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Liposuction
Liposuction
Almost everyone’s had the frustrating experience of eating right and staying active only to find that a few stubborn problem spots remain behind even after reaching your target weight. Liposuction slims down isolated fatty deposits in and near areas including like the muffin top, love handles or inner thighs to fine-tune your figure in a way that enhances your healthy lifestyle and brings out the best in your body.
Recognized as body contouring specialists, Dr. James Koehler and Dr. Vincent Gardner are some of the top cosmetic surgeons near the Mobile-Pensacola metro area. Eastern Shore Cosmetic Surgery offers a wide range of plastic surgery procedures for both men and women, and we are known for our caring commitment to a patient-first approach while achieving absolutely excellent results.
Are You a Candidate?
Although liposuction is often confused with weight loss surgery, the procedure is cosmetic in nature and delivers the best results in men and women who are already at or near a healthy target weight. Liposuction does remove fat, but if you also struggle with excessive loose skin or separated abdominal muscles in addition to excess fat, you might be a better candidate for a tummy tuck or other body contouring procedures.
The best candidates for liposuction are in good general physical and mental health and have realistic expectations about their final results. It’s also a good idea to already practice a healthy lifestyle before scheduling liposuction. Although fat cells will not come back following lipo, it’s important to understand that the surgery can’t prevent future weight gain – so a commitment to staying near your existing weight after getting lipo is essential to ensure the best possible long-term results.
Before and After Photos
About Liposuction
For the right candidates, liposuction can be very successful and beneficial for a number of reasons, including:
- Targeted fat removal in common trouble spots like the love handles, thighs, back and even a double chin.
- Improved body contours by removing stubborn fat deposits.
- Fairly quick results that can be visible nearly immediately and will gradually improve over time.
- A relatively short recovery period compared to other more extensive procedures.
- Boosted self esteem and confidence.
- Better-fitting clothing.
- Motivation to maintain healthy eating and exercise habits long-term.
- Easily combined with other body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, breast lift, breast augmentation and more.
Benefits of Liposuction
There are two different types of fat in the body: visceral and subcutaneous. Visceral fat is responsible for significant weight gain and develops deep within the body around the organs. The only way to reduce visceral fat is to lose weight through diet and exercise, or with the help of bariatric surgery. Subcutaneous fat, on the other hand, exists just beneath the skin and is the “pinchable” fat you can feel. This type of fat can be resistant to diet and exercise efforts and is what liposuction is able to effectively remove.
Examples of common liposuction target areas include the waistline, love handles, back, chest, inner and outer thighs, upper arms and even through the upper neck to eliminate a double chin. It is very common to combine liposuction with other body contouring procedures, including those that are performed after weight loss or as part of a mommy makeover.
We are excited to offer Pro-Nox pain relief that can be added to any of the in-office procedures we perform. Pro-Nox is an inhaled analgesic that gives our patients 100% control through self-administration. Get short-term pain, anxiety, and stress relief without having to “go under.”
What to Expect at Your Consultation
Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Koehler or Dr. Gardner is the first step toward beautiful liposuction results. During this initial meeting, your surgeon will conduct a physical evaluation to ensure that you’re a good candidate for the procedure, as well as discuss your hopes for surgery. Having a clear understanding of your expectations helps your surgeon decide what the best technical approach will be to help you reach those goals. In some cases, Dr. Koehler or Dr. Gardner may recommend combining liposuction with a tummy tuck or other procedure in order to best achieve your specific goals.
This is also an excellent time to ask any questions that you might have about liposuction or other procedures that you might be considering. Some questions that may be helpful to ask at your liposuction consultation include:
- Is liposuction the best body contouring procedure for me?
- How many liposuction procedures have you performed?
- Where will my procedure be performed?
- What are the potential risks or complications associated with liposuction?
- How can I prepare for liposuction?
- What can I expect during recovery after liposuction?
- When will I see my final liposuction results?
Dr. Koehler
Educated at the University of Alabama and in practice for over 20 years, Dr. Koehler is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon who is devoted to providing exceptional results.
Dr. Gardner
A triple-board-certified surgeon specializing in both cosmetic and venous procedures, Dr. Gardner brings a depth of expertise, compassion, and innovation to our practice.
Risks and Complications
Liposuction is a surgical procedure and therefore comes with some risks and the potential for complications. These risks can include the potential for an adverse reaction to anesthesia or excessive bleeding, although major complications after liposuction are rare. Minor complications could occur that do not affect the final outcome of your results. The likelihood of adverse side effects is greatly reduced by choosing an experienced surgeon like Dr. Koehler or Dr. Gardner. A comprehensive explanation of the risks and benefits is one of the things that will be reviewed during your consultation.
How Is Liposuction Performed?
Your surgeon will begin tumescent liposuction by injecting a special saline solution into the treatment area to help break apart fat cells in order to facilitate their withdrawal via suction. The tumescent solution also helps to control bleeding and includes a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during and after surgery. Small incisions are then created, through which a small, hollow medical tube called a cannula is inserted. Targeted fat cells are removed via suction and the incisions are sutured and dressed.
Liposuction usually takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete. However, this will depend on the size and number of areas being treated during one procedure. We can give you a better idea of what your specific surgery day might look like based on the specifics of your procedure.
Liposuction Recovery
After liposuction, you can expect to see some bruising and swelling near the treatment area, although most patients find that any initial discomfort can be managed with oral medication. Wearing a compression garment for the first few weeks after surgery will help to control the swelling and expel any remaining tumescent fluid more quickly, as well as encourage skin and tissue to conform to your new contours.
Most people are able to be up and moving around within the first few days after getting lipo. While you may return to work within 1 week, you may still need to limit physical activity for a few more weeks, and you may be asked to wear your compression garment for several weeks.
We will ask you to schedule follow-up appointments to ensure that you are healing properly without signs of complications. During these follow-up visits, your surgeon can also provide guidance on when to begin reintroducing more strenuous physical activity into your routine. Many patients are able to resume their normal exercise routines in 4 to 6 weeks after getting lipo.
Liposuction Results
You should notice results nearly immediately after getting liposuction. However, swelling can initially hide your full results, so be patient as your body continues to heal and swelling begins to subside over the coming weeks and months. As swelling diminishes, your final results will become more and more visible, revealing a slimmer, more toned appearance. It can take 3 to 6 months for your final outcome to fully develop.
While liposuction results are permanent in the sense that the removed fat cells cannot return, it is still possible to regain fat after liposuction in the remaining cells and in untreated areas of your body. We recommend following the same healthy diet and exercise habits that you developed prior to surgery after surgery as well to maintain your results long-term.
Liposuction FAQs
How much does liposuction cost in the Mobile, AL area?
The cost of liposuction in Mobile, Alabama and the surrounding areas will depend on the size and number of areas you’d like to treat. During your consultation, we will be able to provide you with a more accurate and personalized liposuction cost estimate. We are also happy to discuss our cosmetic surgery financing options with you if you are interested.
Does insurance cover the cost of liposuction?
No, in the vast majority of cases, health insurance does not cover the cost of liposuction. This is because it is considered an elective procedure and not medically necessary. If you have specific questions about your health insurance coverage, call the number listed on the back of your insurance card to inquire further.
What are the weight requirements for liposuction?
While there is no single weight requirement for liposuction, Dr. Koehler and Dr. Gardner generally recommend that patients come within around 30 pounds of their target weight before moving forward. Your surgeon may also give you a BMI target to hit prior to getting surgery to help ensure your safety and optimal results.
Can I view before and after liposuction photos?
Yes. View our online gallery to see real before and after photos of previous liposuction patients in the Fairhope area and beyond. This can help you to get an idea of what your results might look like.
When bringing photos of your ideal body shape to your consultation, try to find examples of people with a similar build and body type as yours.
How do I choose the best cosmetic surgeon for liposuction near me?
Look for certification with the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, as well as affiliations with medical organizations such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. You also want to choose a cosmetic surgeon who has had plenty of experience performing liposuction and other body contouring treatments.
Overall, the office should be clean and organized and the staff should be friendly and helpful when you go in for an office visit.
Is liposuction painful?
Liposuction is typically performed under general anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during treatment. After getting liposuction, swelling, bruising and tenderness are common side effects. Your surgeon will go over pain management and recovery guidelines with you to help make your healing process as smooth and comfortable as possible.
How many inches can you lose with liposuction?
There is no set number of inches or pounds that everyone will lose with liposuction. In fact, the number on the scale may not drop by a very significant amount. However, the way you look and feel should drastically improve following your body contouring procedure. It is important to have realistic expectations and understand that liposuction is not a weight loss tool before moving forward with this procedure.
Can liposuction help with cellulite or loose skin?
No, liposuction cannot get rid of cellulite or loose skin. In fact, liposuction can sometimes make cellulite and loose skin more noticeable by removing excess fat. If you are bothered by either cellulite or loose skin, let Dr. Koehler or Dr. Gardner know during your consultation. He can recommend additional or alternative treatment options that will best address your cosmetic goals.
Can I combine liposuction with other procedures?
Yes. Liposuction is very commonly combined with other body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, breast lift or augmentation, thigh lift or as part of a mommy makeover.
Will I have scars after liposuction?
Liposuction involves very small incisions that will result in very small scars. However, Dr. Koehler and Dr. Gardner take great care to place these incisions as inconspicuous as possible, and because of how small they are, resulting scars are generally not very noticeable. Keep in mind that it can take a year or more for scars to fully mature and begin to fade.
Trending Topics on Liposuction
Read our blogs or listen to podcast episodes that discuss some of the latest hot topics in liposuction and body contouring:
- Lose It AND Use It: The Magic of Lipo & Fat Transfer: Listen to Dr. Koehler’s podcast episode explaining how lipo and fat transfer can be combined to give you an hourglass figure.
- Liposuction Becomes the Most Popular Cosmetic Surgery: Read our blog post explaining why liposuction has surpassed breast augmentation as the most popular cosmetic surgery.
- Why the BBL’s Not Going Anywhere: Listen to a podcast episode where Dr. Koehler explains the popularity of the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) and why it’s here to stay.
- How Long Does Swelling Last After Lipo?: Read our blog post explaining the ins and outs of swelling after liposuction and what you can expect.
- The 5 Most Popular Target Spots for Liposuction: Read our blog post highlighting some of the most popular areas for men and women to get lipo.
Written By: Dr. James Koehler
A board-certified cosmetic surgeon in Fairhope, AL, Dr. James Koehler earned his MD from the University of Alabama and completed several post-doctoral residencies, internships and fellowships. He returned to Alabama to be closer to family and serve patients in the local community with a full range of cosmetic surgery procedures for the face, breast and body.
More about Dr. James Koehler | Last Reviewed: October 14th, 2025
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