Love handle liposuction is a plastic surgery procedure that is just what it sounds like. It is liposuction performed on the love handles — also known as the flanks.
This is an area of the body that is located on the abdominal sides and lower back, just above where a person’s underwear band usually sits. Many people call this area the “love handles” because it’s a place where your girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse might “hold on” as they give you a loving hug or squeeze.
Often, fat in this area is very hard to target with diet and exercise alone. It will also (rather annoyingly) “spill out” over the top of a waistband on jeans, a skirt, etc. While the term “love handles” is cute and endearing, most people don’t want to have them. And liposuction is the perfect solution.
Below, we’ll go over what happens with love handle liposuction before and after surgery. We’ll discuss some of the different types of liposuction used during this treatment and what the overall benefits of love handle lipo are.
Love Handle Liposuction Procedure Overview
Liposuction is a commonly performed plastic surgery procedure. Liposuction on the flanks or love handle area is also extremely common. It is usually combined with abdominal liposuction, tummy tuck surgery, and/or liposuction on the hips and thighs.
The best liposuction candidate is someone who has stubborn pockets of unwanted fat on their flanks. Patients should be at their ideal weight (lose weight before surgery if you need to) and be in good general health.
To perform this procedure, most patients are put under general anesthesia. But local anesthesia with IV sedation can also be used in some cases.
Once the anesthesia has been administered by a licensed anesthesiologist, Dr. Schulman will make several small incisions in the flank area. Naturally, you will be positioned on your stomach so that Dr. Schulman has ready access to this area of the body.
After the necessary incisions have been made, Dr. Schulman will insert a special tool called a cannula. Cannulas are thin metal tubes that are hollow inside. They are attached to a liposuction machine.
Various liposuction technique options can be used with this procedure. These include ultrasound energy, laser energy, radio frequency energy, etc. There’s Smart Lipo vs lipo (traditional), VASER liposuction, and other variations, each of which offers unique benefits. Depending on the circumstances and your individual body type, Dr. Schulman will choose the method that can best break down and/or liquify your excess fat cells for easy removal.
He will then insert his cannula into the incision sites and suction out the fat. This process takes a bit of time and must be meticulously performed so that fat is evenly removed and you are left with smooth natural looking contours.
Finally, Dr. Schulman will carefully close up your incisions and apply the necessary bandages and compression garment so that you can be taken to the recovery room and prepare to go home. Be sure to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting after surgery.
Benefits of Love Handle Liposuction
There are numerous benefits to love handle liposuction. First, you’re going to see improved contour almost right away after surgery.
Patients — especially female patients — typically want to achieve an hour glass figure. So, love handle liposuction is often combined with abdominal liposuction. It may also be combined with a Brazilian butt lift or BBL surgery, which will take the fat that we remove during liposuction and transfer it to the butt and hips.
Whether you decide to undergo abdominal liposuction and a Brazilian butt lift or not, removing fat from the love handles alone will give you a much more attractive and fit-looking silhouette.
Beyond that, we see a lot of patients simply have boosted self-confidence after this procedure. They feel better about themselves.
It’s easier and more fun to find clothes they want to wear. They’re more comfortable at the beach or when working out at the gym. And they often end up improving other areas of their lives as well. People tend to take the confidence they get from plastic surgery and transition that onto their work lives, their personal lives, their general health, new relationships, etc.
FAQ: Love Handle Liposuction
Is love handle liposuction painful?
You will be under general anesthesia or local anesthesia (with the option of sedation) during this procedure, so you shouldn’t feel any pain during the actual treatment. However, after surgery, liposuction does come with some light soreness.
Fortunately, to help you with this discomfort, we can prescribe pain medication. Medication usually only needs to be used for a few days following surgery.
How long will my love handle liposuction results last?
Most patients see their results from love handle liposuction last for many years. What can really help you maintain your results is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This means exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding excess alcohol and drugs.
This will also help prevent against future weight gain. Staying at your target weight is important for maintaining your results. While fat should not accumulate too much in the areas where you had liposuction procedures, remaining fat cells can still expand.
Will I have love handle liposuction scars?
Liposuction scars tend to be extremely small and almost invisible. The incisions only need to be large enough to fit a cannula, and plastic surgeons do their best to put the incisions in discreet locations.
How much does love handle liposuction cost?
Liposuction costs vary from patient to patient and surgery to surgery. Book a liposuction treatment consultation with Dr. Schulman to receive a detailed liposuction cost estimate.
Call Today to Schedule a Consultation
Are you interested in reducing fat on your flanks or “love handles” with liposuction surgery? If so, please contact our NYC practice today to schedule a personal consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman.
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