Liposuction has been around for several decades. While liposuction has always delivered amazing, permanent fat loss results, it traditionally also involved quite a bit of pain as well as a long recovery period. But advancements in lipo technology have produced the next generation of liposuction procedures that are more comfortable and have much less downtime afterward.
Dr. Craig Schwartz is the only Kansas City-area medical practice to offer Tickle Lipo, making fat reduction via liposuction more accessible for many patients. This gentle yet effective technology produces outstanding results without general anesthesia or lengthy period of pain and downtime.
Traditional Tumescent Liposuction
Liposuction is a good way to get rid of unwanted fat, especially in “problem areas” that are resistant to diet and exercise. However, it is not a “weight loss” treatment. Liposuction provides the most noticeable results for patients who are close to their target weight and want to focus on specific areas.
During traditional liposuction, incisions are made in the body, and a narrow tube called a cannula is inserted. The doctor then pushes and pulls the cannula to loosen fat from your body with “brute force.” The fat cells are then suctioned out, along with the remaining tissue. Some people find that liposuction can be quite painful – and it typically results in substantial bruising and swelling.
Depending on the amount of fat removed and the number of areas treated, many liposuction patients need about a week off work after surgery. In most cases, strenuous activity—such as exercising, vacuuming, or lifting heavy objects—must be avoided for several weeks after traditional liposuction. Swelling may last for as long as six to eight weeks, and a compression garment must usually be worn 24 hours a day until week four. For most patients who have had traditional lipo, pain may continue for several weeks after surgery.
