Banish Stubborn Fat With Liposuction

For many people in New Braunfels, Laredo, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Kyle, and the surrounding area, despite exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, pockets of fat in certain areas of the body will not disappear. 

While you may be doing everything you can to slim down, you may not achieve the results you want without cosmetic surgery. Liposuction performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rocco Piazza in Austin, Texas, can give your body beautiful contours and create a slimmer, more proportional appearance.

Body Surgery

In this video, Dr. Rocco Piazza discusses the diverse categories involved in abdominal surgery, encompassing post-pregnancy, weight loss, and male aesthetic aspects. The procedures aim to naturally reverse the changes that have occurred in the abdominal region.

Dr. Piazza examining a female patient's abdominal area

Your Liposuction Procedure

After determining the target areas that you would like to treat, Dr. Piazza will begin your procedure using the power-assisted liposuction approach. This method of liposuction is time-tested and has provided beautiful results for countless people. A tumescent fluid will be injected into the specified area in order to separate the fat cells from surrounding tissue, constrict blood vessels, and provide anesthesia. 

This greatly reduces the chances of bruising and increases safety. Small incisions are made for the cannula (suction tube) to pass through, which is then used to break up and suction away fat. Dr. Piazza uses a special port that protects the skin by keeping the incision as small as possible. He firmly believes that the incisions must be placed strategically to minimize visibility.

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Liposuction At A Glance

Areas Treated

Areas commonly treated with liposuction include:

  • Waist: Contour the waistline (reduce flanks, love handles, muffin top) and lower back
  • Upper arms: Restore slim contours and reveal muscle definition
  • Thighs: Reduce the presence of saddle bags and reveal an inner thigh gap
  • Bra line: Improve the contour of the back and sides of the breasts

Procedure

Liposuction is performed by suctioning fat through a thin tube called a cannula that is inserted through incisions concealed near the targeted areas, which include:

  • Waist: Between the buttocks and in the lower waist or pubic region
  • Upper arms: In the axillary and elbow areas
  • Thighs: In the groin, bikini line, and inner knee area
  • Bra line: Underneath the breast and along the midline in the bra line

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

Procedure length

  • Waist: 1 hour
  • Upper arms: 1 to 1.5 hours
  • Thighs: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
  • Bra line: 1.5 hour

Aftercare

Once the surgery is complete, the incision sites will be closed with dissolvable sutures, a small steri-strip, and sealed with a clear dressing. Treated areas will be covered with a thick foam pad and then wrapped in a compression garment to minimize swelling, bruising, and recovery time. Compression also helps to maintain the shape Dr. Piazza created during the procedure.

Recovery

Typically ranges from 1 to 2 weeks. The foam compression pads will be removed on day 4, and the bandages placed over the incisions will be removed 5 to 6 days following surgery. The compression binder will be used for the first 2 weeks and then replaced with a less compressive garment that will support the treated area for the next 3 to 4 weeks.

Timeline

  1. Surgery
  2. Day 4 to 5: Foam Removal
  3. Day 5 to 6: Dressing removal
  4. Day 5 to 7: Return to work and social activities
  5. 2 to 3 weeks: Return to exercise
  6. 3 months: 80% healed
  7. 6 months: 100% healed
woman's abdomen

Advanced Liposuction Technology

To achieve the best results for you, Dr. Piazza uses MicroAire’s PAL® Power-Assisted Liposuction System, which enables him to carefully contour each area he treats. This device is superior to traditional liposuction because it makes it easier to achieve smooth contours. Dr. Piazza also feels that this technology is superior to laser liposuction because the fat is easily removed without leaving behind liquefied fat that the body must break down.

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The Final Steps

Once the fat has been suctioned, your incisions will be closed with dissolvable sutures and sealed with a dressing. Treated areas will then be wrapped with compression garments. Dr. Piazza frequently uses a compressive foam padding beneath the garment to minimize swelling and ensure a specific contour is realized at the treatment area. 

In addition to enhancing Dr. Piazza’s meticulous technique, compression minimizes contour irregularities and encourages skin tightening. After your procedure, you may be sore for a few days or as long as several weeks. Over time, discomfort will subside, and you will be able to enjoy your new shape.

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LiposuctionBefore & Afters

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Your Liposuction Recovery & Results

Immediately after surgery, you’ll need someone to drive you home. The following is a summary of your recovery process:

Initial 24 Hours

  • You’ll feel tightness, swelling, and some soreness.
  • It’s important to walk around for 5 to 10 minutes 7 or 8 times during the day to promote circulation.
  • Stay on top of your discomfort by taking your pain medication on time.

The First Few Days

  • You’ll feel swollen and sore, but the compression garment and padding will help.
  • Eat fiber-rich foods and drink lots of water to help with digestion and keep you energized.
  • Continue walking around the house for a few minutes every 1 to 2 hours during the day.

The First Week

  • The foam padding is removed around 4 days after your procedure.
  • The incision dressings are removed about 5 or 6 days after surgery.
  • Most people are back to non-strenuous work and social activities within a week.

2 - 4 Weeks

  • You can transition from a surgical binder to a softer compression garment after around 2 weeks.
  • During this time, you may also resume exercise, starting slowly and carefully.

3 months

  • Your sutures have completely dissolved, and incisions are fading.
  • Bruising is gone, and swelling should be resolved.

6 months

  • By this time, most people are entirely healed and enjoying their final results.
  • You will have your “after” photos taken at our office.
  • After your 6-month appointment, you will be scheduled for annual follow-up appointments to monitor your results and make sure you’re happy and healthy.
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A Patient for Life

When you get plastic surgery at The Piazza Center, we make a long-term commitment to your recovery, your beauty, and your well-being.

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Are You Ready for Liposuction?

At The Piazza Center, we believe that beautiful surgical results are enhanced by a healthy lifestyle. We aim to help you achieve your cosmetic goals and desires. Our reputation for personalized care attracts plastic surgery patients from San Antonio and throughout Texas. If you would like to find out more information regarding liposuction in Austin with our team, request an in-person or virtual consultation online by contacting our office today.

FAQ

Can liposuction be combined with other procedures?

Will the fat return after my procedure?

What are some of the diet-resistant fat pockets that are treated most frequently?

Is liposuction safe?

Can liposuction replace a tummy tuck?

Is liposuction surgery painful?

Can liposuction be combined with other procedures?

Liposuction can be used to complement other surgical procedures, such as a tummy tuck or a facelift. I like to use liposuction for patients who would like additional contouring. Used sparingly in these instances, I’ve found that it can provide the finishing touch to another procedure, and can produce optimal cosmetic results.

Will the fat return after my procedure?

Many of my patients ask me if the fat will return to the area treated with liposuction. I make it a point to tell my patients that while the fat will not return to that specific area, an unhealthy lifestyle may result in weight gain in other areas of the body. Liposuction is not a weight loss surgery; it is a way to help improve areas that are resistant to other, more traditional fat loss methods.

What are some of the diet-resistant fat pockets that are treated most frequently?

This is a great question, because some of the areas where fat is hardest to lose can be the ones most easily treated with liposuction with minimal recovery. The area that I like to call the anterior axillary fold (AAF) is a rewarding area to treat. This is the stubborn area of fat located in the upper outer area of the breast that bothers patients when they wear certain dresses or tank tops. It takes approximately 30 minutes to treat the AAF using a tiny concealed incision. Another nearby area is the upper arm, in which fullness is removed between the elbow and the armpit. This is a great area to treat in patients with good skin quality. The inner knees at the top of the legs, which may be treated in under 20 minutes, are really rewarding to treat as patients appreciate the contour change after surgery.

Is liposuction safe?

In the hands of a board-certified plastic surgeon, liposuction is extremely safe. When performed as a standalone procedure, liposuction has a major complication rate of less than 1%. When combined with other surgical procedures, the risk of complications increases, but remains very low. You can minimize your risk of complications by avoiding tobacco products, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and following your surgeon’s pre- and post-op instructions closely.

Can liposuction replace a tummy tuck?

Liposuction and tummy tuck surgery address different things. Liposuction is great for reducing areas of unwanted fat where the skin is firm and elastic. When there is excess, sagging skin and separated abdominal muscles—as is often the case after pregnancy or weight loss—a tummy tuck is the appropriate solution. Liposuction surgery is often performed to enhance the results of a tummy tuck by sculpting the waist and flanks.

Is liposuction surgery painful?

Most people find the recovery from liposuction surgery to be fairly mild. Some have even described it as feeling sore, like after a tough workout. Of course, every individual is different, and it can vary depending on the extent and area of your liposuction. Your surgeon will discuss pain management options with you prior to surgery. Most individuals do not require prescription pain medication.

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Delivering an Exceptional Anesthesia Experience for Our Patients

At The Piazza Center, our patients come first. We have listened to our patients, and in an effort to reduce the uncertainty with the anesthesia experience, The Piazza Center has developed a collaborative relationship with dual board-certified Dr. Cady to deliver an exceptional anesthesia experience for patients like you. 

Learn more about Dr. Cady, D.O., and The Piazza Center’s approach to taking the fear and stress out of anesthesia.

“By far the best anesthesia experience I've ever had. Thank you!!”

- Piazza Center Patient

Cocktails & Curiosity 2023

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