BREAST

• Breast Enhancement
• Breast Augmentation
• Breast Enlargement
• Breast Reconstruction
• Breast Reduction
• Breast Lift

BODY

• Liposuction
• Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty
• Buttock Augmentation / Fat Transfer
• Upper Arm Lift
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Body Lift
• Labiaplasty

FACE

• Eyelid Surgery
• Brow Lift
• Facelift
• Neck Lift
• Rhinoplasty
• Ear Surgery

FOR MEN

• Male Breast Reduction
• Liposuction
• Facial Procedures
• Poland's Syndrome
• Brow Lift

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Tumescent Liposuction

Houston, Texas

In many of our male and female patients, excess fat is a problem that just will not go away even with a regular exercise program and good diet. The most stubborn and difficult to get rid of fat deposits are located in the abdominal region, legs, buttocks, and hips. Liposuction is a very common, minimally invasive procedure done by a highly trained plastic surgeon such as Houston Plastic Surgeon Dr. Leo Lapuerta in Texas to combat this excess fat problem that can provide great results and a fast recovery.

Dr. Lapuerta has performed liposuction on many parts of his patients' bodies including arms, waist, buttocks, hips, face, neck, thighs and abdomen. One of the most popular liposuction techniques used in our office is called tumescent liposuction, which was invented by a California dermatologist. It's a relatively new procedure that can reduce post-operative bruising, swelling and pain. Tumescent liposuction also reduces the chance that a blood transfusion will be necessary during or after the procedure.

Before 1985, the only kind of liposuction technique being used was called dry liposuction. It was fairly simple and involved removing fatty tissue through the use of a cannula - a narrow surgical instrument that breaks up fatty tissue and sucks it out of the body. Although the method worked, it took a very skilled cosmetic surgeon to target the fat correctly, the procedure could be painful and cause damage to surrounding tissue, and it often produced inconsistent results.

The Tumescent Process

Patients who would be good candidates for traditional liposuction are also good candidates for Tumescent lipo. Although the anesthesia requirements milder and blood loss is less with this approach, patients who have the procedure done still face the same risks and complications associated with traditional liposuction. Dr. Lapuerta will explain the procedure and risks with you in great detail at the time of your appointment.

For this technique, a saline solution containing local anesthetic is injected in the areas to be sculpted. The amount of saline injected is generally equal to or larger than the amount of targeted fat in volume. When the solution is injected, the fatty tissue will rise up and swell until it becomes firm (the word Tumescent means swollen or firm). This allows him to see exactly what areas of fat need to be removed without disturbing the surrounding tissue, resulting in less bleeding and trauma to the patient and a much smoother surface area.

After the procedure, the long-acting effects of the anesthetic solution help provide relief from the pain and decrease the need for additional pain medication, usually. For the first day or two after surgery, most patients experience swelling in the treated areas and some fluid drainage from the incision sites.

Dr. Lapuerta will instruct you regarding post-surgery activities, but light activity is usually resumed within the first few days following liposuction; normal activity is usually resumed within a few weeks.

If you would like to learn more about the various liposuction techniques performed by Dr. Leo Lapuerta, please contact our Pearland, Texas liposuction office today to schedule your consultation. We serve patients in Pearland, Houston, Friendswood, Sugar Land and surrounding areas.