Liposuction and Your Unwanted Fat
You know you have them, we all do — those unwanted pockets of fat that, no matter what you do, just won’t go away. You can exercise and diet, but, unfortunately, you can’t specifically target your problem areas.
For Dr. Gurley’s patients, the answer is liposuction. Liposuction removes diet- and exercise-resistant fat pockets forever and leaves patients with smooth, slim contours.
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People usually think of the abdomen first when they think about liposuction, but it can be used in so many areas of the body. Here are the more common areas patients opt to have the procedure:
- Abdomen
- Neck/Chin
- Upper arms
- Breasts
- Hips
- Thighs
- Back
- Knees
- Male Chest
Today’s smaller cannulas (tubes) make many of these areas accessible and allow for more precise removal of fat. Dr. Gurley can be very precise in the fat she removes. This wasn’t the case with the larger cannulas used in the 1980s when liposuction was developed.
How Dr. Gurley does it
Dr. Gurley uses ultrasound-assisted liposuction. First she injects the target area with a saline solution that also contains a local anesthetic and adrenaline. This combination keeps the patient comfortable and reduces bleeding. Next, she makes multiple small incisions to gain access to the area and then inserts the ultrasound wand. The sound waves weaken the fibrous connections which hold the fat in place. She then inserts the cannula to suction out the fat in multiple passes using feathering techniques. This is the time when Dr. Gurley’s artistic eye comes into play; she strategically removes your excess fat in order to achieve your perfect shape.
Recovery
Liposuction recovery has become much quicker and easier as technology and surgical techniques have advanced. Most patients can return to work in just a day or two and can resume regular activities within two weeks. A compression garment is worn under the clothes for 4-6 weeks after the procedure in order to control swelling and to help the skin conform to its new underlying contour.
Are you ready to get rid of those fat pockets? Call us at (636) 812-4300 to make an appointment.
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Judith Gurley, MD (Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon)
Dr. Judith Gurley is a skilled plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, she trained at Washington University School of Medicine, where she served as an Attending and Assistant Professor. She is also an active member of The Aesthetic Society, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, St. Louis Society of Plastic Surgery, and FACS / American College of Surgeons Professional Association. With contributions to peer-reviewed journals and pioneering innovations, including FDA-approved treatments, she has been recognized as a Top Doctor.