Liposculpture Overview

liposculpture body contouring diagram in san diego, ca

If certain parts of your body, such as your belly or thighs, are stubbornly resistant to losing excess fat, despite all your best efforts of eating right and exercising regularly, then you should consider liposculpture.

The procedure may sound intimidating, but it is actually minimally invasive, taking an hour or two in many cases without the need for general anesthesia. Compared to more gradual treatments, such as CoolSculpting and Vanquish, liposculpture provides natural-looking results after a single session.

The Benefits of Liposculpture

Liposculpture provides that extra needed boost of confidence, and there are a number of benefits to liposculpture. Some of these benefits include: 

  • Minimally invasive 
  • Long-lasting results 
  • Reshaping of wanted fatty deposits 
  • Ability to reach all depths of fat
  • May remove a larger quantity of fat (up to 4L is safe)
  • Can use the removed fat for fat grafting in other areas

Tumescent liposculpture, also known as “Awake Lipo” is the most advanced technique available for permanently removing excess fat deposits in areas resistant to diet and exercise. The fat removal procedure is called tumescent, which means “swollen,” because it involves the surgeon filling and swelling the targeted fatty areas with a special anesthetic solution.

Liposuction to contour the upper arm of a female patient by Dr. Goldman. Treatment creates slimmer, firmer contour.

The solution completely numbs the treatment area, stops bleeding, and thins the fat, allowing patients to undergo the procedure with tiny suction cannulas that do not require any closing and without general anesthesia for a faster recovery.

Generally, liposuction is effective for contouring areas prone to fatty deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise, including:

  • Abdomen
  • Love handles
  • Hips
  • Thighs – inner thighs, outer thighs (saddlebags), anterior thighs (front of thigh)
  • Buttocks
  • Neck and jowls
  • Upper arms
  • Back (mid and lower)
  • Calves
  • Ankles
  • Breasts (both female and male breast reduction)
  • Above the knees

Why Choose Cosmetic Laser Dermatology For Your Liposculpture Treatment? 

Our board-certified dermatologists in San Diego are liposuction and fat removal experts, with more than 60 years combined experience, and having authored over a dozen articles for peer-reviewed medical journals, spoken at national and international medical conferences, and contributed chapters to best-selling medical textbooks on liposculpture treatments. At our research center that keeps us at the forefront of liposculpture treatments, we recently found that tumescent lipo offers long-term satisfaction.

Dr. Groff Removes Excess Fat with Tumescent Liposculpture | San Diego Liposuction Experts

Our doctors have also pioneered the innovative Cool³ body sculpting treatment plan that combines contouring treatments in a single session to achieve superior results. We often combine liposuction with ThermiTight, but we can also add procedures like CoolSculpting and/or CoolTone to put the finishing touches on your new contour.

Is Liposuction Right For You?

If you are ages 16-80, in good overall health, with fatty areas on the body that are resistant to diet and exercise, then you may be a good candidate for liposuction. And lipo is not just for women; if you’re a man looking to remove stubborn deposits of fat, you may be a good candidate, as well.

Lipo treatments are not a method of weight loss. They are a supplement to your good eating and exercise habits.

Furthermore, if you’re hesitant to have invasive surgery, liposuction treatment may be a good option because it is done on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia while you are wide awake. You walk into and out of our certified operating room. Of course, we provide intravenous and/or oral sedation to make it an even more pleasant procedure.

What is Tumescent Liposculpture?

Before and after side image of liposculpture treatment on a female's abdomen performed by Dr. Butterwick at our San Diego medi spa

Tumescent Liposculpture, otherwise known as microcannula liposculpture, involves the usage of a very small cannula or needle when performing the treatment. Benefits of this approach include: 

  • Less risk of rippling: Dermatologists have higher control over this procedure due to the small cannula used. This allows our expert dermatologists to ensure they are not taking too much fat from the body, to avoid an effect called rippling. This is when results show a hollowing of the skin. 
  • Minimal scarring: Due to using a smaller diameter cannula, the incision site is relatively small. Additionally, the post-treatment care we provide at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology only decreases the chances of scarring even further.
  • No pain associated with the procedure: We provide local anesthetic so that we can be sure our patients are comfortable while undergoing treatment. 
  • Stimulation of collagen: When the fat cells are removed and moved to provide the desired aesthetic, the cannula moves superficially beneath the surface of the skin. This creates a sort of trauma to the cells, which stimulates collagen production. This lessens the chance of getting loose skin over time and also tightens the skin. 

Liposculpture to remove submental fat and sculpt the chin by Dr. Fabi. After treatment, chin, jawline, and neck are more contoured.

There are other benefits that tumescent liposculpture offers, though some are still in debate among scholars. Some of these debated benefits are that the procedure improves heart health and other medical conditions such as: 

  • Lipodystrophy syndrome, in which the body stores too much fat in one area and not the other
  • Gynecomastia, or male breasts 

Tumescent liposculpture removes fat, reducing fatty deposits in the body. This is performed artfully by the board certified dermatologists at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, as a means to slim down the figure. 

Unlike liposuction, tumescent liposculpture uses local anesthetic (lidocaine and adrenaline) which is much less invasive and does not require general anesthesia. A microcannula is inserted into the area of unwanted fat through small incisions that do not even require sutures to close, and the fat is suctioned out of the body. 

What is the Difference Between Liposuction and Liposculpture?

liposculpture results in san diego, ca

Ultimately, both liposuction and liposculpture are the same procedure.

The benefits to you are:

  • More precise sculpting
  • Less invasive, not requiring general anesthesia
  • Enhanced results
  • Much smaller incisions
  • Less scarring
  • Faster healing
  • Quicker recovery

The result is smooth and natural-looking contours without any telltale signs that you’ve had liposuction treatment.

Schedule A LipoSculpture Appointment At Our San Diego Medical Spa 

If you have small pockets of fat, then why not schedule a consultation with one of our body sculpting experts to understand how the procedure works and how your appearance and self-confidence will be forever changed.

Our fat removal experts have more than 100 years of combined experience. They will work with you to determine your aesthetic goals and the right treatment plan to achieve them.

To schedule an appointment, call us at (858) 943-2113 or schedule an appointment with one of our fat removal experts online via our contact form. For more information about our medical spa, reviews are available via Yelp and Google.

What to Expect

dermatologist with his liposculpsure patient in San Diego, CA

Typically, the recovery time following a minimally invasive fat reduction treatment performed at our San Diego office is relatively short. You should be getting around normally and already returning to your usual work schedule within a few days with only mild discomfort.

In most cases, you can remove the healing compression garments that help optimize recovery within 2-3 days, allowing you to resume normal physical activity, although this varies from patient to patient.

Your physician may recommend a follow-up treatment known as Z Wave after your liposuction procedure. Z Wave is a painless, non-invasive treatment that can help minimize lumps that are sometimes left behind after liposuction.

The procedure works by using acoustic wave therapy to quickly and harmlessly send sound waves into the skin, which smooth and tighten the treated areas.

Although you may see noticeable results within several weeks, it takes 3-4 months for the full results of liposculpture treatment to be seen.

Read our pre/post-treatment guidelines for liposculpture.

Treatment Guidelines 

Going Home:

  • Rest is recommended immediately after surgery, but you can walk around the house as tolerated.
  • The day after surgery, you should feel well enough to drive your car and engage in light physical activities.
  • Have some absorbent pads available (light Maxi pads work well) to use as post-op dressings. It is also helpful to sleep on an absorbent pad the first two nights so that oozing does not stain your bed linen.
  • You should expect a small amount of blood-tinged anesthetic solution to drain from the small incisions during the first 24 to 48 hours. It may be necessary to change the absorbent pads that are under the compression garment.
  • DO NOT cover the incisions with Band-Aids or stop the drainage in any way. No hot/cold compresses on the incision sites.
  • You must wear your compression garment 24 hours a day for the first 3-7 days. After that, you may switch to a lighter garment such as Spanx and wear daily for a month, or longer if you choose.
  • Your post-op appointment will be scheduled the day after surgery.
  • You may resume light exercise 3 to 4 days after surgery. You should wait for 2-3 weeks after surgery to resume more vigorous physical activities (golf, jogging, tennis). It is suggested that you begin with 25% of your normal work-out routine and increase your activity daily as tolerated.

Discomfort and Bruising: 

  • The soreness is the worst about 24 hours after surgery and then improves daily.
  • For relief of soreness and inflammation, take Tylenol 500 mg, 1-2 pills every 4 hours while awake for the first 48 hours AFTER surgery.
  • DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN or IBUPROFEN or any other medications that contain aspirin or ibuprofen for 3-5 days after surgery as this may promote bleeding.
  • Do not apply ice packs. Bruising is normal and can last 1-2 weeks.

Medications:

  • Take the full 10-day dose of oral antibiotics as directed.
  • Your doctor or pre-operative nurse will discuss the use of Arnica Montana to reduce bruising.

Bathing:

  • When you are given permission to shower, wash the incisions with soap and water, pat them dry and apply Polysporin antibiotic ointment daily.
  • DO NOT submerge in water until the incisions have healed completely (about 1 week).
  • Caution-when garments are removed during the first few days after surgery, patients often feel dizzy.  Avoid this by removing the garments while lying down, then sit on the edge of the bed and stand up slowly.  Rest after showering to dress.

Diet:

  • Start with a soft diet and progress to your normal diet. Light foods are recommended for the first meal after surgery. You may resume your usual diet about 4 hours after surgery.
  • Drink adequate amounts of water, and fruit juices to prevent dehydration. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for 48 hours.

**If you develop a fever, rash, blisters, increased pain, severe itching, or change in color of the weeping fluid, call our office immediately as these symptoms may be a sign of infection. **

At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, our physicians are liposculpture experts. In fact, our doctors perform the procedures, one of the few San Diego dermatology practices that do so. Our friendly, compassionate practitioners are committed to your health and safety and dedicated to helping you reach your aesthetic goals.

To learn more about liposculpture visit ncbi.nlm.nih.gov or contact our San Diego office today to see how this minimally invasive procedure can help you achieve the body you want.

Photos

Actual unretouched patient before and after micro-lipo and Thermi for chin contouring by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and After Micro-Lipo and Thermi for chin contouring by Dr. Groff
Actual unretouched patient before and after liposuction to the abdomen, flanks and thighs by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction to the abdomen, flanks and thighs by Dr. Wu
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture to the abdomen by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed Before and after liposculpture to sculpt the abdomen by Dr. Wu
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. William Groff
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. William Groff
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. William Groff
ThermiTight and Microlipo for Facial and Neck Contouring by Dr. Sabrina Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo for Facial and Neck Contouring by Dr. Sabrina Fabi
ThermiTight and Microlipo for Facial and Neck Contouring by Dr. Sabrina Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo for Facial and Neck Contouring by Dr. Sabrina Fabi
Liposculpture by Dr. Douglas Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture by Dr. Douglas Wu
Liposculpture by Dr. Douglas Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture by Dr. Douglas Wu
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Kimberly Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo on the Neck by Dr. Kimberly Butterwick
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Kimberly Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo on the Neck by Dr. Kimberly Butterwick
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Kimberly Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo on the Neck by Dr. Kimberly Butterwick
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. William Groff
Take10, ThermiTight, and MicroLipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Take10, ThermiTight, and MicroLipo with Dr. William Groff
Take10, ThermiTight, and MicroLipo by Dr. William Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Take10, ThermiTight, and MicroLipo by Dr. William Groff
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight with MicroLipo for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight with MicroLipo for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight with MicroLipo for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight with MicroLipo for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight with MicroLipo for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight with MicroLipo for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff
Liposculpture to trim abdomen fat by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to trim abdomen fat by Dr. Groff
Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi
Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi
Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi
Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to trim abdomen and flanks by Dr. Fabi
ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the neck and chin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the neck and chin by Dr. Fabi
ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the neck and chin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the neck and chin by Dr. Fabi
ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the chin, jawline, and neck by Dr. Butterwick.  Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the chin, jawline, and neck by Dr. Butterwick
ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the chin, jawline, and neck by Dr. Butterwick.  Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight with MicroLipo to contour the chin, jawline, and neck by Dr. Butterwick
Micro-lipo and ThermiTight for contouring the neck and chin by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Micro-Lipo and ThermiTight for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff
Micro-lipo and ThermiTight for contouring the neck and chin by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Micro-Lipo and ThermiTight for neck and chin contouring by Dr. Groff
Laser Resurfacing, Micro Lipo, ThermiTight, Ultherapy, Fillers, and Botox for full rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Laser Resurfacing, Micro Lipo, ThermiTight, Ultherapy, Fillers, and Botox for full rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi
Laser Resurfacing, Micro Lipo, ThermiTight, Ultherapy, Fillers, and Botox for full rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Laser Resurfacing, Micro Lipo, ThermiTight, Ultherapy, Fillers, and Botox for full rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi
Laser Resurfacing, Micro Lipo, ThermiTight, Ultherapy, Fillers, and Botox for full rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Laser Resurfacing, Micro Lipo, ThermiTight, Ultherapy, Fillers, and Botox for full rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi
ThermiTight, micro-lipo, and injectables to rejuvenate lower facet by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Thermi, Micro-lipo and Injectables for Rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi
Thermi, micro-lipo and injectables for rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Thermi, micro-lipo and injectables for rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi
6 years after Thermi, micro-lipo and injectables for rejuvenation by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Thermi, Micro-lipo and injectables by Dr. Fabi
Liposculpture and ThermiRF to treat abdominal fat on a female patient by Dr. Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Liposculpture and ThermiRF to Treat Abdominal Fat by Dr. Butterwick
Liposculpture to trim the back, abdomen, and flanks of a female patient by Dr. Fabi. Liposculpture to trim the back, abdomen, and flanks of a female patient by Dr. Fabi
ThermiTight and microlipo for chin and jawline contouring by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo for Chin Contouring by Dr. Wu
ThermiTight and microlipo to contour the chin and jawline by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo to Contour the Chin and Jawline by Dr. Wu
ThermiTight and micro-lipo used to contour the chin by Dr. Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Micro-Liposuction for Chin Contouring by Dr. Butterwick
Liposuction and ThermiTight to treat submental fat and tighten the skin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposuction and ThermiTight to Treat Submental Fat and Tighten the Skin by Dr. Fabi
Liposuction and ThermiTight to treat submental fat and tighten the skin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposuction and ThermiTight to Treat Submental Fat and Tighten the Skin by Dr. Fabi
Liposuction and ThermiTight to treat submental fat and tighten the skin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposuction and ThermiTight to Treat Submental Fat and Tighten the Skin by Dr. Fabi
Liposuction and ThermiTight to treat submental fat and tighten the skin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposuction and ThermiTight to Treat Submental Fat and Tighten the Skin by Dr. Fabi
Liposuction and ThermiTight to treat submental fat and tighten the skin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposuction and ThermiTight to Treat Submental Fat and Tighten the Skin by Dr. Fabi
ThermiTight and MicroLipo to sculpt the chin, jawline, and neck of a male patient by Dr. Goldman. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and MicroLipo to sculpt the chin, jawline, and neck of a male patient by Dr. Goldman
ThermiTight and MicroLipo to sculpt the chin, jawline, and neck of a male patient by Dr. Goldman. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and MicroLipo to sculpt the chin, jawline, and neck of a male patient by Dr. Goldman
ThermiTight and MicroLipo to sculpt the chin, jawline, and neck of a male patient by Dr. Goldman. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and MicroLipo to sculpt the chin, jawline, and neck of a male patient by Dr. Goldman
ThermiTight and microlipo to sculpt the chin and jawline by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and microlipo to sculpt the chin and jawline by Dr. Groff
Liposculpture to treat submental fat under the chin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to treat submental fat under the chin by Dr. Fabi
Liposculpture to treat submental fat under the chin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to treat submental fat under the chin by Dr. Fabi
Liposculpture to treat submental fat under the chin by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to treat submental fat under the chin by Dr. Fabi
ThermiTight and Micro Liposuction for jawline and neck contouring by Dr. Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Micro Liposuction for jawline and neck contouring by Dr. Butterwick
ThermiTight and Micro Liposuction for jawline and neck contouring by Dr. Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Micro Liposuction for jawline and neck contouring by Dr. Butterwick
ThermiTight and Microlipo to reduce submental fat under the chin by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo to reduce submental fat under the chin by Dr. Groff
MicroLipo to remove extra fat from under the chin by Dr. Boen. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. MicroLipo to remove extra fat from under the chin by Dr. Boen
MicroLipo to remove extra fat from under the chin by Dr. Boen. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. MicroLipo to remove extra fat from under the chin by Dr. Boen
Neck liposuction to remove submental fat from a male patient by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Neck Liposuction to Remove Submental Fat by Dr. Fabi
Neck liposuction to remove submental fat from a male patient by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Neck Liposuction to Remove Submental Fat by Dr. Fabi
Neck liposuction to remove submental fat from a male patient by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Neck Liposuction to Remove Submental Fat by Dr. Fabi
Microlipo and ThermiTight to slim the jawline and contour the chin by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Microlipo and ThermiTight to Narrow the Jawline by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and microlipo for chin contouring by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microliposuction for Chin Contouring by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and microliposuction for chin contouring on a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo for Chin Contouring by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and microliposuction for chin contouring on a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo for Chin Contouring by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and microliposuction for chin contouring on a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo for Chin Contouring by Dr. Groff
ThermiRF and microlipo to remove submental fat and tighten the skin of a female patient by Dr. Boen. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiRF and Microlipo to Treat Submental Fat and Skin Laxity by Dr. Boen
ThermiRF, microlipo, and Voluma to contour the chin of a female patient by Dr. Boen. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiRF, MicroLipo, and Voluma for Fat Reduction and Chin Contouring by Dr. Boen
ThermiRF, microlipo, and Voluma to contour the chin of a female patient by Dr. Boen. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiRF, MicroLipo, and Voluma for Fat Reduction and Chin Contouring by Dr. Boen
ThermiRF, microlipo, and Voluma to contour the chin of a female patient by Dr. Boen. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiRF, MicroLipo, and Voluma for Fat Reduction and Chin Contouring by Dr. Boen
Liposuction to remove fat and contour the upper arm of a female patient by Dr. Goldman. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposuction to Contour Upper Arm by Dr. Goldman
ThermiTight and microlipo for submental fat and to contour the jawline by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo to Treat Submental Fat by Dr. Wu
ThermiTight and microlipo to treat submental fat and contour the jawline by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo to Treat Submental Fat by Dr. Wu
ThermiTight and microlipo for jawline contouring by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo to Treat Submental Fat by Dr. Wu
ThermiTight and microlipo to treat submental fat on a female patient by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. ThermiTight and Microlipo to Treat Submental Fat by Dr. Wu
ThermiTight and micro lipo to treat submental fat under the chin of a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results can vary from patient to patient. ThermiTight and Micro Lipo to Treat Submental Fat by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and micro lipo to treat submental fat under the chin of a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results can vary from patient to patient. ThermiTight and Micro Lipo to Treat Submental Fat by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and micro liposuction to treat submental fat under the chin of a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results can vary from patient to patient. ThermiTight and Micro Lipo to Treat Submental Fat by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and micro lipo to eliminate submental fat on a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results can vary from patient to patient. ThermiTight and Micro Lipo to Eliminate Submental Fat by Dr. Groff
ThermiTight and micro lipo to eliminate submental fat in a female patient by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. ThermiTight and Micro Lipo to Remove Submental Fat by Dr. Groff
Actual unretouched patient before and after ThermiTight and micro-lipo to treat skin laxity and submental fat by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after ThermiTight with micro-lipo to treat submental fat and sagging skin by Dr. Groff
Actual unretouched patient before and after ThermiTight and micro-lipo to reduce submental fat and contour the chin by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after ThermiTight and micro-lipo for chin contouring by Dr. Groff
Actual unretouched patient before and 7 months after liposculpture to sculpt the knees by Dr. Groff . Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to the knees by Dr. Groff
Liposculpture to reduce arm fat by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Liposculpture to reduce fat in the upper arm by Dr. Fabi
Liposuction for abdominal reduction by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture for abdominal reduction by Dr. Groff
Actual unretouched patient before and after Thermi and Micro-Lipo for chin contouring by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after Thermi and Micro-Lipo for chin contouring by Dr. Groff
Actual unretouched patient before and two months after liposuction of the thighs and buttocks by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction of the thighs and buttocks by Dr. Douglas Wu
Actual unretouched patient before and two months after liposuction of the abdomen and thighs by Dr. Wu. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction of the abdomen and thighs by Dr. Douglas Wu
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposuction treatment for butt sculpting by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction to sculpt and shape buttocks by Dr. Fabi
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture to treat submental fat under the chin. Results by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to remove submental fat and shape the chin by Dr. Fabi
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposuction treatment for removal of excess abdominal fat by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction to reduce excess fat in the midsection by Dr. Groff
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture treatment for abdominal contouring by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture for fat reduction and abdominal sculpting by Dr. Groff
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture treatment for bra rolls by Dr. Butterwick. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to treat bra rolls by Dr. Butterwick
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture to reduce submental fat and contour the neck by Dr. Goldman. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to reduce submental fat and contour the neck by Dr. Goldman
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture to reduce submental fat and contour the neck by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to remove submental fat and contour the neck by Dr. Groff
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposuction to reduce and contour the abdomen by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction to reduce and contour the abdomen by Dr. Groff
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposuction treatment for abdomen and love handles by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction to reduce and sculpt the abdomen and love handles by Dr. Groff
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture to contour the upper arms by Dr. Goldman. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to contour the upper arms by Dr. Goldman
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture to contour upper arms by Dr. Fabi. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to contour upper arms by Dr. Fabi
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposuction treatment to sculpt the upper arms by Dr. Goldman. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction to sculpt the upper arms by Dr. Goldman
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposculpture to reduce abdominal fat by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposculpture to reduce abdominal fat by Dr. Groff
Actual un-retouched patient before and after liposuction to reduce abdominal fat by Dr. Groff. Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. Results are not guaranteed. Before and after liposuction to reduce abdominal fat by Dr. Groff

Videos

Body Sculpting Procedures
Tumescent Liposculpture and Fat Transfer | Kimberly Butterwick, MD | Webinar
San Diego Laser & Liposuction (3:46)
What is Liposculpture? Liposculpture vs. Liposuction (4:19)
Dermatologist with 13+ Years of Experience Discusses Jawline & Neck Contouring
Tumescent Liposculpture (2:15)
Liposculpture and Fat Transfer with Dr. Butterwick (3:12)
Tumescent Liposculpture with Dr. Fabi (3:49)

FAQs

Q: How do you know what the right amount of fat is to remove for thigh Lipo and not have loose skin?

A:

When you consult with a board-certified dermatologist about liposuction, they will assess the volume of fat you need to have removed as well as the quality of your skin. A large volume of fat and loose skin could indicate that liposuction is not right for you. If you have some loss of elasticity, but not a significant amount, your doctor may recommend adding ThermiRF/ThermiTight, Thermage, or Ultherapy to your treatment plan. If your skin is just a little loose, the skin tightening from liposuction (particularly laser or radiofrequency-assisted liposuction) is often enough. You may also consider non-invasive fat-reducing Vanquish and CoolSculpting, which work more gradually. That’s why a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist is so important, as they can help you choose the right treatment combination.

Q: What’s the downtime for tumescent lipo? Could I have it done over a long weekend?

A:

Everyone responds differently. We generally recommend that you avoid strenuous activity for 1-2 days after your procedure and wait a full 1-2 weeks before going back to your full routine, including exercise. As your body may be swollen and uncomfortable, you should wear a compression garment to minimize these side effects for a few days. Please talk to a board-certified dermatologist with expertise — and not just a good price — about your treatment, such as those at our San Diego office.

Q: I had lipo done to my lower stomach, but I think I look bigger – is this supposed to happen?

A:

It’s normal to be swollen after tumescent liposuction, as the procedure triggers your immune system to kick in and heal the treatment area. Swelling means that your body is functioning well. The swelling peaks 2-7 days after the procedure and then slowly improves over the ensuing weeks. Please wear the recommended compression garment and follow all after-care guidelines. Walking a lot helps, as this low-level cardio exercise can reduce the swelling very quickly.

Q: What is the best treatment to tighten a double chin and define a jawline?

A:

At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in San Diego, California, we like to combine ThermiTight with liposculpture to treat early signs of aging in the neck, such as sagging and a double chin. The combination of removing fat and tightening the skin vastly improves the look of the neck and stimulates collagen production to keep it looking youthful for longer. Other means of reducing chin fat, such as Kybella, helps dissolve unwanted fat, while CoolMini or Ultherapy or Thermage FLX can be used to tighten skin along the jaw. Consult a board-certified dermatologist to help choose the ideal treatment for you.

Q: Does laser lipo on the pubic mound also tighten the skin?

A:

The laser component of laser liposuction heats the skin to produce tightening. We now prefer radiofrequency tightening. Liposuction itself sometimes has a slight skin-tightening effect, depending on your age and the quality of your skin. When you consult a board-certified dermatologist, he or she can determine from your skin quality if you’d benefit from laser lipo alone, or if combination therapy with radiofrequency energy (ThermiTight) or ultrasound (Ultherapy) would help.

Q: Wondering if liposuction would help me with weight loss on my belly?

A:

Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure. However, it does remove inches of excess fat from areas like the abdomen. You may be an excellent candidate for lipo, but this can only be determined in person. It’s possible that a non-invasive fat-elimination technique, such as Vanquish, CoolSculpting, or ThermiTight, would be more beneficial. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist to know which is right for you.

Q: Should I try in CoolSculpting or liposuction?

A:

You could see great improvement in your figure from either CoolSculpting or liposuction. The best procedure will depend on your goals. For example, if you want to avoid surgery entirely, CoolSculpting is your choice. However, you may need several treatments, in which case liposuction may be better because you can have all of your excess fat removed at once. Consult with a board-certified dermatologist to explore both options in more depth and choose the one that works best for your needs. In some cases, both treatments may be recommended for the best possible results.

Q: Where does the fat get taken out of for an inner thigh lipo?

A:

Generally, inner-thigh liposuction is performed on the bulges at the top of your inner thighs that tend to brush up against one another when you walk. This is done to create the trendy look of “thigh gap.” However, your liposuction procedure depends on you. Your board-certified cosmetic surgeon’s responsibility is to make your legs look as beautiful as possible. If you’d benefit from removing fat from other areas, too, that would be discussed during your consultation. You may also want to consider non-invasive fat-elimination techniques, such as Vanquish, CoolSculpting, and ThermiTight. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist who is an expert at sculpting the thighs with liposuction and other fat-elimination modalities.

Q: How long should I avoid tight underwear/clothing after lipo?

A:

Wear your compression garment as directed by your doctor. When having tumescent liposculpture performed by a dermatologic surgeon, a compression garment is only necessary for the first few days. When liposuction is performed under general anesthesia, the compression garment needs to be worn much longer. Wear loose clothing for the first three months, while your body is healing. Please consult with the board-certified dermatologist who treated you for more information about your aftercare.

Q: What could be done about my small stomach pooch after weight loss?

A:

You could be an ideal candidate for tumescent liposuction, which would remove the little pooch below your navel and permanently eliminate the fat cells. You may also want to consider non-invasive fat-elimination techniques, such as Vanquish, CoolSculpting, and ThermiTight. These take more than one session, but there’s no downtime, which may work better if you’re busy. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist who can offer you a variety of options.

Q: Will lipo give me a six pack abs?

A:

You could be an excellent candidate for high-definition liposculpture using mini cannulas to get six-pack abs. With traditional tumescent liposuction, we always leave a slight layer of fat so that the skin looks smooth and natural. For adding definition to muscles with liposculpture, we actually remove the fat that outlines the muscles, making them stand out more. Of course, the way you look will depend on how your muscles look, which requires some physical workout. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist who can show you great results from this procedure, because it takes skill to accomplish well.

Q: What's the difference between laser lipolysis and liposculpture?

A:

Laser Lipolysis is different from Liposculpture treatments in that it adds a skin-tightening element. With smaller incisions, you’ll have a quicker recovery time. At Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, we often get optimal results by combining laser liposuction with traditional liposculpture treatments.

Other Options

liposculpture fat removal surgery

There are several great non-invasive options for permanent fat removal that we offer at our San Diego office, which include the following:

  • CoolSculpting (kills fat cells with cold)
  • Cooltone (can be added onto fat removal treatments to define muscles)
  • ThermiTight (destroys fat cells using radiofrequency energy)
  • Ultherapy – helps tighten skin using ultrasound energy
  • Thermage FLX – helps tighten skin using radiofrequency energy
  • Kybella – an injection that dissolves stubborn submental (chin) fat

To find out which body sculpting treatment is best for you, please consult a board-certified dermatologist today.

Promotions

La Jolla Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Deals

For more information about the monthly specials offered at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology in San Diego, visit our Promotions page.

Same Day Appointments Available!


Book a consultation online

From March 25th to March 29th, you can take advantage of these exclusive offers at our exciting in-person event:

• Enjoy $100 off Juvéderm + Botox treatments (limited supply available) AND earn double Allē points when you combine Botox with Juvéderm fillers.
• Spend $1,000 on Juvéderm, Botox, or Coolsculpting and be automatically entered into a skincare raffle for a chance to win a luxurious SkinMedica basket (value $750).
• Receive up to $2,400 off CoolSculpting packages with our best pricing of the year.

Remember, you must be a member of Allē to participate. Schedule your appointment in advance to secure your spot and take advantage of these limited-time offers and rebates!