There’s much to learn about liposuction for women, as women’s bodies can undergo many changes throughout their lives. Women also differ from men on a biological level, which means the areas in which they store excess fat cells and how much varies exponentially.
Liposuction is a well-known fat removal or fat transfer procedure many women use to eliminate or reposition stubborn and unwanted fatty deposits. It’s especially common after giving birth, as a woman’s body changes after one or several pregnancies due to hormone fluctuations and physiological changes.
Women who lead active lifestyles may also experience problem areas or a lack of muscle definition that no amount of physical exercise or specialty diets can fix. As each woman carries her weight differently, she’ll have different reasons or needs to get a Chicago liposuction procedure.
So, if you’re considering having the surgical procedure to address stubborn fat and gain better muscle tone, you’ll want to learn all you can about liposuction for women.
Understanding the Goals of Liposuction Procedures
Liposuction is considered an invasive plastic surgery. With liposuction procedures, cosmetic surgeons aim to remove excess fat — especially stubborn fat cells — to reduce the volume of various areas of the body. Liposuction surgery also helps with body contouring, which is why certain types of liposuction are categorized as body contouring procedures.
The most common areas that liposuction treatment targets for fat removal include:
- Inner thighs
- Outer thighs
- Upper arms
- Buttocks
- Abdomen (upper and lower)
- Neck
- Under the chin
- Upper back
Ultimately, for most women, liposuction is about improving their appearance and self esteem. Even women within an ideal weight range find that they have common problem areas or unsightly bulges that exercise and a healthy diet cannot help with. However, plastic surgery will.
With this in mind, it’s essential to understand that surgical liposuction cannot be a substitute for weight loss or a treatment for obesity. It also won’t prevent cardiovascular disease, improve general health, or fix cellulite or loose, saggy skin. It only aims to remove fat cells to a certain degree.
The Different Types of Liposuction For Women
As liposuction treatment aims to slim down problem areas, it’s often combined with other surgical procedures to achieve the desired liposuction results. For example, procedures like breast augmentation, a tummy tuck, a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), and other cosmetic surgeries used for body contouring are often suggested by plastic surgeons.
There are also six different types of liposuction techniques for women:
1. Suction Assisted Liposuction (SAL)
Suction assisted liposuction is among the most commonly used liposuction procedures. The procedure typically involves local anesthesia and/or general anesthesia, small incisions at the problem areas, and a suction tube to remove the fat cells and excess fat.
2. Tumescent Liposuction
This type of liposuction is similar to traditional liposuction and works similarly to target excess fat in common problem areas. The primary difference is that this type of liposuction requires more significant amounts of anesthesia as it’s directed at larger volumes of subcutaneous fat to reveal underlying muscles. It’s one of the most recommended body contouring procedures where liposuction is involved.
3. Laser Assisted Liposuction
Laser assisted liposuction — or SmartLipo — is a non-invasive laser liposuction procedure that’s much different from traditional liposuction. It utilizes heat energy to melt fat, tighten skin, and coagulate blood vessels simultaneously. Overall, it’s a weight loss procedure that’s considered to be safer and yield a quicker recovery time with less bruising and a boost in collagen production.
4. Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction
Ultrasound assisted liposuction — also referred to as VASER — utilizes ultrasound energy to break up excess fat tissues. The minimally invasive procedure involves making substantial incisions to insert a low-frequency ultrasound device in the treatment areas.
The device is attached to a cannula, which produces sound energy that can emulsify the fat tissues. Once the fat is emulsified, a tube is used to suck it out of the area. VASER also reduces swelling, blood loss, and bruising while tightening the skin.
5. Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Power assisted liposuction uses a vibrating cannula to help break up and remove large volumes of excess fat tissues. PAL is thought to work more efficiently than VASER for denser problem areas, which reduces surgeon fatigue.
6. High Definition Liposuction (HDL)
High-definition liposuction (HD lipo) is often called “Six Pack Abs” or “Eight Pack Abs.” It’s also commonly referred to as abdominal etching, a specialized liposuction designed to enhance the underlying muscular definition of the entire torso.
HD lipo is very selective, as it relies on fat grafting to enhance the underlying muscles to produce a ‘shredded” appearance. Therefore, it requires additional surgical and recovery time compared to traditional liposuction.
How Is Liposuction For Women Different Than Liposuction For Men?
How Is Liposuction For Women Different Than Liposuction For Men?Liposuction for women is substantially different from liposuction for men. While the options and techniques for liposuction procedures are the same, the goals and problem areas are often entirely different.
For example, liposuction for women aims to target areas where women tend to store more fat. This includes the belly, upper arms, thighs, buttocks, etc. Men tend to carry more weight around the middle, although where we store fat depends entirely on genetics and our physiological makeup.
Women are more likely to develop subcutaneous fat, whereas men tend to store visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat forms underneath the skin, while visceral fat forms around the internal organs. Visceral fat is also the fat that’s first to go when we adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Who Is a Good Candidate For Liposuction Treatment?
When it comes to liposuction for women, there are several variables that cosmetic surgeons will consider to determine whether or not they are good candidates. Aside from helping women achieve their contouring goals through liposuction treatment, it’s also essential that the surgeons put safety first.
Therefore, an ideal candidate for liposuction will:
- Already be in pretty good shape. In other words, they will be within 30% of their ideal weight and have good muscle tone and firm, elastic skin.
- Be in good health, with no life-threatening illnesses or medical conditions that can get in the way of proper healing.
- Be non-smokers (this includes vaping!)
- Have realistic expectations in mind for what liposuction can do for them in terms of removing unwanted fat.
Plastic surgeons specializing in liposuction for women will conduct a thorough medical history check and consultation process to ensure the safety and efficacy of the liposuction procedure.
Liposuction For Women FAQs
Who should not get liposuction?
Women with significant health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, kidney and liver disease, etc, are not acceptable candidates for liposuction. Smokers and women who are considered obese are also not ideal candidates for the surgical procedure.
What does the recovery process look like for women’s liposuction?
Recovery after liposuction can take up to three weeks or more. After liposuction, you can return to normal activities, but not strenuous exercise. The treatment area should also be wrapped in a compression garment to control swelling, pain, and bruising for up to four weeks.
Can I have liposuction after pregnancy?
Yes, liposuction after pregnancy can be performed to address stubborn fat deposits that may persist despite diet and exercise. However, it’s typically recommended to wait until after you’ve finished having children and your body has fully recovered from childbirth. Additionally, it’s essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to assess your individual circumstances and determine if liposuction is suitable for you.
How much weight can you lose with liposuction?
Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, as the goal is to tone problem areas, like the inner thighs. Patients only lose an average of five pounds, but some can lose up to 11 pounds.
Want to Learn More About Liposuction For Women?
If you think you’re a good candidate for liposuction or simply want to learn more about liposuction for women, Dr. Dahlia Rice is here to answer all your questions.
Schedule a liposuction consultation with our experienced and caring medical team today to start your boy contouring journey and boost your self esteem!