Liposuction is a minimally invasive body contouring treatment that removes exercise-resistant body fat for a slender, more toned body. Even with a balanced diet and a strict exercise regimen, stubborn fatty deposits can prevent people from achieving their desired body shape. If you are struggling to eliminate pockets of excess fat, liposuction can help you achieve your desired physique.

Dr. Daniel Murariu and Dr. Robert Peterson have helped thousands of patients improve their figures with liposuction treatments at Athena Clinic. If you are struggling with excess fat, there is no need to wait. Contact our Honolulu office or call (808) 944-8551 to learn more about how we can quickly restore your body and help you achieve your dream look.

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About Liposuction

No matter how hard you try to lead a healthy lifestyle, some areas of the body are more likely to hold on to excess fat. But where diet and exercise do not succeed, liposuction is the answer for many. Liposuction sculpts your body by removing excess fat (adipose) cells on the thighs, buttocks, chest, arms, back, and abdomen permanently. The minimally invasive procedure is an effective way to achieve a smoother figure and is one of the top five most popular body contouring treatments. In 2021, surgeons performed over 491,000 liposuction procedures to help patients enhance their bodies and achieve a more athletic form. ⁽¹⁾

At Athena, our surgeons can perform several different liposuction techniques, depending on your aesthetic goals.

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent fluid is a numbing solution that contains lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline. ⁽²⁾ It changes the composition of your fat (adipose) cells, causing them to swell for easy removal. It also reduces the size of your blood vessels to minimize bleeding for a smoother recovery. During tumescent liposuction, our surgeons use the super-wet technique– they inject an amount of fluid that is equivalent to double or triple the volume of excess fat you would like to remove. The technique permanently removes the fat for a slimmer figure.

Vaserlipo™

Vaserlipo™ is a cosmetic procedure that emulsifies excess fat with ultrasonic energy. VASER (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance) produces what is colloquially known as a “shrink wrap” effect by changing the structure of your fat cells and removing them for a more slender body. During a VASER liposuction procedure, we will use a small probe to treat the excess fat. Ultrasonic energy and air bubbles in the tumescent fluid disrupt the fat cells, dislodging them for easy removal while preserving the surrounding tissue. The targeted removal of excess fat helps you achieve an athletic look.

High-Definition Liposculpting

High-definition liposculpting, also known as HD liposculpting, is an advanced body contouring procedure that aims to enhance the definition and sculpt the appearance of specific areas of the body. By selectively removing excess fat deposits, high-definition liposculpting can help create a more toned and athletic physique. The advanced technology and techniques used in high-definition liposculpting allow for precise sculpting to match each patient’s unique anatomy and desired aesthetic outcome.

Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL)

During Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL), a thin cannula liquefies the fat with sound waves and electric energy. The ultrasonic energy makes your tissue contract to help you achieve smoother skin. After your surgeon liquefies the fat, the cannula will remove it with suction. UAL can efficiently break up dense tissue in the breasts, making it a preferred treatment for conditions such as gynecomastia (male breast enlargement). ⁽⁴⁾

Benefits of Liposuction

With liposuction, we can:

Candidates

In general, ideal candidates for liposuction are in good overall health, have specific areas of fat that do not respond well to diet and exercise, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations.

If you are within 30% of a healthy BMI (body mass index),⁽³⁾ the procedure can help you fulfill your aesthetic goals. However, if you have a condition that affects your ability to receive anesthesia or to heal, liposuction may not be the best treatment for you. We can discuss alternatives during your consultation.

Liposuction for Men

Liposuction is not only for women. For men, liposuction can sculpt the body to enhance natural muscle definition and create a more attractive and athletic physique. Liposuction for men takes into account the unique anatomy and aesthetics of the male physique, leading to natural-looking and masculine results.

Personal Consultation

Your surgeon can utilize liposuction to remove excess fat and balance your proportions. During your consultation, our surgeons will carefully review your goals to provide a comprehensive plan for achieving your desired results. Please come prepared to discuss your medical history, medications, lifestyle, and expectations. To learn more about liposuction, download this information on liposculpture as a PDF.

Preparation

After your consultation, our team will provide specific instructions to help you prepare for your treatment. You will need to take the following steps to prepare:

You will also need to arrive in comfortable clothing on the morning of your procedure that you can easily remove for your treatment. Depending on the physical demands of your job, you may need to take additional time off work. We can discuss your recovery timeline during your consultation.

Liposuction Procedure

During your procedure, your care team will place you under intravenous sedation or local anesthesia. Whether you receive tumescent liposuction, high definition liposculpting, Vaserlipo™, or UAL, all liposuction procedures begin with the introduction of tumescent fluid to numb and swell the area. Once any additional fat treatments have been conducted, your surgeon will move a cannula through the layers of tissue to judiciously extract fat. At Athena Clinic, we perform liposuction procedures on an outpatient basis.

Liposuction Recovery

The length of your recovery will vary depending on the extent of the procedure and individual factors. We recommend you set aside 5-7 days to rest and recover at home. You can resume exercise in 3-4 weeks, and our surgeons will see you regularly to monitor your progress. You can expect the bruising to subside within 2-3 weeks with most swelling resolving after 4-6 weeks. After your procedure, we will apply a compression garment to reduce swelling and help your body heal correctly. You will need to wear your compression garment for approximately a month after your procedure to help your body recover.

Results

After a liposuction treatment, you will see results immediately. The area treated with liposuction will be smoother and sculpted for a more athletic appearance. With a healthy lifestyle, most patients can maintain their results for many years. Exercising regularly and eating well will be important during your recovery.

Corresponding Procedures

If you are interested in liposuction, we can combine your treatment with additional procedures to sculpt your figure further. You may also be interested in body contouring procedures such as a mommy makeover, tummy tuck, or arm lift.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a body contouring treatment that removes excess skin and tightens the muscles in your abdomen. Although liposuction can remove excess fat, it cannot remove the droopy skin that was stretched by the fat. During a tummy tuck, we can make a discrete hip-to-hip incision along the underwear line to remove the sagging skin and restore the abdominal muscles for a smoother midsection.

Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover is a collection of treatments that restore the body after pregnancy by removing excess fat, augmenting the breasts, and eliminating excess skin. This is a highly customizable procedure but usually involves a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or breast lift, and liposuction. Feeling your best after pregnancy is difficult when you do not feel comfortable in your body. After a mommy makeover, you can feel more confident with a slimmer, athletic form.

Arm Lift

An arm lift is a procedure that removes droopy skin on the upper arms to improve their appearance. Colloquially known as “bat wings,” sagging skin on the arms can affect your self-esteem and the way your clothes fit. During an arm lift, we can make a discrete incision beneath your arm to remove the skin and help you achieve a firmer, more toned look.

To learn more, see our blog.

Cost of Liposuction in Honolulu

The cost of liposuction treatment depends on the amount of excess fat you wish to remove, the size of the treatment area, and how many treatment areas there are in total. After your consultation, we will provide an all-inclusive quote based on your body goals. Contact our office or call (808) 944-8551 to learn more about how liposuction can restore your figure and help you feel your best.

FAQ

References

1. “Liposuction Complications in the Outpatient Setting: A National Analysis of 246,119 Cases in Accredited Ambulatory Surgery Facilities.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Open Forum, vol. 6, 28 Nov. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10860384/#:~:text=Suction%20lipectomy%20(liposuction)%20is%20one, https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojad107.
2. Chang E, Mello K, Paskal S, Dill M, Miner LA. The Development and Implementation of an Evidence-Based Tumescent Liposuction Protocol, Online Educational Course for Perioperative Staff, and Discharge Instructions: a Quality Improvement Project. Journal of periAnesthesia nursing/Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing. 2024;39(1):24-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2023.06.094
3. Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/
4. Abdelrahman I, Steinvall I, Mossaad B, Sjoberg F, Elmasry M. Evaluation of Glandular Liposculpture as a Single Treatment for Grades I and II Gynaecomastia. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2018;42(5):1222-1230. doi:10.1007/s00266-018-1118-x