Category: Liposuction

Should I Get a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

Posted on by Dr. Fichadia

There are many procedures that are available to patients in the cosmetic industry. Some of the most sought-after are tummy tucks and liposuction, because many individuals find themselves frustrated with excess fat in their belly. Understanding the difference between these two procedures can help you to determine just which one you should be scheduling.

Are These Procedures The Same Thing?

It’s a common misconception that tummy tucks and liposuction are the same types of procedure. The truth is that they’re not. While both procedures may be geared towards changing the physical appearance of the midsection, each does so in its own way. Each procedure comes with its own recovery time, risks, and other key differences.

Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most well-known procedures for its ability to remove stubborn fat deposits from problem areas of the body. During this procedure, the patient is intravenously sedated so the procedure is pain-free. Your surgeon will make incisions in the abdominal region and insert a thin tube. This tube is called a cannula and is moved underneath the skin by your surgeon. This cannula will loosen up fat deposits and the medical vacuum attached to it will suck the fat deposits out.

Tummy Tuck

When you undergo a tummy tuck, you’ll be put under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will make an incision at the bottom of the abdominal wall. They’ll then sew together the abdominal muscles that have become stretched out. The skin will then be tightened over the new abdominal region and any excess will be removed. To finish the procedure, your surgeon will utilize sutures to close up the body. This procedure takes about two to three hours to complete.

Am I A Good Candidate?

Tummy tucks and liposuction can be very appealing procedures for many with the obvious goal of getting rid of excess fat. However, the desire to have a toned body alone isn’t the only element of being a successful candidate. Each procedure has its own list of ideal candidates.

Liposuction is best performed on those individuals who are looking to remove a small amount of fat in key areas of the body. These include the butt, thighs, hips, and stomach. This procedure is aimed at removing small amounts of fat deposits in targeted areas to help reduce fat bulges and improve the contour of of the body. Those who are obese or whose weight fluctuates significantly are not good candidates for liposuction, as it doesn’t remove a large amount of fat.

Tummy tuck candidates are those who have undergone a significant shift in their weight levels. This could be through losing an excessive amount of body fat or pregnancy. The tummy tuck helps to restore the look of a contoured midsection by removing excess fat and loose skin in the abdominal region.

Schedule A Consultation Today

If you’re still not sure whether or not liposuction or a tummy tuck is right for you, give Dr. Hetal Fichadia a call today to schedule a consultation. She can discuss with you the best option for your unique situation that will provide you with the desired results you’ve been hoping for.

Busting Some Common Myths About Liposuction

Posted on by Dr. Fichadia

Liposuction is a popular surgical body contouring method, using tiny incisions and a cannula to break up and remove stubborn fat cells from areas like the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and upper arms. Although liposuction is highly popular, there are still some misconceptions surrounding treatment. Here are some of the most common liposuction myths explained.

  1. You can get rid of belly fat with liposuction

Although the procedure may aid the reduction of belly fat, it is not necessarily aimed at that. Liposuction only removes subcutaneous fat situated in between the skin and the muscle. Only a healthy diet and regular workouts can curb belly fat.

  1. Only women are eligible for liposuction

This is quite far from the truth. The surgical procedure is for both men and women. Men commonly choose to have liposuction on the chest to improve gynecomastia, the abdomen to define the muscles, and the flanks.

  1. You get back normal activities immediately after liposuction

Remember, liposuction is a surgical procedure. That means it has a recovery process. Its after-effects include soreness around the areas treated, bruises, and some swelling but they all disappear after a few days to a few weeks. It takes about four to six weeks for a patient to recover fully.

  1. Liposuction is quick weight loss technique

The procedure is not for weight loss. While a patient may notice a little loss in weight after the procedure, it takes a healthy lifestyle and serious exercises to lose weight and stay in shape.

  1. Removed fat will return after the procedure

Fortunately, fat removed during liposuction is gone for good. However, untreated areas of the body are still susceptible to weight gain, which could distort your results. So, if you don’t maintain a good lifestyle, there could be another fat deposit soon after the procedure. An unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle will take you back to square one in no time.

  1. It fixes lax skin

Fat deposit is not the only cause of lax skin. Dropped elasticity and sagging skin are more common culprits. In fact, in many cases, the three contribute to lax skin. In such cases, liposuction alone will not fix the problem. You have to undergo a skin tightening procedure instead.

  1. The procedure is dangerous

Again, this one is also a yes and no. Like with any surgical procedure, it is dangerous because it has a little bit of risk. On the other hand, if it is done by a highly experienced and board-certified surgeon, its chances of success will be close to 100%. In addition, you also have to follow the pre and post-surgery instructions to the letter to make it even safer.

One surgeon that is highly experienced in the procedure is Dr. Fichadia. She is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and she has been practicing for several years.

  1. It is not safe for older people

Truth being said, this is partially true. You have to exhibit some signs of good health before you are allowed to undergo the procedure. Unfortunately, one out of every three old people in the United States suffers from at least one medical condition. So, maybe that is why it seems that many of them are not eligible for the surgery.

  1. Liposuction takes care of cellulite

No, it doesn’t. Cellulite is deeper than the subcutaneous fat that liposuction removes. It removes only the soft and fatty tissue and not the fibrous bands causing cellulite.

To learn more about liposuction and how you can benefit, contact our office and schedule your consultation with Dr. Fichardia today.

 

After Liposuction, Can Fat Pockets Return?

Posted on by Dr. Fichadia

Liposuction is a popular form of cosmetic surgery in the US. The beauty of getting liposuction is that the results are immediate as it instantly gets rid of unwanted and excess body fat. This dramatically improves the body contour and shape. Liposuction is an especially effective method for removing stubborn fat that seems resistant to shrinking, even with regular exercise and dieting. Other than the near immediate results that this procedure provides, most patients are concerned about its long-term results. One of the common questions that candidates ask is whether fat will return after having liposuction.

Liposuction for fat removal

The main aim of undergoing liposuction is to remove fat cells from a targeted or localized area on your body. Dr. Hetal Fichadia is a double board-certified plastic surgeon that is experienced in performing liposuction. As a cosmetic surgeon, she closely evaluates every case to ensure that all her patients are satisfied with their results. Several techniques are used in liposuction, but all have the goal of eliminating excess fat. In contrast to dieting, which makes fat cells shrink, liposuction uses a hollow tube called a cannula, to suction out the fatty tissue. Thus, liposuction permanently removes excess fat from localized areas in your body.

Can this fat return?

The best way to maintain your liposuction results is to have it done when you are at a stable, healthy weight that you can maintain. Any increase in weight after the surgery will hinder its results, as they will be less dramatic. The patient needs to maintain their “post-lipo weight” to preserve the results and to maximize the body contour achieved after liposuction. It is still possible to gain fat in other areas of the body not touched by liposuction. A small or moderate weight gain may diminish the results of liposuction, but the improved body shape will still be visible. This is because the areas targeted by liposuction have fewer fat deposits than the rest of the body. However, if you experience a significant weight gain, fat cells all around your body will enlarge and eventually proliferate, including those in the targeted areas for liposuction. The effect after significant weight gain will be more noticeable in the untreated areas but will ultimately affect the whole body. Thus, if you undergo liposuction and gain weight, you will still look better than having not done the surgery at all.

How to ensure your liposuction results last

The most vital aspect that can significantly affect your liposuction results is your weight. If you want long-term results, you will need to maintain a healthy weight after surgery. By incorporating regular exercise and a balanced diet, you can be sure that your results will be long-lasting.

Dr. Fichadia will provide you with post-procedure instructions to follow to get the best results.

Schedule a Consultation

To learn more about liposuction and how to get started on your journey to your ideal look, come into Dr. Fichadia’s office. Call 503 488 2344 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fichadia to see if liposuction will be beneficial to you.

 

 

Your Treatment Options For A Double Chin

Posted on by Dr. Fichadia

Studies show that a vast majority of Americans are bothered by fullness under the chin, otherwise known as a double chin, or submental fullness in medical speak. Even with weight loss, this can be a difficult area to slim down. Sometimes, it can have a genetic component that makes it as much harder to treat on your own. Fortunately, we have very effective cosmetic treatments for a double chin. They range from non-invasive office procedure, to a surgical neck lift. The treatments are tailored to your specific concerns, and recovery time.

Kybella

This unique injectable option is made specifically to remove fat from the chin area. It’s made from deoxycholic acid, which is found in the body’s digestive system and aids in the breakdown of fat cells. It involves a series of injections that can take a few months to fully address a double chin. On an average, patients require 2-3 treatment sessions.  It avoids invasive surgical techniques, and each 15-20 minute session can easily be fit into your busy schedule. Patients with mild to moderate fullness, and good skin tone are ideal candidates for this.  Side effects include swelling and numbness at the injection area. The swelling can last for 1-2 weeks, and it can take up to 6 weeks for full improvement to be apparent. The fat cells that are dissolved are permanently removed by your immune system. It is not indicated if loose skin is a greater concern than excess fat.  If you’re a busy professional looking for non-surgical options, Kybella might be for you.

Liposuction

This is another method for permanent treatment of addressing double chin. Chin liposuction can be done as an office procedure using numbing medicine (local anesthesia). Dr. Fichadia will make a small incision under the chin to gain access to pockets of fat. Once the fat is loosened using a thin metal tube, it’s suctioned out and the incisions are closed. Patients are generally prescribed anti-anxiety medicine to be taken before the procedure.  During recovery, you may need to wear a compression garment to prevent swelling for the first week. You can generally return to light office-work within a few days. Side effects include mild bruising, which can be concealed with make up after the first week. Its benefits over Kybella include the need for only a single treatment. Just like Kybella, patients with moderate fat excess and elastic skin are good candidates for this treatment. It doesn’t address any significant skin loosening.

Neck Lift

If you have loose skin in addition to excess fat in the chin, then Dr. Fichadia may recommend a neck lift. The neck lift specifically treats the lower face and neck area where excess fat and skin can cause a double chin and neck bands. This procedure requires general anesthesia. Dr. Fichadia makes incisions (under the chin and around the ear) to gain access to the underlying fat and loose skin, which is draped. Any extra skin can be trimmed, and this can tighten the neck and create a youthful contour. Your downtime will depend on the extent of your procedure, but it can take about 2 weeks for the incisions to heal and bruising to settle.

Some patients choose a direct excision neck lift where the incision is made in the front of the neck to address the excess skin directly. The benefits are quicker recovery and minimal bruising, but the tradeoff is a visible scar in the front of your neck.

Schedule a Consultation

Dr Fichadia strongly believes in individualizing treatment plan for each patient based on his or her anatomy, priorities and lifestyle. The best way to determine which treatment option is best for you is through a consultation with Dr. Fichadia in  our Portland OR office.  Contact our office at (503) 488-2344 or send us a message to get started

Your Most Common Liposuction Questions Answered

Posted on by Dr. Fichadia

Liposuction is a highly popular fat reduction method that can help contour different parts of your body! There are several questions and myths that surround the procedure. Here are some of the myths I’ve come across during patient consultations:

Liposuction is a weight loss tool

While liposuction effectively removes pockets of stubborn fat that you can’t get rid of with diet and exercise, it is not a weight loss tool. Common problem areas treated with liposuction include the abdomen, flanks, hips, back, and thighs. For the best results from your liposuction procedure, you should be within your ideal weight range and be committed to a healthy lifestyle before and after the procedure.

Liposuction is only for women

Cosmetic procedures are popular among women, however, that doesn’t mean they’re not for men! Men can benefit from liposuction to recontour their figure and remove stubborn fat, just like women can. With liposuction for men, the male figure is taken into consideration to sculpt a masculine, toned physique.

Liposuction gets rid of cellulite, stretch marks or sagging skin

Despite popular belief, the presence of cellulite is not due to fat alone, but connective tissue causing dimpling in the skin. Liposuction is not meant to treat cellulite. Similarly, it is not effective at treating stretch marks or sagging skin. In fact, these problems may worsen after liposuction.

The fat will return after liposuction

Once fat cells are removed during the liposuction process, they are removed permanently. This means you can still gain weight in untreated areas, so maintaining a healthy weight after treatment is very important if you want to ensure long-lasting results. In addition, with a significant weight gain (over 10-20 lbs), the existing fat cells in the treated areas can become larger, reversing some of the benefits.

In addition, here are the most common questions about liposuction:

What does liposuction entail?

Liposuction is an invasive procedure that involves a series of small incisions less than one centimeter long. Most commonly, it is done using tumescent technique that reduces bruising and blood loss. First, a diluted fluid of numbing medicine (local anesthetic) and epinephrine (capillary constrictor) is injected into the area being treated. Thin metal tubes called cannulas are then inserted into the body through tiny incisions in the skin. The surgeon attaches the cannula to suction and remove the unwanted fat.

Is it right for me?

As discussed earlier, an ideal candidate is a healthy individual close to their ideal body weight who has stubborn pockets of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise. Although liposuction can improve body contour at any weight, those with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 are typically not good candidates for the treatment.

Another important thing to consider is your skin’s elasticity. In general, young patients, who are non-smokers with minimal sun damage, have the best elasticity. With aging, our skin loses its ability to bounce back after being stretched, so older patients or those removing a large amount of fat could be left with sagging skin following the procedure

What is the recovery like?

Unless it’s a very high volume liposuction, you should be able to go home the same day after liposuction. Pain and discomfort depends on the amount of liposuction performed. Usually, the significant pain lasts for the first 2-3 days, and mild pain may persist for several weeks. Patients may also experience tingling and numbness in the areas treated for a few weeks. Most doctors recommend taking at a week off from work and your regular routine. (Those who undergo a small amount of liposuction may only need a few days.) To prevent blood clots and discourage swelling, light walking is usually recommended starting the day of surgery. Heavy exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for two to three weeks.

You’ll likely see some results immediately after surgery, but swelling and bruising are normal and take weeks to resolve. Some residual swelling can persist for several months. It’s also common to have some weight gain due to swelling and the tumescent fluid that was injected. This resolves over time. Most people see final results six months after surgery, but you may continue to see improvements for up to a year.

The use of a compression garment is often recommended for anywhere from three to six weeks. These garments are beneficial for decreasing the amount of bruising and swelling, and helping loose skin to retract. The final result is achieved sooner with the use of these garments.

You will have a few small (less than a centimeter) incisions.  Just like any other scar, they will mature over the first year.  The scar can feel firm initially, but as it matures, it becomes soft, pale, flat, and less noticeable. Some people are prone to hypertrophic scars or keloids, which are abnormal scars that become prominent. If you or a family member has a tendency for these types of scars, please bring up this information at the time of your consultation.

What are the risks and trade-offs for liposuction?

Complications are infrequent with surgery performed by qualified surgeons for the right candidates. However, there are risks with any surgery. Bumpiness of the skin and contour irregularity can happen, especially after large volume liposuction. In addition, medical complications, such as blood clots to legs and lungs can occur, especially after prolonged surgery. Individuals with dark skin tone are also prone to dark pigmentation of the skin after liposuction.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are thinking about liposuction, or to schedule your consultation with Dr. Fichadia, contact our Portland, OR office today.