paul howard, md
Board Certified Plastic Surgery Since 1988
(205) 879-6665
Liposuction, or Body Contouring Surgery, is the procedure used to remove fat in particular areas of the body. Men and women who are in good health and are unhappy with their present body contours are candidates for liposuction. For those of you who, even with exercise and diet, continue to have an excess of fat deposits, we offer an improvement through liposuction of a particular area. However, please understand, liposuction is not a cure for obesity.
Over the years, many of us have learned to eat healthier and take better care of ourselves. As one becomes lean and fit, the individual may find that he or she feels better about themselves and has more energy to devote to daily activities. In other words, as you improve your body image, you improve your self-esteem.
Liposuction refers to the procedure of introducing a long, slender instrument through very small, well hidden incisions to vacuum the excessive fat. These incisions will be shown to you during your consultation with Dr. Howard.
Good Skin tone is one of the most important considerations for someone contemplating liposuction. Once the fatty deposits are removed and the bulges are improved, good skin has the ability to shrink to fit the area, thus decreasing the possibility of irregular contours. Skin that has stretched and lost its elasticity may sag and not form to the contour of the area after surgery. Good skin tone is not necessarily age dependent. As you well may know, sun exposure will damage skin and cause premature aging with the loss of elasticity. Smoking is another factor that plays a role in overall skin condition as well as ability to heal the skin following surgery.
On your initial visit, Dr. Howard will examine the areas you wish to improve, assess your skin tone, discuss your expectations, and give you his professional opinion as to the outcome of your particular surgery. In certain cases, Dr. Howard may recommend a new technique known as Lipo-sculpture. Lipo-sculpture is a descriptive term used to indicate that fat is removed at a more superficial level beneath the skin. In some instances, we are able to improve the body contour, cause the skin to shrink, and improve skin dimpling due to the formation of cellulite by performing lipo-sculpture. In general, larger amounts of fat can be removed with the tumescent lipo-sculpture technique, which includes pre-operative and post-operative body fat analysis as well as extensive post-operative follow-up to include a dietary and exercise requirement that insures that the surgical removal of excess fat is accompanied by positive lifestyle changes. The removal of fat by liposuction is just the beginning for a healthy, trim physique.
The pre-operative and post-operative body fat analysis is performed by Certified Personal Trainer, Mike Brown.
