Liposuction

During the liposuction procedure, the treatment area will be numbed so you will not feel any pain. Swelling and bruising can cause mild to moderate discomfort, but most symptoms improve significantly within the first week.

You return to the office a week after surgery for recovery monitoring. The number of follow-up appointments you will need for liposuction depends on your individual needs and the complexity of the procedure. Dr. Hankins will let you know if and when he wants to see you next.

Full liposuction results vary depending on the individual. Still, once the swelling diminishes, you should see visible changes in your body shape and contours within a few weeks after the procedure.

No. Once fat cells have been removed through liposuction, those cells cannot grow back, and we cannot develop new cells. That being said, fat in the surrounding areas can grow if patients gain weight after surgery.

Liposuction only requires tiny incisions, around a few mm wide, across the treatment area for the thin cannula to enter your body. This means that the scars are small and round in their appearance. Furthermore, a skilled and experienced surgeon like Dr. Hankins will ensure minimal scar visibility by hiding incision areas under natural folds.

You can start walking immediately, but any strenuous exercise, especially high-intensity cardiovascular exercise, will have to wait four to six weeks.

Absolutely! Most of our patients who have had liposuction combine it with other body contouring procedures, such as breast augmentation, a thigh lift, or a tummy tuck, to tighten the abdominal muscles. If you have any personal desires or aesthetic goals you’d like to achieve, please discuss them with Dr. Hankins during your consultation so he can devise a combined procedure plan for you.

Liposuction is an overall very safe and standard procedure; however, there are some potential risks and side effects that can occur, which include but are not limited to:

• Blood clots
• Bruising
• Cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Change in skin sensation that may persist
• Damage to deeper tissues
• Fluid retention
• Infection
• Irregular contours or asymmetries
• Rippling or loose skin, worsening of cellulite
• Risks from anesthesia
• Thermal burn or heat injury from ultrasound with the ultrasound-assisted liposuction technique

If you observe any of these side effects or anything unusual, please contact our office immediately so we may help you.

We recommend that you look for a board-certified plastic surgeon for liposuction in Houston. Research past patient reviews to understand their trustworthiness and collaboration with patients toward their health goals. Further, it might be a good idea to read up on the surgeon’s qualifications, any hospital practices they have had, their research experience, and how long their practice has been running. Finally, we recommend you schedule a consultation with the surgeon to see how you feel regarding your comfort level and respect during your visit. It is your body your health, and you have the final and ultimate say on how you want to proceed. Give yourself that space to make the right choice.