I Have Saggy and Droopy Skin. Can Liposuction Help?

Liposuction can do beautiful things to reshape and contour a patient in different areas of the body. However, it does have its limitations as a cosmetic procedure. Liposuction is an excellent option for Miami, FL patients looking to eliminate pockets of stubborn fat that are no longer responding to a healthy diet or exercise. Often, individuals are able to use liposuction to put the "finishing touches" on their appearance, which may be why it is one of the most popular procedures performed today. This body sculpting treatment can reduce excess fat, revealing a slimmer, more contoured look. But, what if saggy, excess skin is also an issue?

Dr. Jeffrey LaGrasso is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami, FL. He offers this body contouring procedure and numerous other aesthetic options at his state-of-the-art surgical facility. Read on to learn helpful information about what liposuction can and cannot do so you can decide if this cosmetic treatment is the right solution for you.

What does liposuction do?

While liposuction, also referred to as liposculpture, is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, it is a surgical procedure helping patients in Miami, FL take their body to the next level. This fat reduction treatment is for individuals who are struggling with small areas of excess fat in certain areas after the efforts of a healthy diet and regular exercise have been exhausted. Liposuction, done while the patient is under general anesthesia, utilizes small incisions made in the skin to break up fatty tissue by using a versatile cosmetic tool called a cannula. Dr. LaGrasso, with a gentle motioning technique and a keen eye for detail, will break up and then extract unwanted fat cells beneath the skin to create an ideal shape and contour in the targeted area.

Do I qualify for liposuction?

At a private one-on-one consultation with Dr. LaGrasso, he will listen to each patient's aesthetic needs, assess, and determine if liposuction will achieve the right results. Ideal candidates for liposuction are healthy nonsmoking adults who:

• Are looking to get rid of disproportionate fatty deposits in certain areas of the body, unchanged by diet and exercise
• Have good skin elasticity or firm skin tone
• Are within 30% of their ideal goal weight
• Want more definition for a sleeker, more fit-looking contour

Can liposuction tighten loose skin?

Healthy skin with tight laxity has a better chance of conforming to a patient's new shape after liposuction. Unlike body lift surgeries or a tummy tuck, liposuction does not tighten loose, excess skin. Our skin changes due to factors such as age, fluctuating weight, or pregnancy. Liposuction is solely a fat reduction treatment. Saggy, droopy areas of skin lack elasticity and are unable to "bounce back" to conform to a person's new body shape once weight or fat has been lost. During a consultation, Dr. LaGrasso will evaluate each patient's skin tone to determine if a lift procedure will enhance the liposuction results.

Patients concerned about having healthier skin before their liposuction procedure can do the following:

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day (6 – 8 glasses)
• Clean and moisturize the skin daily with regular exfoliation to promote new cell growth
• Exercise regularly, which helps the body produce more elastin and collagen
• Eat a wide variety of foods full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote healthy skin

While liposuction removes fat and improves the shape and contour of the targeted area, it does not address drooping or sagging skin. If a patient has concerns about skin laxity, Dr. LaGrasso can discuss more options to improve skin texture during a consultation, such as a tummy tuck, arm, butt, or thigh lift. Liposuction is a fantastic stand-alone procedure or can be combined with other cosmetic surgical options to give Miami, FL patients the aesthetic results they deserve.

If you're contemplating liposuction or have additional questions, we invite you to schedule a private consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey LaGrasso. His private practice, in Miami, FL, offers a variety of nonsurgical and surgical procedures to help his patients look their best. Liposuction can provide excellent contouring results to feel better about how you look, so call today.