Which type of liposuction would be best for shrinking my mid section? (photo)

Dear tangielee,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

In your case there are many different ways to address your concerns. My suggestion would be to perform liposuction with skin tightening using renuvion or vaser. I think both modalities work great and will certainly help your skin retract after the procedure. Depending on who you talk to many could suggest doing a mini or full tuck with the liposuction, in your case i probably wouldn’t unless your goals were to significantly improve skin laxity or any muscular laxity. I always tell patients to really pay attention and ask themselves ‘is the surgeon listening to me’ IE are they giving you suggestions within the context of what you’re looking for or are they just telling you what they think you should have without listening to you? Whatever you decide on be sure to ask for recent before and after pictures that are not the stock images from the website.

For shrinking your midsection, the type of liposuction best suited to your needs depends on factors like your body type, the amount of fat to be removed, and your desired results. Keep in mind that liposuction is not a weight loss solution. While it can effectively remove stubborn fat in specific areas, it is designed for body contouring rather than overall weight reduction. The procedure should be seen as a way to enhance body shape, not as a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise.
Traditional Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL) is the most common method, where a cannula is used to suction out fat, while Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) adds vibration to make fat removal quicker and less traumatic, especially for larger areas.
Ultrasonic-Assisted Liposuction (UAL) and VASER Liposuction use ultrasound to liquefy fat before removal, which is effective for dense fat and may help with skin tightening. Laser-Assisted Liposuction melts fat with a laser, which may also tighten the skin.
For larger areas like the midsection, general anesthesia is typically recommended for comfort and safety, although some procedures may be done with local anesthesia with sedation for smaller areas.
Recovery time for desk jobs is typically 5-7 days, and activity restrictions for 3-4 weeks, but this can vary depending on the extent of the procedure and individual healing (for example, you may have bruising/swelling for up to 3 months).
Skill and experience of your plastic surgeon are important factors in achieving the best results.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

The most important factors in achieving high-quality liposuction results are the size of the cannula used and the experience of the surgeon. A smaller cannula is less likely to cause contour irregularities, though it can make the procedure take a bit longer. Ultimately, the skill and approach of the surgeon are the dominant factors in determining outcomes, far outweighing the type of device used.

Your recovery will depend on the extent of liposuction performed. For the midsection, the procedure is best done under general anesthesia to ensure comfort and optimal results. Local anesthesia is typically only used for smaller areas or to reduce costs, but it’s not ideal for more extensive procedures like yours.

Given your goal, you’re not asking for anything out of the ordinary. If you’re receiving quotes that seem excessively high, it’s worth consulting other experienced surgeons. For a desk job from home, you can generally expect to return to work within 7-10 days, depending on the extent of the procedure.

Unfortunately, you have been the successful target of a multi-decades long campaign (by companies and practitioners) to fool potential patients into thinking that different results are gotten by different devices, or 'the best result' is gotten by a specific liposuction device. This is absolutely incorrect. The quality of liposuction results is only influenced by one factor: the training, skill, and expertise of the surgeon performing the surgery.

There are a variety of forms of liposuction. Liposuction by itself takes out fat then various mechanisms are used to try and tighten the skin. Liposuction of the abdomen would cost about $7,000 and takes 2 hours to perform under general anesthesia. You should be able to go back to work in 1 week after surgery.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Liposuction removes excess fat from the midsection, with approaching the front of the abdomen, flanks and back to decrease one's waistline. Liposuction traditionally used SAL, suction- assisted; today PAL power- assisted is more frequently performed. Ultrasound helps melt the fat and may help to tighten the skin. Radiofrequency and helium are at times used to help tighten skin. Other patients benefit from a tummy tuck.
It takes on average 6 months for the swelling to subside and see the final results.
Pricing is quite variable for liposuction.

There is no doubt that you get better results under local than you do under general anesthesia because your doc can stand you up during the procedure to fine tune the results under local. It is totally comfortable with no pain if you get a little iv sedation. That being said, the experience of your doc is so important to being able to get the high quality results your deserve. Avoid chain lipo centers since you get what you pay for with them and never see your same doc before or after the procedure. Quality comes at a price but a fare price is between $10-15,000. Be sure to get bodytite/Quantum and Morpheus at the same time to get that tightening of the skin for best results.

It really comes down to finding the right surgeon. Of course, having the correct equipment is essential but liposuction is removal of fat using a cannula connected to negative pressure. The most important component is who’s driving the cannula. During you consult, ask about the liposuction equipment used such as powered hand pieces and cannula diameters and lengths. Ask about the actual technique, the incisions and their placement, the exact areas and boundaries that will be addressed, the positions used for the surgery, the numbing solution and how it’s delivered. Look around at different review sites and see what people are saying specifically about the liposuction for that doctor. Review the before and afters and make sure you find a bunch of them you like. Do a follow up consultation with your top choice doctor or doctors. As for awake verses general, 99% of our patients choose to be awake and that’s because our extensive numbing. Feel free to book a consult and I’ll review it all with you.

You seem to be right candidate for body contouring with liposuction. Regardless of the technique used for liposuction it is a selection of the surgeon that you need to have in mind. A board certified plastic surgeon with good reputation in body contouring surgery would be your best choice. Check the website for before and after. Good luck.