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NYC Liposuction

Liposuction in NYC with Dr. Nina Naidu

Even if you’re diligent about diet and exercise, stubborn fat bulges on your body – including your neck, abdomen, back, arms and thighs — can make you look older and feel less confident. Liposuction is a medical procedure that can remove fat and sculpt your body. The result is a slimmer, more contoured shape that can improve your physical beauty and enhance your self-confidence.

Liposuction Before & After Photos

Liposuction Before & After Photo – Nina S. Naidu, MD FACS

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About Liposuction in NYC

Unfortunately, diet and exercise does not always address localized fat deposits. Despite cute names such as love handles, muffin tops or saddlebags, these stubborn fat deposits can have a negative impact on your confidence and self-esteem. Although supportive undergarments can help with shaping and contouring, these limit your clothing choices and may leave you self-conscious in intimate situations.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that can remove stubborn fat on your hips, thighs, buttocks, knees, abdomen, upper arms, breast, and beneath your chin. The procedure is performed using a small tube (called a cannula) that is carefully inserted under the skin and used to remove excess fat. Fat cells which have been removed do not return, but the remaining fat cells will expand if you gain weight after surgery. Liposuction may be performed on several areas of the body at the same time, and it can also be combined with other procedures.

Liposuction is a procedure that can sculpt the body by reducing the size of areas with excess fat. It is not a replacement for weight loss or exercise.

Deciding to Have Liposuction

Ideal candidates are in good medical health and close to their normal weight. The best candidates have firm, elastic skin; good muscle tone; and pockets of excess fat in localized regions. Liposuction is not a substitute for diet, exercise or weight loss. If you are a smoker, you must stop for eight weeks before and after your surgery.

Your First Consultation with Dr. Naidu in NYC

Your first step toward liposuction is a comprehensive consultation in our NYC office. Dr. Naidu will get to know you and your aesthetic goals. Liposuction is a highly individualized process that can target fat deposits on most areas of your body — including your chin, arms, back, abdomen, and thighs.

During your consultation, you will need to tell Dr. Naidu about your medical history and your use of medications, nicotine, alcohol or supplements. Dr. Naidu will conduct a physical examination so she can determine if you can benefit from liposuction. At the end of the consultation, Dr. Naidu will let you know if you are a good candidate for liposuction.

At this appointment, we will take pre-operative photographs. These photographs are an important part of your surgical planning and are considered part of your medical record. They will never be shown to other patients without your written permission.

Dr. Naidu will educate you about liposuction, recommend the areas of your body that can be treated by liposuction, and discuss a treatment plan that will achieve your desired results. Dr. Naidu will never pressure you to schedule the procedure.

Your Second Consultation with Dr. Naidu

If you decide to proceed with liposuction, you will have a second consultation with Dr. Naidu in our NYC office. At this appointment, Dr. Naidu will discuss the results that you can realistically expect from your surgery. Liposuction can be performed on multiple areas of your body during a single surgery, as well as combined with other procedures to help meet your aesthetic goals.

Dr. Naidu will also explain her plan for your surgery. She will let you know the length of your surgery, the location of your incisions, and what to expect during your recovery. You will also complete the necessary paperwork for this surgery.

Depending on your medical history, Dr. Naidu may advise you to discontinue certain medications prior to surgery. If you are a smoker, you may not smoke for eight weeks before or after surgery. For your safety, Dr. Naidu may also order additional screening tests or request preoperative clearance from your primary care physician.

Liposuction in NYC

Your liposuction will be performed at an outpatient surgery center in NYC. Although local anesthesia and sedation may be sufficient for small areas, most patients are more comfortable under general anesthesia provided by an anesthesiologist. Depending upon the number and size of the areas that are being treated, your liposuction procedure will take between one and three hours.

Liposuction is performed using the tumescent technique. After making a tiny incision, a narrow tube (called a cannula) is inserted deep beneath the skin. Fluid containing an intravenous salt solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and epinephrine (a medication that helps to contract blood vessels and limit blood loss) is injected into the fatty tissue. This method allows fat to be removed more easily through the cannula. It also reduces blood loss, as well as provides excellent pain control both during and after surgery. The scars from the incision used for liposuction are very small and hidden from view. Power-assisted liposuction and ultrasound-assisted liposuction are performed in selected cases.

Recovery from Liposuction in NYC

You will wake up from the procedure wearing a compression garment. This garment must be worn at all times for two to six weeks.

Following surgery you will experience some drainage of fluid from the incisions. This drainage lasts one to two days. Most patients have moderate bruising that resolves within one to two weeks.

You will be encouraged to begin walking the day after surgery, but must avoid heavy exercise for two weeks. You should anticipate remaining out of work for three or four days after surgery, depending upon the amount of liposuction that was performed. The length of time until final results are seen varies a great deal between patients (depending upon anatomy and the amount of liposuction performed). Generally, the finally results are visible between three and twelve months following your procedure.

Complications of Liposuction

Liposuction is invasive surgery. Dr. Naidu will make sure that you are fully informed of the risks, which include infection, loss of sensation, and a reaction to the anesthetic. Risks can be minimized by providing a comprehensive medical history and carefully following your post-operative instructions.

Cost of Liposuction in NYC

Please call our NYC office at 212-452-1230 and we will be happy to provide information about the cost of liposuction. You will be provided with the exact cost of your procedure following your consultation with Dr. Naidu. Insurance does not cover the cost of liposuction.

Choosing Dr. Naidu for Liposuction in NYC

Plastic surgery is a creative endeavor that improves a woman’s physical beauty and enhances her self-confidence. Dr. Nina S. Naidu is a female plastic surgeon in NYC. She and her staff are dedicated to providing women in NYC with the highest quality of care possible.

In addition to liposuction, Dr. Naidu offers patients a full range of breast implants. Since 2006, Dr. Naidu has served as a clinical investigator in the Breast Implant Follow-Up Studies (BIFS) trials.

Dr. Naidu completed her undergraduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University and obtained her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. After completing her general surgery and plastic surgery training at New York Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical Center, she performed an additional year of fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Naidu is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Schedule a Liposuction Consultation in NYC

Our office is conveniently located at 1021 Park Avenue in NYC. If you’d like to learn more about liposuction – and whether the procedure is right for you – please call our office at 212-452-1230 and schedule an appointment.

Liposuction FAQs

Liposuction swelling - how long until it goes down?

The duration of swelling following liposuction varies with the amount of suction performed and a patient's age and underlying health. It may take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months for swelling to fully resolve. You’ll continue healing and seeing better results for up to a year.

How much time is usually enough for liposuction recovery?

If you have had an average amount of liposuction performed, you should expect to be home the same day and back to most regular activity in 3-4 days. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for 2 weeks following liposuction surgery.

How Long Do You Recommend Wearing the Compression Garment After Liposuction?

I recommend compression garment use for 2-6 weeks following surgery. The exact time is determined by your age and degree of skin elasticity.

Are there any liposuction alternative procedures?

There are several non-invasive fat reduction alternatives on the market at this time, including CoolSculpting. However, these procedures reduce less fat than can be performed with liposuction.

Liposuction Vs. Tummy Tuck - What's the Difference?

Liposuction is the removal of small pockets of fat through 1 cm incisions. A tummy tuck involves a long scar across the lower abdomen and is intended to remove both skin and fat from the lower abdomen, in additional to tightening the rectus muscles.

Liposuction Recovery Using Compression Garments or Spanx?

I recommend a specially designed liposuction garment after surgery, as Spanx do not provide high-level, targeted compression to the treated areas.

What Can I Do About Fat above my Pubic Area?

To treat fat above the pubic region, liposuction can be performed through small incisions just above this site.

What Can I Do About my Armpit Fat?

Fat in the armpits can be regular fat, or it can be axillary breast tissue. Axillary breast tissue is firmer, and may increase in size around the time of your period. In general, axillary breast tissue needs to be removed through an incision, while fat alone can be suctioned.

How Much Weight Can I Lose After Liposuction?

Liposuction is not intended to be used as a weight-loss regimen; you may notice an initial weight gain after surgery secondary to retained fluid. It is instead designed to reduce small pockets of fat which have not responded to diet and exercise.

How long after liposuction do you have to start massaging?

I recommend lymphatic massage or drainage beginning one week prior to liposuction and then weekly after surgery for four weeks. A trained professional should perform the treatment.

What is ultrasonic liposuction or ultrasound-assisted lipo?

Ultrasound liposuction uses liposuction to initially break up the fat cells, followed by regular liposuction to remove them. It's typically used for gynecomastia cases (male breast reduction) where the fat is thicker.

Will Stop Wearing Garment After Liposuction Ruin Results?

I recommend garment use to help bring down swelling faster and more evenly. It does not seem to affect long-term results.

How much fat can liposuction remove safely in one session?

In general, we remove up to 5 liters of fat in one session of the patient is healthy. Removing more fat can result in fluid shifts in the body which can be unsafe.

Liposuction Bruising: How to Get Rid of Bruising After Lipo?

Prior to surgery, I have patients start taking arnica, a homeopathic medication which appears to reduce swelling and bruising. They should continue this for a week after surgery. The body will naturally resolve bruising, but the exact timeline varies from one patient to the next.

Confused About Liposuction After Care

After liposuction surgery, patients are placed into a compression garment which should be worn for 2-6 weeks depending upon the patient's skin quality and age. They are permitted to shower the same evening and may note moderate drainage from the incisions for 24-48 hours. Sutures will be removed one week after surgery, and normal exercise may be resumed 2 weeks after surgery.

If 6 liters of fat is removed, how many lbs of weight is that?

The amount of fat removed during liposuction surgery does not correlate with weight loss after surgery.

Will I Have Loose Skin After Liposuction?

In general, younger patients with more skin elasticity respond better to liposuction. Patients who are older or who have excess skin prior to surgery will notice more excess skin after surgery.

Could Facial Liposuction Help with my Cheeks?

The fat should not be suction, aside from the submental (under chin) pocket of fat. Excess skin in the cheeks can be removed directly with buccal fat removal.

Liposuction Before Pregnancy? Is liposuction advised for someone who is planning to have a baby in the next 1-2 yrs?

Liposuction is safe and reasonable prior to pregnancy, but should not be performed if you are actively trying to become pregnant.

How Does a Compression Garment Help After Liposuction Surgery?

Compression garments help to reduce swelling in an even fashion following liposuction surgery.

How Tight Should a Compression Garment Be?

Compression garments should be snug but not so tight that they create pain or numbness.

Which Type of Lipo is Best for Back Fat

Back skin is very thick, and in some cases, patients notice excess skin on their backs as opposed to actual fat. In cases where there is excess fat, ultrasonic liposuction if it is available can be helpful, although traditional liposuction is also effective.

Does Liposuction Leave Scars?

You will have small (1 cm) scars at the site where liposuction cannulas have been introduced.

Does Lipo Fat Really Return in Other Places?

Liposuction fat does not "return" in other locations, but if you gain weight after surgery it will typically go to areas which have not been suctioned.

General or Local Anesthesia for Liposuction?

I use general anesthesia for large areas of liposuction on the abdomen and flanks. For small areas, such as under the chin, local anesthesia is typically enough.

Can someone tell me what to expect with liposuction drainage?

You should expect moderate drainage through your incisions for 24-48 hours after surgery. I use sutures to close all incisions, which limits the amount of drainage after surgery.

Liposuction is a procedure that can sculpt the body

Liposuction is a procedure that can sculpt the body by reducing the size of areas with excess fat, including the hips, thighs, buttocks, knees, abdomen, upper arms, breast, and underneath the chin. It can address areas that do not respond well to weight loss or exercise, but it is not a replacement for these treatments. The best candidates for liposuction are patients with good skin tone who have pockets of excess fat in localized regions. Fat cells which have been removed do not return, but the remaining fat cells will expand if the patient gains weight after surgery. Liposuction may be performed on several areas of the body at the same time, and it can also be combined with other procedures.

Liposuction is performed using the tumescent technique, in which fluid containing an intravenous salt solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and epinephrine (helps to contract blood vessels and limit blood loss), is injected prior to the removal of fat. This method allows fat to be removed more easily, reduces blood loss, and provides anesthesia both during and after surgery. The scars from the incision used for liposuction are very small, and are placed in locations that are hidden from view. Through these incisions, a narrow tube or cannula is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer deep beneath the skin. Power-assisted liposuction and ultrasound-assisted liposuction are performed in selected cases.

Liposuction takes between 1 and 3 hours to perform depending upon the number and size of the areas that are being treated. The surgery is performed at an outpatient surgery center. Local anesthesia alone may be sufficient for small areas, but most patients are more comfortable with a combination of local anesthesia and sedation provided by an anesthesiologist.

Following surgery you will experience some drainage of fluid from the incisions which lasts for 1-2 days. A compression garment is placed immediately following the procedure and must be worn at all times for two weeks, and then at night for another four weeks. You will be encouraged to walk the day following surgery, but heavy exercise should be avoided for two weeks. Most patients have moderate bruising which resolves within 1-2 weeks. You should anticipate remaining out of work for 3-4 days after surgery, depending upon the amount of liposuction that was performed. The length of time until final results are seen varies a great deal between patients depending upon anatomy and the amount of liposuction performed, but averages between 3-12 months.

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Dr. Nina S. Naidu Reviewed by Irene Kleinman Clarke

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