Liposuction

For many individuals who are bothered by stubborn fat deposits, liposuction surgery by Dr. Sorokin is a great way to dramatically alter body shape. The procedure can create a better-proportioned figure and eliminate fat from many areas including:

• Chin and neckline
• Back
• Upper arms
• Stomach and waistline
• Hips and buttocks
• Thighs and knees

You should remember that liposuction is not a replacement for proper exercise and diet. Instead, it is used to target areas where stubborn fat accumulates. For detailed information, visit Dr. Sorokin’s informative site all about liposuction.

Traditional Liposuction procedure

Liposuction may be performed under general anesthesia while you are asleep, or under local anesthesia where the targeted area is numbed and you remain awake. This all depends on patient desires as well as safety considerations. While some patients want to be awake for their liposuction, only very small areas can be safely done under local anesthesia. Dr. Sorokin will often recommend sedation or general anesthesia to get a better, safer result. Dr. Sorokin first injects tumescent solution into the fatty layer to inhibit bleeding, control pain, and cause the surrounding tissues to temporarily swell and become firmer.

Through tiny incisions, he inserts a narrow tube or “cannula” under the skin and vacuums out the excess fatty tissue. After eliminating excess fat, the incisions are closed by applying a compression dressing or bandage to the area in order to prevent bleeding, reduce swelling, and provide support. The surgery itself lasts between 30 minutes to a few hours depending on the amount of fat to be removed.

There are a lot of myths about what happens before, during, and after a liposuction procedure. Dr. Sorokin uses several different liposuction techniques to enhance traditional liposuction. His patients find that these new procedures result in less pain and can speed recovery. During your consultation, Dr. Sorokin will discuss with you which method or methods are best for your body type and for the treatment areas. In almost every case, patients are amazed by how smooth and even their skin appears after full recovery from the procedure. Women who visit Dr. Sorokin for breast augmentation frequently combine it with liposuction for a more comprehensive body enhancement.

VASER liposuction

The VASER is an ultrasound assisted liposuction technique. Sound waves are used to disrupt fat cells prior to aspiration of fat like is done during traditional liposuction. This two pronged technique is extremely strong and can remove significant volumes of fat. VASER liposuction is also one of the most effective ways to eliminate isolated areas of fat from the face and body.

Benefits of ultrasonic liposuction

Ultrasonic liposuction is desirable because it provides smooth, attractive results with minimal recovery time. This advanced liposuction technology is especially effective for:

• Removing large volumes of fat from common trouble spots like the abdomen, hips, and thighs
• Enhancing removal of dense or fibrous fat deposits
• Targeting fat while leaving surrounding tissues unaffected
• Improving areas already treated with liposuction

As with all liposuction techniques, you should be at or near your ideal body weight before undergoing ultrasonic liposuction. It should not be used as a weight loss method.

Laser liposuction

Smartlipo is a convenient alternative to Dr. Sorokin’s other types of liposuction for patients. It can be used on any area of the body where traditional liposuction is performed, such as the stomach, hips and thighs, upper arms, and chin.

The procedure offers:

• Less invasive surgery than traditional methods
• Minimal downtime and comfortable recovery for most patients
• Treatment of fat deposits that are too small for traditional methods
• Tightening of the skin by encouraging collagen production

The laser-assisted procedure is ideal for patients who are in their normal weight range but who have small stubborn areas of fat that won’t respond to diet and exercise. Laser liposuction is not meant as a weight loss method—it is first and foremost a body contouring procedure that can subtly slim and reshape common areas where fat tissue forms.

This is a big issue as Laser Liposuction is best utilized for small areas of fat. In order to safely and effectively perform this procedure local anesthesia is used to numb the area being treated. If too big an area, it will not be treatable. Thus, Dr. Sorokin only will treat small areas with this technology. Some facilities will offer Smartlipo to people with larger areas of fat to remove.The problem is they often are unable to deliver the results they promise. Laser Liposuction can be a great procedure for a small problem area however if treating larger areas we have much better options.

While length of recovery depends on the size and number of areas treated, new techniques allow for faster recovery after a liposuction procedure than ever before. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and reduce recovery time. You may need to wear a support garment for several weeks after the surgery, depending upon which areas have been treated. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery which can be treated effectively with over-the-counter medication. While complications are rare, our patients can minimize the risk of potential problems by carefully following the directions given after surgery.

Recovery after Ultrasonic Liposuction

While liposuction of any kind is a surgical procedure, ultrasonic technology improves the recovery process. Because underlying tissues, blood vessels, and nerves are not harmed by the ultrasound energy, patients experience less bruising, swelling, and pain than with other techniques. You will need to wear compression garments on the treated areas for about 6 weeks to promote healing in a smooth, compact shape. While your slimmer contours will likely be noticeable right away, you will reach your final results in about 3 to 6 months, depending on the areas treated.

Recovery after Laser-assisted Liposuction

Dr. Sorokin’s patients appreciate the quick recovery that Smartlipo makes possible. Because the procedure uses only local anesthesia, patients do not face the risk of complications sometimes associated with general anesthesia. And because so little adjacent tissue is disrupted, less bleeding, bruising, and swelling occur. A compression garment still must be worn for 2 weeks, substantially shorter than the time needed following traditional liposuction.

Patients should remember that while Smartlipo is quick and minimally-invasive, it is still a surgical procedure. Muscle ache and stiffness around the treated areas is common for a few days. You need to avoid strenuous physical activity for about a week, though Dr. Sorokin encourages walking and light exercise as soon as possible following the procedure. Most patients are ready to return to work after a couple of days.