What is Lipsuction?

Liposuction or Liposculpture is a plastic surgery technique that allows removal of unwanted fat from specific areas of the body. Fatty accumulations of the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, inner thighs, and arms are often under genetic control. Women and men gain weight in very specific locations. Women tend to gain weight in the abdomen, hips, outer thighs, inner thighs, and arms. This is what I call “the big 5”.

On the other hand, men gain weight along the love handles, central abdomen, chest, and neck. It is interesting to note that you’ll almost never see a man with saddlebag accumulations along the outer thighs or along the back and arms which are very common in women. Additionally, these fatty accumulations tend to get worse and women after pregnancy and during menopause. It appears that during surges or a dropping off of female hormones, the fatty areas that are predisposed to fatty accumulations become worse.

Despite working out and eating well, these “genetic” areas of fatty accumulations continue to persist. We’ve noted that even after significant weight loss, many patients will lose weight preferentially in their face, neck, and shoulders, but not in those areas of “genetic” fat.

It is amazing to us to see that removing specific areas of fatty accumulations with liposuction can dramatically improve the overall body contour. Many patients tell us that they’re clothes fit better and that for the first time in many years they can wear a bikini.

Advanced Liposuction Techniques

Liposuction procedures involve removing fat from specific areas of the body with a long, thin metal tube called a cannula. Tumescent liposuction has become a standard procedure at Dr. Chasan’s liposuction practice in San Diego. Tumescent liposuction requires the infusion of a large amount of diluted local anesthetic solution into the tissues prior to performing liposuction. By increasing the pressure in the tissues and constricting the blood vessels with epinephrine (adrenaline), Dr. Chasan performs the liposuction procedure with less blood loss, bruising and pain than the conventional liposuction of the past.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction is a relatively new technique that uses sound waves to “liquefy” unwanted fat. Dr. Chasan uses this procedure to remove fat from fibrous body areas or for revisionary liposuction. Power-assisted liposuction utilizes a vibrating cannula to provide smoother results.

Liposuction in San Diego

As a liposuction specialist, Dr. Chasan performs all three types of liposuction techniques. He makes minimal incisions in the targeted areas. He then inserts the cannula and suctions out the fat. Liposuction procedure takes approximately one to three hours depending on the number of areas being treated. Most of Dr. Chasan’s liposuction patients are back to work in just a few days.