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What is liposuction?

Liposuction is a very popular cosmetic surgery used to remove pockets of stubborn excess fat in various areas of the body. Most commonly, the surgery is performed on individuals who have been unable to eliminate certain fat deposits with traditional methods like dieting and exercise. Typically, liposuction is performed by using an injection, lasers, or ultrasound waves to loosen the fat cells in the targeted area. The loosened fat is then suctioned out of the body using a surgical vacuum or syringe attached to a narrow cannula.

Some of the most common areas targeted with liposuction in Michigan include:

  • Abdomen
  • Flanks
  • Hips
  • Thighs
  • Neck and below the chin
  • Back
  • Chest
  • Upper arms

Am I a candidate for liposuction?

It’s not always possible to reshape disproportionate curves and reduce unwanted fat through diet and exercise alone. When this occurs, liposuction can help you contour your body features, dramatically improving the shape and proportion of your figure.

Michigan women and men of various ages and circumstances choose to have liposuction. Patients that are close to their optimal weight but struggle with isolated areas of fat are the best candidates. These and other factors generally define good candidates for liposuction:

  • You have a minimal amount of excess skin and good skin elasticity. Loss of skin elasticity with age can compromise lipoplasty results, but if your skin maintains elasticity, age alone is not a contraindication for liposuction surgery.
  • You have localized deposits of fat in your abdomen, arms, thighs and/or neck, which may be the result of heredity and do not disappear with exercise and diet.
  • You are physically fit, no more than 20 pounds overweight, and your weight is stable. If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight or even gain weight (for example, due to pregnancy), this is not the time to undergo liposuction.
  • Keep in mind that liposuction does not remove cellulite and cannot tighten loose skin. Your surgeon will be able to recommend other procedures to improve those conditions.

If you are in good general health and have a positive attitude and realistic expectations, you are most likely a good candidate for this procedure.

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What Are the Benefits of Liposuction?

Liposuction is one of the most popular methods for removing fat and creating a more sculpted physique. The procedure has several benefits, including the following:

  • An established reputation for safe and effective fat removal
  • Permanently removed fat cells
  • Improved health and appearance
  • Heightened self-esteem and confidence
  • A more positive body image
  • Removes stubborn fat not affected by diet and exercise
  • Long-term results that are easily sustained with a healthy lifestyle
  • Reduced inflammatory cells
  • Increased mobility
  • Lowered risk of health conditions associated with excessive fat, such as high blood pressure

What Is SAFELipo?

Safer and more effective than ever

Originally developed in 2010 by Dr. Simeon Wall Jr., SAFELipo is a modern liposuction technique that utilizes a three-step process to eliminate excess fat and contour the body. SAFE is an acronym that stands for separation, aspiration, and fat equalization, which are the three steps of the treatment.

SAFELipo is known for being less traumatic to the patient’s tissues than other forms of liposuction and less likely to result in serious complications. During SAFELipo in Grand Rapids, MI, the targeted fat is loosened with tumescent fluid and gently separated without damaging blood vessels or structures beneath the skin. This makes it very easy for Dr. Ringler to suction out the fat safely.

Is There a Non-surgical Alternative to Liposuction?

SmartLipo Triplex

Skin tightening + high-definition sculpting.

The SmartLipo Triplex laser features minimal downtime, skin tightening benefits, and high-definition sculpting – which can create the “six pack” abdomen you may have struggled to achieve at the gym. The triple wavelength laser dissolves the fat cells before they are removed, offering an easier recovery than traditional liposuction.

CoolSculpting

Freeze away excess fat – in a single office visit

CoolSculpting is the latest addition to our body contouring treatments. This non-surgical, in-office procedure offers an alternative to traditional liposuction. It requires zero downtime and typically results in a 20% reduction of fat in a given area. Dr. Ringler is the first physician in Michigan to offer this safe, effective, and FDA-approved technology.

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Steven L. Ringler, MD, FACS

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What is the liposuction procedure?

Our liposuction in Michigan is typically performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. However, smaller areas may be contoured under local anesthesia with sedation. The incisions for liposuction are very small and placed in discreet locations in the area of your unwanted fat. Dr. Ringler will insert a thin, hollow tube through those openings, moving it back and forth to gently remove and extract the excess volume while sculpting a more contoured figure.

What procedures can be combined with lipo?

Liposuction is commonly combined with other procedures. While it stands alone as a transformative body sculpting procedure, it is often performed with other surgeries to enhance results. Common procedures combined with liposuction are a tummy tuck, breast lift or breast augmentation, thigh lift, arm lift, and facelift.

What is the recovery for liposuction?

After your liposuction, you will need a capable adult with you for 24 hours. You may experience swelling, bruising, and soreness in the treatment area. Recovery ranges from five to ten days, though you can return to light activity the very next day.

What results can I expect from my liposuction?

After you recover from your abdominoplasty in Michigan, the full results will be visible. Liposuction achieves a slimmer, better sculpted, and more toned and contoured physique. The fat pockets you targeted will be gone, and they will not return.

If you maintain your weight, liposuction results are generally considered to be permanent, as the fat you had suctioned out is eliminated and will not reappear. It is important to keep in mind that other fat cells in the area or other areas can still expand and grow. Because of this, weight gain can negatively impact the results of your liposuction procedure. Stick to a healthy diet and exercise program, ensuring that your newly sculpted, leaner figure is long-lasting.

FAQ's

How much does liposuction cost?

Each patient is different, and liposuction will vary from one to the next. At the Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery, you can expect your liposuction to cost anywhere between $1,600 and $10,225.

How long does liposuction last?

Liposuction results are long-lasting, but future weight fluctuations and the normal aging process may affect your outcome. Although you can expect to lose several pounds due to the reduction of tissue, it’s important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss program. Grand Rapids, MI patients must maintain their pre-operative diet and exercise routine to preserve their results.

Is liposuction effective for weight loss?

While liposuction sculpts and contours the body, it is not a weight loss procedure. The most a patient might lose is between 5-11 pounds.

Should I get lipo or a tummy tuck?

Liposuction removes unwanted fat pockets, while a tummy tuck removes excess sagging skin. If you have good skin elasticity and would like to reduce fat, lipo may be right for you.

Is liposuction painful?

You will feel pain and soreness for several weeks during your recovery period. By the end of one month, this should fade completely.

Does liposuction leave scars?

Liposuction scars are small dots about the size of a freckle, which fade well and are unnoticeable.

Does lipo leave saggy skin?

Our liposuction in Michigan doesn’t cause sagging skin, but if you do not have good skin laxity, it will not bounce back and retract well after the fat is removed.

Why choose Dr. Ringler?

A Comprehensive, Personalized Approach

Dr. Steven L. Ringler is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is internationally recognized for his accomplishments in plastic surgery. Whether you want to spot treat or reshape a large area, his extensive experience and expertise in liposuction and body contouring techniques, along with his state-of-the-art technology, will achieve what fitness alone cannot.

With a wide range of treatment options that can be customized for your goals, Dr. Ringler can remove excess fat and sculpt a proportionate body with minimal to zero downtime. Committed to innovation, he is the first plastic surgeon in Michigan to offer SAFELipo, SmartLipo Triplex laser body sculpting, Body-Jet water-assisted liposuction, and CoolSculpting to his patients.

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Steven L. Ringler, MD, FACS

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