Liposuction / Liposculpture

Liposuction is the procedure used to remove and sculpt excess areas of fatty tissue from specific areas of the body to give you a curvier, smoother and slimmer body contour.

Lipo can be performed on just about any area of the body: cheeks, jowls, neck, chest and breast area, upper arms, back, waist, hips, buttocks, inner and outer thighs and knees.

Lipo is not just for women, Dr. Carmina often performs this procedure on men and a popular one is commonly called a six-pack.

Liposuction is by no means an alternative to weight loss and should be seen as an enhancement to eliminate stubborn areas, sculpting and contouring the body, creating a more attractive balance.

Patients best suited for liposuction are not excessively overweight and have healthy firm skin. Lipo cannot eliminate cellulite or loose, hanging skin. If the skin has lost much of its elasticity you may need to have a different surgical procedure. Very often, a Brazilian Butt Lift/Fat Grafting will be done in combination with Liposuction. Dr. Carmina will discuss at length with you all of your desires and options and then make a realistic and safe plan tailored to your specific needs.

Dr. Carmina uses the Tumescent procedure where a volume of fluid greater than the amount of fat to be removed is injected into the area and then vacuumed out. Depending on the amount of liposuction being performed, the procedure may take 3 to 5 hours and is performed with either local anesthesia combined with sedation or general anesthetic.

Prior to surgery

You will be asked to refrain from smoking a minimum of 3 weeks before surgery and continue for 3 weeks after while going through the healing process. Also, you will not be able to use certain over-the-counter medications that contain aspirin, due to the risk of increased bleeding. Dr. Carmina will discuss your individual needs and precautions with you in advance of the procedure.

What to expect after surgery

Some pain, swelling, bruising, or fluid retention may occur, a drainage tube will be placed under the skin to prevent excess fluid from building up. Many patients feel stiff and sore for several days following Lipo and some patients will be asked to wear a compression garment to provide support for 4-8 weeks. Patients having a Brazilian Butt Lift need to avoid sitting directly on their buttocks and are required to use a Boppy Pillow. Strenuous activities will be restricted but a normal lifestyle should resume within a week or two.

Results with these procedures are dramatic, creating a smooth and beautifully proportioned body, resulting in a more youthful and confident you.

Dr. Carmina Cardenas requires a BMI (Body mass index) of 30 or below in order to be a safe candidate for any plastic surgery procedure, post-bariatric patients are required to be 1 YPO from bariatric surgery and have at least 3 consecutive months of steady weight in order to be eligible.

Patients are typically candidates for:

1. Breasts Women
2. Tummy Tuck
3. Liposuction
4. Butt Augmentation

A combination of regional anesthesia and IV sedation (twilight) is used where the patient is not unconscious, but sedated, this allows the anesthesiologist to monitor oxygen levels in blood, this is especially important when performing the repair of the abdominal wall muscles, as the patient need to breathe by itself, something that cannot be achieved with general anesthesia.

A local anesthetic is injected into the epidural space of the lumbar or sacral region of the spine, the anesthetic will wear off a few hours after the procedure without the negative effects that general anesthesia typically produces such as nausea, vomiting, etc.

Will you be awake, during the procedure?  Yes and no. During the entire procedure, you will be conscious, which means you can respond to commands such as opening and closing your mouth. Although, during twilight sedation, you will be in a drowsy, dream-like state.

Although Plastic Surgery is an elective procedure it is still a real surgery and therefore there is always a potential risks of complications as in any other major procedure,  DVT (deep vein thrombosis), PE (pulmonary embolism) or VTE (vein thromboembolism) which is a combination of the two are the most fatal risks and therefore you should discuss this with Dr. Cardenas thoughtfully, other potential risks may be but are not limited to:

The honest answer is NO, but risks can be reduced considerably if doctor and patient work together; You’ll be provided with a list of pre-operatory exams that need to be performed prior to surgery and a protocol of actions that you will need to follow in order to reduce the risks, but the patient must always be aware that risks cannot be eradicated completely.

Remember AWL and especially post-bariatric patients are at a greater risk of complications, therefore, pre and post operative instructions must be followed with diligence.

The risk of fatal complications in plastic surgery (when following the recommended standards) is less than 1%, meaning that Plastic Surgery is very safe; As shown in the previous chart, other complications may happen and are more frequent, is plastic surgery worth it even after considering those risks?

Plastic Surgery is a very personal decision; therefore, it is very important that you have a comprehensive understanding of the risks involved and the benefits that plastic surgery may bring to your life,  the following  chart represent the improvements in the overall quality of life that patients who underwent surgery with Dr. Cardenas over the last 3 years reported.

1. Following pre and post operative instructions diligently.
2. Having a discussed emergency plan that both parts can follow in the event of a complication (Supportive PCP at home, family of friend’s support group that can help you at home in case that you need to travel back).
3. Constant and open communication and collaboration.

All our patients have a PROTECTION PLAN included that can cover up to $3,500 dlls in expenses for treatment in the event of a complication that requires the patient to return to our facilities.