Click here to read a message from the provider about COVID-19.
x
Click here to read a message from the provider about COVID-19.
x

Tumescent Liposuction

Distribution of body fat is largely out of your control. You can eat right, get daily exercise, and maintain reasonably healthy weight, and still have stubborn bulges. As a Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. M. Christine Lee has helped countless men and women in the Walnut Creek, CA area get the body contours they desire with tumescent liposuction.

Tumescent Liposuction, Walnut Creek

About fat

Body fat is technically called adipose tissue. It is composed of adipocytes – specialized cells that store calories in a lipid (oily) form. Subcutaneous fat, the layer located between skin and muscle, tends to build up in problem areas. Fortunately, tumescent liposuction is designed to address this layer of fat. The technique breaks up and removes subcutaneous fat through a suctioning process.

Liposuction vs. fat melting or freezing

Aesthetic medical technology has made many advances in recent years, including noninvasive methods of fat reduction. Fat is crystalized at low temperature, or heated with laser or radiofrequency energy, to rupture adipocytes. Destroyed fat cells then pass out of the body through the lymphatic system. Fat melting or freezing is effective to a point. In the hands of an experienced clinician, liposuction provides more precise contouring, and can eliminate a greater portion of unwanted fat.

Tumescent simply means swollen. In the case of liposuction, it means flooding the subcutaneous layer with a saline solution containing anesthetic to ensure patient comfort. The solution also has medications which constrict blood vessels for reduced risk of bleeding, bruising, and swelling after the procedure, and faster recovery. As the solution is suctioned away, fat goes with it. Since the adult human body does not make new fat cells, they are gone for good in treated areas.

Dr. Lee uses the tumescent liposuction technique to remove fat on:

  • Face
  • Neck
  • As minimally invasive double chin reduction surgery
  • Breasts, including enlarged male breasts (gynecomastia)
  • Upper arms
  • Abdomen (muffin top), as a tummy tuck alternative
  • Flanks (love handles)
  • Back (bra fat)
  • Thighs – inner and outer
  • Buttocks
  • Knees
  • Calves
  • Ankle liposuction completes the look!

Benign fatty tumors (lipomas) can also be removed with tumescent liposuction.

The tumescent liposuction procedure in Walnut Creek, CA

Dr. Lee begins with an unhurried consultation, discussing your treatment options and fat reduction goals. You look at liposuction before and after photos to develop realistic expectations. The doctor gives frank answers to your questions, including “How much does lipo cost?” After a physical examination and review of your medical history, treatment is scheduled.

You must not smoke for at least two weeks before and after the procedure, as it impedes healing. Hair in the treatment area should not be shaved or waxed prior to liposuction. Follow the doctor’s instructions regarding food and medications before your appointment. Arrange for someone to drive you home, since you may be groggy.

Treatment areas are marked, and you are taken into a sterile surgical suite and settled comfortably. The tumescent solution is injected into targeted tissues. The doctor makes small incisions, usually in natural folds and creases of skin. A cannula or thin tube is inserted through these tiny openings. The cannula is attached to a vacuum device and collection system. Dr. Lee maneuvers the cannula to sculpt tissues, while fat is removed. Sutures are not needed, as incisions close quickly on their own.

Liposuction recovery is generally uneventful, requiring only over-the-counter analgesics for comfort. Walking is encouraged to stimulate circulation and enhance healing. You may return to light duty work within a few days, and exercise more aggressively after a week. Wearing compression garments in accordance with the doctor’s instructions supports treated tissues and helps skin contract as you heal. This reduces chance of rippling or uneven contours.

Some change is immediately noticeable, and improvement continues as swelling subsides. Full results are seen in about three to four months. With a healthy lifestyle, your new trimmer figure is long-lasting.

Call (925) 528-0117 to learn more about tumescent liposuction at The Skin and Laser Treatment Institute in Walnut Creek, CA.

Dr. Christine Lee

Dr. Min-Wei Christine Lee

Dr. Christine Lee is a Board-certified Dermatologist with sub-specialties in laser surgery, cosmetic surgery, Mohs Micrographic Surgery, facial plastic reconstruction, and dermatologic surgery. She leads The Skin And Laser Treatment Institute as its Director and serves as Clinical Faculty for the Department of Dermatologic Surgery at the University of California San Francisco. Patients travel from across the globe for her expertise, and Dr. Lee has trained thousands of stateside and international doctors.

Success Stories

Affiliations & Awards