quality is what allows your skin to contract smoothly after fat is removed. If your elasticity is significantly reduced, Liposuction alone may leave loose skin behind, and combining it with a skin-tightening procedure like a Tummy Tuck may serve you better.
Where your fat is actually located. Liposuction removes subcutaneous fat, the layer you can pinch, not visceral fat, which sits around your internal organs. If your main concern is a firm, non-pinchable abdomen, Liposuction may not be the right tool for it, and I'll tell you that directly rather than treat an area that won't give you the result you're after.
Whether you've had liposuction in this area before. Repeat liposuction is possible, but each round increases scar tissue and surgical risk, which can make an optimal outcome harder to achieve.
How many areas you're hoping to treat, and whether that's in one session or staged over more than one. Treating multiple regions extends your time under anesthesia, which factors directly into both safety and how we plan your procedure.

As with any outpatient surgery, your overall health and any history of blood clots factor into your candidacy and anesthesia plan. We'll review this closely during your consultation.

Dr. Megan far exceeded my expectations. She is extremely caring, talented, educated, and attentive. I am so thankful for her, she truly changed my life in the best way possible! I feel great knowing I 100% chose the right surgeon for my procedure.

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LIPOSUCTION RECOVERY

How long is recovery, really? It depends heavily on how much area we're treating — Liposuction recovery is generally lighter than something like a Tummy Tuck, but that doesn't mean it can be rushed. Right after surgery, you're encouraged to move right away — it helps your circulation and your overall recovery. It's normal to have some drainage from your incision sites for the first 24 to 48 hours; that's tumescent solution leaving your body, not a complication. You'll have tape over your incisions that gets changed or removed at your first follow-up visit.

Soreness and achiness are the most common complaints, along with some numbness in the treated areas — that's expected, and it typically resolves as your swelling meaningfully subsides, usually around week 3.

You'll go home in a compression garment, which you'll wear for several months to help control swelling and refine your contours. The garment itself changes over time: more structured right after surgery, and more flexible and easier to live in as you heal. Fit matters here — your garment needs to fully cover the treated area and stay smooth, without constriction points or grooving, since pressure in the wrong places can create permanent contour irregularities over time.

By 3 weeks, most patients are back to normal activity and can start light exercise, though I'd keep your compression garment on during workouts, since exercise can bring on new swelling. Heavier lifting and overhead arm movement are typically restricted for a full 4 weeks to minimize your risk of complications. Some patients find lymphatic massage helpful during this stretch to ease swelling and support their results, though it's optional, not required.

Time off work depends entirely on how much we're treating. A single small area may mean little to no time off at all; larger volume or multiple areas usually means 1 to 2 weeks. Most patients feel back to normal by 6 to 8 weeks.

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How Long After My Liposuction Surgery Before I Can Work Out?

Most patients will only be required to take a few weeks off from the gym after liposuction. However, the areas of liposuction will be prone to swelling even months after surgery, so compression is key!

Can I Just Get Liposuction Again If I Gain Weight Back?

True, repeat liposuction is possible. However, with each round of liposuction surgery, the surgery gets more risky and creates more scar tissue. This makes it more likely to have a less-than-optimal outcome and increases your risk of damaging surrounding tissue structures.

What's The Most Common Complication of Liposuction?

The most common complication following liposuction is contour irregularities, or irregularities in the thickness of the tissue, Bleeding, infection, healing issues and seroma are also known complications.