Body proportion is a delicate balance. Having just one area that’s a little too big, thanks to a disproportionate amount of fat cells, can throw off your entire look. It’s frustrating, especially if you are someone who works out regularly and eats a healthful diet. It can also adversely affect a person’s self esteem. Liposuction is a surgical procedure to reduce the number of fat cells in a particular area of the body. It allows your plastic surgeon to literally sculpt you into a new and improved shape.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Van Natta has been helping the men and women of Indianapolis to improve their body contour for over 25 years. As someone who has always been artistically inclined, he truly enjoys the precision of today’s liposuction techniques. They allow him to completely rejuvenate a patient’s body by slimming down only those areas that are out of proportion. The result is a revitalized, slimmer, younger looking you.

Are You a Candidate for Liposuction?

If you are someone who eats well and exercises regularly, but still has stubborn areas of fat then you are probably a good candidate for liposuction. However, it is important to remember that liposuction is not a weight loss technique. It is a procedure to improve body contour.

Liposuction is ideal for adults who:

• are within 30% of their target weight and have good muscle tone and skin elasticity
• are generally in good health and do not have a life-threatening illness or medical condition that could interfere with the healing process
• do not smoke
• have a positive outlook and realistic goals for their results

If you are someone who fits the above criteria and is interested in discovering whether or not liposuction is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Van Natta to be assessed in person and discuss your options. Warm, caring and extremely honest, he will be very straight with you about what liposuction can and cannot achieve with your individual anatomy.

Benefits of Liposuction

A person’s fat proportions are set at puberty. They’re genetically determined. For example, if your mom has big saddle bags, don’t be surprised if you have to live with them as well. The good news about liposuction is that when you remove those excess cells from your saddlebags, stomach, butt or back, they are gone for good. This means that as long as your weight remains steady, typically within a 10 pound range, you will not “re-grow” your saddlebags. If you do gain a few pounds, your remaining fat cells can get larger, but the fat doesn’t “go somewhere else”. Rather, you will add weight according to your new proportion, which is very different from how you previously added weight.

The other huge benefit of liposuction is its flexibility. It is a procedure that can address a broad range of problem areas such as:

• thighs
• hips
• buttocks
• abdomen
• flanks
• waist
• back
• bra rolls
• arms
• legs
• knees
• face
• neck

Skin Tone is an Important Consideration

Liposuction can be an extremely effective, stand-alone procedure for patients who have good skin elasticity or “bounce back”. However, if you don’t have great skin tone then you may be unhappy with your results. Think about it. If you remove fat from underneath skin that is already loose or droopy then yes, you’ll be left with a smaller contour, but also even saggier skin. This is why it is so important to see an experienced board certified plastic surgeon for your procedure. During your initial consultation, Dr. Van Natta will give you an honest assessment of what you can expect. In patients with less than ideal skin elasticity, he may combine liposuction with another surgical procedure such as a tummy tuck or a non-surgical skin tightening procedure like BodyTite™ or FaceTite™.

Liposuction Techniques

Dr. Van Natta, as an early adopter of the latest technologies, is always at the cutting-edge of new innovations in his field. But only if they actually work. For his liposuction patients, he offers SAFElipo.

SAFELipo is Dr. Van Natta’s standard liposuction technique. It involves a three-step process that uses a power assisted hand piece to initially break up the fatty layer, suction away the fat, and smooth out your overall contour by blending the treated area into the surrounding tissues. This reduces the risk of “lumps and bumps”. The result is a beautifully smooth contour that is in proportion to the rest of your body.

Liposuction Recovery

Most cases of liposuction are performed under general anesthesia. Compression garments are typically worn for about 3 weeks in order to ensure the best possible results. You can expect to be bruised and swollen following your procedure. Most patients describe their recovery as more uncomfortable than painful. While the bruising will resolve fairly quickly, the swelling may take anywhere from 3-6 months to fully subside. But you should notice an improvement in your body contour almost immediately.

Patients can typically return to their daily lives in just a few days, but you will need to refrain from heavy exercise for a week or two. Dr. Van Natta likes his patients to get up and moving immediately, however, so feel free to take your new self confidence for a spin. You deserve it.

To find out more about liposuction with Dr. Bruce Van Natta at Meridian Plastic Surgeons in Indianapolis, contact us today or call (317) 575-0330 to schedule a consultation.