With any cosmetic procedure, a patient needs to have realistic expectations about the results that can and cannot be achieved. The goal with any procedure is progress and improvement, not perfection. Cosmetic surgery should always improve the appearance of a treated area, but may not give you the “perfect” body as everyone’s idea of perfect is different.

One of the most common misconceptions about Liposuction is that it is a weight-loss procedure. Liposuction is NOT a weight-loss procedure. Patients should not expect to lose more than 2-5 pounds. The best candidate for liposuction is someone who is close to their ideal body weight, but has areas on their body that are resistant to diet and exercise.

Another misconception is that the results will be immediate after Tumescent Liposuction. The treated area will change, but this might not be as noticeable during the first few weeks. Patients will have swelling and inflammation following the procedure. Most patients will see 90% of their final results within 3 months following the procedure, but the areas can continue to change for 6 months or longer. It is important for patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle after liposuction, as any weight gain can alter results.

Liposuction is not a method to treat cellulite. If a patient has cellulite before liposuction, there will most likely be some present after surgery.

Liposuction will not remove significant areas of excess skin. With Tumescent Liposuction the skin typically contracts to a degree, but if someone has lost a significant amount of weight and has excess hanging skin or has excessive stretch marks, they will still have some excess skin and stretch marks after Liposuction.

A Microincision is an incision so small that it does not require any sutures, promoting optimal healing with virtually no scarring. Microincisions are used in Tumescent liposuction. These tiny  multiple incisions allow Dr. Crabtree to remove fat from multiple angles for optimal fat removal of an area. They accelerate drainage of the tumescent solution which reduces bruising, soreness, and swelling.

Microcannulas are used when performing Tumescent Liposuction. Microcannulas are very small, stainless steel tubes that have a diameter from 1mm to 3mm. They are used to numb the area with tumescent fluid and suction out fat. Insertion of these microcannulas require only very tiny incisions due to their small diameter. These tiny incisions do not require sutures and provide a much faster healing time than traditional liposuction. Physicians who do liposuction under general anesthesia, usually use cannulas that are much larger and range in diameter of 3mm to 6mm. Larger cannulas require larger incisions that have to be sutured. When larger incisions are made, they are much more likely to leave visible scarring.

Microcannulas actually remove greater amounts of fat because they can reach areas that larger cannulas simply cannot. They also allow the removal of fat from fibrous areas such as the male breast and back. Removing fat from those areas is virtually impossible with a larger cannula. Larger cannulas are less accurate and are far more likely to cause irregularities. Microcannulas allow Dr. Crabtree to precisely remove the right amount of fat, which achieve better contours and provide smooth uniform results.

Prolonged high-compression garments are not needed for Tumescent Liposuction. Moderate compression is needed for the first few days, and then light to moderate compression for 1-2 weeks after. Some areas, such as arms and neck/jowls, do not need any compression after 24-48 hours. The moderate compression helps promote drainage and hold the drainage pads in place for the first 24-48 hours. Our patients are generally more comfortable the following 1-2 weeks after their liposuction procedure when they continue wearing some form of light to moderate compression.

With traditional liposuction, under general anesthesia, high-compression garments are required for 4-6 weeks. This is to prevent bleeding, as this is a major problem with traditional liposuction. With Tumescent Liposuction, there is virtually no blood loss, and prolonged high- compression can actually delay healing and prolong swelling.

The patient will leave wearing a garment after their procedure is completed. An extra set of garments will also be sent home with the patient.

Dr. Crabtree will infiltrate a large volume of solution into the area(s) that are being treated. This fluid numbs the area and shrinks the blood vessels, which allows the patient to be comfortable during the procedure with virtually no blood loss. This fluid drains out of the tiny incisions for 24-48 hours following the procedure. Pads are placed over the incisions to soak up the drainage after the procedure. This open drainage minimizes bruising and swelling. It also vastly accelerates the healing process making for a much faster recovery than with traditional liposuction.

Power Assisted Liposuction is a technique that utilizes an electrically powered cannula to facilitate the removal of fat.  The instrument has a very small to and fro oscillation that greatly increases the efficiency of fat removal in a less traumatic fashion. This mechanical advantage also helps reduce stress and fatigue on the surgeon.

Power Assisted Liposuction is a valuable adjunct to tumescent Liposuction, and is particularly effective in areas that are more dense and fibrous, such as male and female breasts, abdomen, and back. It is especially useful in areas that have scar tissue from previous procedures.

Laser-assisted liposuction, also known as laser lipolysis or laser lipo, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that uses laser energy to help remove unwanted fat from the body.

Laser lipolysis utilizes a thin, flexible fiber-optic laser that is inserted through microincisions in the targeted area(s) of fat, to heat up and liquefy fat cells making them easier to remove before suctioning. This technique is used in conjunction with tumescent liposuction.

Dr. Crabtree was the first physician to perform Laser Assisted Liposuction in Louisville, Kentucky, and was a national trainer for Smartlipo®.