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 your 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 a body contouring specialist and one of the best cosmetic surgeons in the Mobile-Pensacola metro area, Dr. James Koehler is a board certified cosmetic surgeon serving patients from Gulfport to Gulf Shores and beyond. In addition to liposuction, Dr. Koehler offers a wide range of plastic surgery procedures for both men and women, and is known for his caring commitment to a patient-first approach.
Contact us online using the "Message us" feature at the bottom of our website or you can call us at 251-929-7850 to learn more about our practice or to schedule your consultation.
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 those men and women who are already at or near a healthy target weight. Liposuction does remove fat, but if you notice excessive loose skin in addition to fatty tissue, you might be a better candidate for a tummy tuck or other body contouring procedures.
The best candidates for lipo 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, and a commitment to staying near your existing weight post-lipo is essential in order to ensure the best possible long-term results after your procedure.
About Liposuction
There are two different types of fat in the body: visceral fat and subcutaneous fat. Visceral fat is responsible for significant weight gain, and develops deep within the body around the organs. While a committed change in diet and exercise habits can typically reduce visceral fat, the other type of fat—subcutaneous fat—may not be as easily affected by your weight-loss efforts.
Subcutaneous fat lies near the skin’s surface, and is more easily accessible for removal via liposuction. Examples of common liposuction target areas include the waistline and love handles, the male back and chest, inner or outer thighs, upper arms and even through the upper neck to eliminate a double chin. It’s 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.
What to Expect
Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Koehler is the first step toward beautiful liposuction results. During this initial meeting, he can 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 Dr. Koehler decide what the best technical approach will be to help you reach those goals.
Tumescent liposuction uses a special saline solution to help break apart fat cells in order to facilitate their withdrawal via suction. The tumescent solution also helps control bleeding and includes a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during and after surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Koehler will explain the various liposuction techniques and benefits and recommend the method that he feels will work best to help you meet your goals.
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Risks and Complications
The risks associated with liposuction include the potential for an adverse reaction to anesthesia or excessive bleeding, although major complications after lipo 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. A comprehensive explanation of all the risks and benefits is one of the things that Dr. Koehler will go over with you during your consultation.
Your New Look
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 control the swelling and expel any remaining tumescent fluid more quickly, as well as encourage skin and tissue to conform to your new contours. As swelling subsides, your final results will become more and more visible, revealing a slimmer, more toned appearance.
Liposuction FAQs
Can I view before and after liposuction photos?
Yes. View our online gallery to see real before and after photos of previous clients in the Fairhope area and beyond who have had liposuction. 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. Dr. Koehler will go over pain management and recovery guidelines with you to help make your healing process as smooth and comfortable as possible.
How long does liposuction take?
Liposuction usually takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete. However, this will greatly depend on the size and number of areas being treated during one procedure. Dr. Koehler can give you a better idea of what your specific surgery day might look like based on the specifics of your procedure.
When can I go back to work after liposuction?
Expect to be back to work and resuming other normal daily activities around 1 week after liposuction. However, factors like how physically demanding your job is, the size of the treatment area and how quickly your body naturally heals will affect the length of your recovery process.
What can I expect during liposuction recovery?
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 a compression garment for several weeks. Dr. Koehler will provide you with detailed recovery guidelines, so you know exactly what to expect.
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.
How long after liposuction do you see results?
You should notice results nearly immediately after getting liposuction. However, it can take around 1 to 3 months for swelling to diminish, revealing your final outcome.
Contact us online using the "Message us" feature at the bottom of our website or you can call us at 251-929-7850 to learn more about our practice or to schedule your consultation.
![5 Tips for Battling Back Bulge [Infographic]](https://www.easternshoreplasticsurgery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Koehler-Infographic-Mar23-v1a-200x200.png)
Telephone No.(251) 929-4051
