At our practice in Richmond, liposuction is an extremely common plastic surgery procedure performed on both men and women patients. Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, is a reshaping procedure that slims specific areas of the body by removing excess fatty deposits beneath the skin. Oftentimes we see our patients working tirelessly in the gym and eating very healthy and are still unable to lose stubborn fat and extra skin. In situations like this, liposuction might be the best procedure for you.
Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Darrin Hubert will meet with you in his office to discuss your goals and how to achieve your desired look. Dr. Hubert strives to deliver the best liposuction Richmond residents can rely on while placing patient saftey and communication as his top priorities.
Liposuction is a body contouring plastic surgery procedure that is designed to remove and eliminate fat from unwanted areas of the body. It is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world, with over a quarter of a million people getting lipo in the United States every year.
Different surgeons have their own methods for performing liposuction. Below, we’ve included information about the procedure, the cutting edge Vaser Liposuction—which is one of Dr. Hubert’s favorites—and information about Dr. Darrin Hubert.
Subcutaneous vs. Visceral fatty tissue. As it turns out, not all fatty tissue is the same. The layer right below the surface of the skin is called subcutaneous adipose. It is this layer that liposuction targets and sculpts into a nice contour. The other main area of extra fatty tissue in the body is found within the abdomen itself, around all the organs, and is called visceral adipose. Unfortunately, due to the potential for injury to those organs, liposuction cannot remove this type of fatty tissue. Only weight loss affects the visceral fatty stores.
As an established plastic surgery practice in Richmond, we’ve had the benefit of seeing hundreds if not thousands of lipo patients in our office. Below, we’ve included some of the advantages that we see firsthand with our RVA lipo patients.
The procedure almost instantly gives our patients more self-confidence
Remove unwanted fat from your body
While it’s not a weight loss solution, you can expect to lose a little bit of weight
Fit better in the clothes you desire to wear
The surgery can be done on multiple different areas of the body, so there can be different candidates depending on which area you are getting the surgery performed on. If you fit the following criteria you might be a good candidate for lipo:
Candidates should have realistic expectations of the operation
Candidates should not smoke cigarettes
Candidates usually have unwanted fat that they’d like removed for aesthetic and functional reasons
Before a date can be set for the liposuction procedure, the patient must meet with Dr. Hubert for a consultation. This process will involve a discussion of the patient’s needs and goals, their complete medical and surgical history, and the details of the procedure. Liposuction is ideal for non-smokers since it requires skin that has a high degree of elasticity. Smokers must quit several weeks before the procedure and continue to avoid smoking for weeks afterward in order to ensure that the recovery process goes as smoothly as possible. During the consultation, Dr. Hubert will evaluate the trouble areas of the patient’s body to determine the best technique. A surgical plan can then be created using traditional liposuction or VASER Lipo System.
Common areas for liposuction include the tummy (abdomen), flanks and waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, inner part of the knees, upper arms, chest, back, and neck. The technique uses skinny metal tubes (cannulas) to put in a wetting solution and then suck out the fat cells through small incisions with a minimum of scarring. It can be performed by itself, or in combination with other procedures such as a tummy tuck or breast surgeries. Dr. Hubert uses his experience and creativity to help you come up with a plan that best addresses your individual wishes and needs. Liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss and works best on localized fatty collections beneath the skin.
Dr. Hubert utilizes the exciting and cutting-edge technology of the VASERlipo system. This minimally invasive system uses ultrasound energy to assist in breaking up the individual fat cells, making them easier to remove, especially in stubborn areas. After the ultrasound part of the procedure is finished, regular liposuction is used to “clean up” and remove the unwanted tissues broken up by the ultrasound energy. The VASERlipo procedure is especially useful in denser areas of the body where fibrous tissue is mixed in with the fatty tissue. These areas include the male chest, the lower back, hips, love handles, and thighs. The VASERlipo system is effective and offers long-lasting body-contouring results.
Most liposuction procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, with you going home the same day. During your liposuction recovery, make sure to follow Dr. Hubert’s post-surgical care directions as closely as possible in order to minimize complications. Medication will be prescribed as needed. Patients will need to take time off from work, typically around one week. With traditional liposuction, strenuous activities like heavy exercise and sports can be resumed after four to six weeks. It is normal to experience a degree of bruising and swelling in the treated areas; these will fade in time. Patients wear a fitted compression garment after surgery, usually for a period of at least several weeks, to help keep any swelling to a minimum and to help the skin heal in an appropriate position. Also, the wetting solution that is infiltrated to help break up the fatty tissue can leak out of the incisions for the first day or so. Sometimes it can be quite a lot. Patients simply change absorptive pads to soak up the drainage, and it eventually stops on its own. After the procedure, the immediate change will be apparent in the treated regions in the form of a reduction in volume. A majority of the swelling subsides by two weeks. However, most patients experience slow and steady improvement for 3-4 months, when all of the swelling is gone and, patients can see the final results of their liposuction procedure.
As an experienced liposuction Richmond plastic surgeon, Dr. Hubert will meet with you in his office to discuss all options and pricing. The cost of a liposuction procedure varies from patient to patient. This is because there are a number of variables involved, including the type of liposuction used (VASER or traditional), the amount of excess stubborn fat to be treated, and the number of areas to be targeted. The procedure is often more affordable than many patients assume, and Dr. Hubert also has financing options available.
During your appointment for getting liposuction in Richmond, Dr. Hubert will discuss the different techniques and options available. To arrange your consultation with Dr. Hubert, contact our practice today and set up your appointment. We’ll be available to answer your questions and walk you through your chosen procedure.
before
after
View before-and-after pictures of real patients of Darrin Hubert, MD, FACS
Your Liposuction questions answered
What’s the difference between liposuction and a tummy tuck?
There are similarities in the procedures but the way they are performed is quite different. While both operations intend to remove stubborn fat, liposuction does not remove excess skin or tighten the abdominal muscles, whereas a tummy tuck does. The best way to figure out which procedure is best for you will be during your consultation.
Can I combine liposuction with a tummy tuck?
Yes, oftentimes, the surgery can be combined with a tummy tuck for optimal results when treating the abdomen area. By combining the two procedures, it allows for removal of the right amount of extra fatty tissue, as well as excess skin, from the right areas, while keeping the scars to only what is necessary.
Can I combine liposuction with breast surgeries?
During a mommy makeover procedure, our patients oftentimes will combine lipo with breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction surgery.
What are the risks and complications of liposuction?
As with all plastic surgery procedures, there are certain complications. In general, if you’re going to a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Hubert, the operation should be very safe and straightforward. However, possible compilations include:
& testimonials
Dr. Hubert and his staff are very professional and courteous. Both he and his nurse take time to answer my questions, and make sure I understand everything. Dr. Hubert also promptly conducts a follow up after surgery and when there are any concerns.
Out of town
Dr. Darrin M. Hubert extends a warm welcome to patients from other cities, states, and countries. We understand that finding your perfect match in a surgeon may require you to travel far away from your home and we are thrilled to help you plan your exciting journey to beauty and confidence.
