Louis P. Bucky, MD, FACS
Award-Winning, World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon
Premiere Destination for Finest Injectables & Skin Care
Liposuction
Despite regular exercise routines and healthy diets, inherited genetic traits can make it more difficult to attain the desired shape for your body. Fortunately, liposuction is a surgical procedure designed to remove stubborn body fat throughout different areas of your body. Following the liposuction procedure with board-certified plastic surgeon Louis Bucky, MD, who has offices in the Philadelphia and Main Line, PA areas, patients can achieve a slimmer, more defined figure that looks completely natural.
- What is Liposuction?
- What Areas of the Body Can be Treated with Liposuction?
- Who is a Candidate for Liposuction?
- Preparing for Liposuction
- Liposuction Techniques
- Tumescent Liposuction
- SAFELipo®
- Liposuction Recovery
- Frequently Asked Questions About Liposuction
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction, or lipoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that involves the use of suction to remove excess fat from various areas of the body. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that is not designed to be a weight loss solution.1 However, liposuction can help patients who have undergone weight loss remove stubborn fat from targeted areas, and it can also be used to refine and optimize the results of other cosmetic procedures such as a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) or mommy makeover.
What Areas of the Body Can be Treated with Liposuction?
Dr. Bucky performs liposuction to remove excess fat from the legs, torso, and neck area. Specific areas that can be treated with liposuction include:
- Inner thighs
- Outer thighs
- Hips
- Knees
- Abdomen
- Waist
- Flanks (“love handles”)
- Back
- Under the chin
Who is a Candidate for Liposuction?
If you are considering body contouring with liposuction to eliminate stubborn fat deposits, Dr. Bucky will evaluate you to determine whether this is the right treatment for you. In general, good candidates for liposuction:
- Are in good health
- Are not smokers
- Are close to their ideal body weight: liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or weight loss
- Have good skin elasticity
- Have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with liposuction surgery2
Preparing for Liposuction
The most important step to preparing for liposuction is to attend a personalized consultation with Dr. Bucky. During this appointment, you will undergo a brief examination and review of your medical history, then you will be able to candidly discuss your goals with Dr. Bucky. Together, you will decide on the right liposuction treatment plan for your unique needs. Your surgical procedure will be scheduled, and you will be given detailed instructions about how to prepare. Your goals will be discussed realistically with Dr. Bucky during an initial consultation.
Liposuction Techniques
Dr. Bucky employs a number of liposuction techniques, tailoring each patient’s treatment plan to properly address their areas of concern while taking into account factors such as the extent of fat removal desired and recovery time.
Traditional Liposuction
Traditional liposuction, sometimes referred to as suction-assisted liposuction, involves the creation of incisions through which a thin, hollow tube called a cannula is inserted to suction away excess body fat. Traditional liposuction may be the technique of choice for patients who wish to remove excess fat from larger areas of the body, such as the thighs or buttocks.
Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction is an outpatient procedure and may be performed under local anesthesia with sedation, or it may be performed under general anesthesia depending on the extent of the procedure.
Tumescent liposuction is performed under local anesthesia. During this procedure, Dr. Bucky injects a sterile solution consisting of saline, lidocaine (a local anesthetic), and a drug called epinephrine that constricts blood vessels to reduce bleeding. This solution causes the area to swell and become firm, reducing blood loss and making it easier to break up and remove excess fat cells. A thin cannula is inserted into small incisions. Dr Bucky then moves the cannula through different tissue layers to extract excess fat. Following the removal of fat and tissue, Dr. Bucky will stitch the incision closed.3
SAFELipo®
In addition to standard tumescent liposuction, Dr. Bucky also offers SAFELipo® – a comprehensive body contouring procedure designed to combine the benefits of liposuction, fat grafting, and fat shifting. Named for its three-step process of Separation, Aspiration, and Fat Equalization, this innovative type of liposuction can be used to remove significant amounts of fat while helping to reshape your body for a smoother, more contoured appearance.
During the SAFELipo® procedure, Dr. Bucky will loosen and separate stubborn fat cells in targeted areas of your body. These fat cells will then be removed through a gentle suction process designed to protect surrounding tissues from sustaining any damage. Once the targeted fat has been removed, the remaining thin layer of fat will be smoothed out and contoured to achieve the most symmetric and aesthetically-pleasing shape possible. Throughout the entire process no heat is generated, thereby helping to eliminate any damaging effects associated with other forms of liposuction and body contouring procedures that employ thermal energy.4
Liposuction Recovery
Recovery and healing after liposuction varies according to the liposuction technique employed, but you can generally expect some minor bruising and swelling to occur following your treatment. You will wear a compression garment to help control swelling and optimize healing, and Dr. Bucky will prescribe pain medication to enhance your comfort during the liposuction recovery period. Most of his patients are able to get back to work and other normal activities within seven days. During your follow-up appointment, Dr. Bucky will let you know when you can return to more strenuous activities.
There are so many benefits to working with Dr. Bucky to meet your body contouring goals, not the least of which is access to the Bucky Body Center for truly optimized liposuction recovery and results. Here, patients are offered immediate services such as manual lymphatic drainage massage and red light therapy to decrease post-procedure bruising, swelling, and discomfort. Through the Bucky Body Center, patients also have access to services that will help them achieve long-term health and wellness, including a customized vitamin regimen, nutrition counseling, personal training, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liposuction
Dr. Bucky performs liposuction under local anesthesia or general anesthesia, so the procedure is not painful. You can expect some discomfort during the liposuction recovery period, but Dr. Bucky will prescribe medication to help you manage that.
Yes. In fact, liposuction is often performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgeries for the body, such as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast augmentation, breast reduction, and mommy makeover surgery.
Dr. Bucky customizes each patient’s body contouring treatment plan to suit their unique goals. Some patients who wish to eliminate smaller areas of excess fat may benefit from CoolSculpting® or BodyTite™.
Liposuction is designed to remove excess fat cells, and is not an effective treatment for cellulite. For patients who desire to reduce the appearance of dimpling from cellulite, Dr. Bucky offers cellulite treatment with Avéli™.
Yes, liposuction does permanently remove fat cells from the treated area. However, fat cells can grow in other areas that were not treated with liposuction. The best way to maintain your look after liposuction is to adhere to a healthy diet and exercise routine.
To help patients maintain their results and continue to embrace a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Bucky now offers body and weight management programs, including nutritional counseling, detox kits, personal training, and more.
The cost of liposuction varies according to factors such as the size and area treated, the extent of fat removal, the type of liposuction performed, and any additional procedures performed at the same time as liposuction. When you attend your consultation with Dr. Bucky, you will be given a detailed cost breakdown for your unique treatment plan.
Why Should You Have Liposuction Performed By Dr. Bucky?
As Medical Director of the Outpatient OR at Pennsylvania Hospital, Dr. Bucky focuses on patient safety and care.
In a collaborative effort, he and his practice developed a quick recovery program to help enhance recuperation and results.
He is considered a regional and national leader in face, breast, and body plastic surgery.
Liposuction Reviews
Dr. Bucky and his staff are amazing! I have recommended his practice to a few people since I had my first surgery with him. My latest surgery, liposuction, has me fitting into my clothes the way I did 10 years ago. I finally like my thighs!Anonymous
AnonymousDr. Bucky and his entire team has been absolutely amazing. I am 10 weeks out from a tummy tuck and lipo suction after having diastasis from pregnancy. The amount of information given to me prior to my surgery was incredible and was so helpful. I knew beforehand what I could expect during and after the procedure. I had a minor hiccup at the surgery center (which was not Dr. Bucky's fault) but he and his office staff were appropriately apologetic for my discomfort and worked to make things right. My results have been incredible and I am so pleased and happy I chose Dr. Bucky. He and his staff have given me my youth back and I have known what to expect through every step of this process. Being a physician assistant myself and having worked in healthcare for 10 years, I am rather picky when it comes to picking my physicians. Dr. Bucky is exceptional and deserves every accolade in the book!
Contact Our Office
If you are interested in liposuction, Dr. Bucky will help you get the slimmer, more defined figure you are looking for. Contact our office, where we are proud to serve patients from Philadelphia, Ardmore, and nearby PA communities.
1 Cleveland Clinic. Liposuction. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11009-liposuction. Accessed March 2, 2023.
2 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Who is a good candidate for liposuction? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction/candidates. Accessed March 2, 2023.
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What are the steps of the liposuction procedure? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction/procedure. Accessed March 2, 2023.
4 SAFELipo Patient Information. Available: https://www.safelipo.com/treatments/safelipohd/. Accessed March 2, 2023.
Dr. Bucky has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
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