Liposuction in Boston.

Introduction to Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical body contouring procedure that removes localized deposits of fat from specific areas of the body. Common treatment areas include the abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, back, upper arms, chest, mons pubis, and the area beneath the chin and along the neck.

Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure and is not a treatment for obesity. It removes subcutaneous fat—the fat located beneath the skin—but cannot remove visceral fat located deeper in the abdomen around the internal organs. It also does not remove loose skin or reliably improve cellulite.

However, liposuction is an excellent addition to many other body contouring procedures.  Liposuction is most commonly done with a face and neck lift, tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, or breast lift. It can be performed safely during a mommy makeover. In addition, the fat that is removed can be used to augment other parts of the body, such as the face, breasts, and hips (to remove hip-dip). 

Dr. Rita Sadowski approaches liposuction as a contouring operation rather than simply a method of removing as much fat as possible. Surgical planning considers where fat is located, the thickness and quality of the surrounding tissues, skin elasticity, overall body proportions, health, lifestyle, and the patient’s goals. Connect with our team to schedule a consultation for liposuction in the Chestnut Hill area of Boston.

Are You a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Candidates for liposuction generally include patients who:

  • Have localized areas of subcutaneous fat they would like to reduce
  • Are at a reasonably stable weight
  • Have adequate skin elasticity in the treatment area or are willing to combine liposuction with another procedure to remove excess skin
  • Are in good overall health
  • Do not consume nicotine in any form (smoke, vape, troche, etc.), or are willing to stop nicotine use both before and after surgery
  • Have realistic expectations about contour, symmetry, scars, and recovery
  • Understand that liposuction is body-contouring surgery rather than a method of significant weight loss

Common treatment areas include the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and upper arms, mons pubis, and submental neck, although the areas that may be appropriate for treatment will depend on your individual anatomy and goals.

Skin elasticity affects how the treated area contours after fat removal, so Dr. Sadowski will evaluate your skin quality, anatomy, overall health, and goals during your consultation. Medical conditions that increase your risks of surgery require careful evaluation before surgery. The extent of liposuction and the number of areas treated can also affect surgical planning and risk, and will be discussed during a consultation. Please contact our team in the Chestnut Hill area of Boston to learn more and schedule your consultation with Dr. Sadowski.

Your Consultation with Dr. Sadowski

During your consultation, Dr. Sadowski will discuss what you would like to change, examine the areas you would like to address, and explain which approach may be appropriate for your anatomy. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about the procedure, recovery, potential results, risks, and limitations. Before-and-after photographs may also be reviewed to help you develop a realistic understanding of what liposuction can and cannot accomplish.

Dr. Sadowski will review your medical history, including any conditions or medications that may affect your candidacy or recovery. She will also discuss incision placement and where small incisions may be positioned based on the treatment areas.

The Liposuction Procedure

Liposuction is generally performed through small incisions. A thin cannula is inserted through these openings to remove excess fat from the selected treatment areas. Depending on the extent of treatment and the areas involved, liposuction may be performed in our QuadA accredited facility in the Chestnut Hill suburb of Boston on an outpatient basis, allowing you to return home the same day.

Some patients combine liposuction with other procedures as part of a broader surgical plan. Whether combining procedures is appropriate depends on factors such as your overall health, the areas being treated, the extent of correction needed, and the additional recovery involved.

Dr. Sadowski will determine the appropriate surgical approach, including how much fat can be safely removed during the procedure.

What Other Procedures Can Be Combined With Liposuction?

Liposuction is frequently used as one component of a broader body-contouring operation. It may be combined with procedures such as:

  • Mommy Makeover
  • Breast augmentation
  • Upper or lower body lift
  • Fat grafting when removed fat is suitable for transfer

Liposuction and tummy tuck surgery address different anatomy. Liposuction removes selected fat beneath the skin. A tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and can repair separation or laxity of the abdominal wall when indicated. Some patients need only one of these procedures; others benefit from combining them.

A Mommy Makeover is also not a standardized operation. It describes an individualized combination of procedures that may address changes in the breasts, abdomen, waist, or other areas after pregnancy and childbirth. Liposuction may be one component of that plan.

Removed fat can sometimes be processed and transferred to another area of the body as fat grafting. Whether this is appropriate depends on the procedure, available donor fat, patient anatomy, and treatment goals.

Combining operations can provide advantages, but it also increases operative time and changes recovery and risk. Dr. Sadowski considers overall health, the extent of surgery, surgical positioning, and the amount of recovery a patient can realistically support before recommending combined procedures.

What To Expect After Surgery?

After surgery, you will need to wear a garment that provides compression, such as a girdle, for approximately six weeks. Swelling and other changes in the treated areas are expected during the healing process, and your final contours will become more apparent as swelling gradually subsides.

Your recovery timeline will depend on the extent of your procedure and how your body heals. Dr. Sadowski will provide specific postoperative instructions and monitor your progress during follow-up appointments.

Once you have healed, liposuction can produce a lasting change. Liposuction removes fat cells from the areas treated, but it does not prevent remaining fat cells from increasing in size with significant weight gain. Maintaining a relatively stable weight can help preserve the changes made through surgery.

During your consultation, Dr. Sadowski can discuss what you may reasonably expect based on the areas you are considering for treatment.

What Other Options Are There if I’m Not Ready for Surgery?

The appropriate alternative depends first on what you are trying to change.

If the primary concern is overall weight rather than a localized fat deposit, liposuction is not the appropriate substitute for weight management. Nutrition, physical activity, and medical treatment may be more appropriate.

Dr. Sadowski also offers GLP-1 medical weight management for appropriately selected patients. For some patients, medical weight management may be an important first step in reaching a healthier or more stable weight before deciding what, if any, body-contouring surgery is appropriate.

This distinction matters because weight loss and liposuction accomplish different things. Weight-management treatment changes overall body weight and fat mass. Liposuction selectively changes the amount of subcutaneous fat in particular areas.

Schedule Your Liposuction Consultation in Boston/Chestnut Hill

If you are considering liposuction,  a consultation with Dr. Sadowski in our Chestnut Hill office just 5 miles outside of Boston can help you understand whether the procedure is appropriate for you. You can discuss your goals, anatomy, medical history, treatment options, recovery, potential benefits and limitations, and alternatives to surgery.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options.

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