Liposuction Plastic Surgery - Types, Cost, Recovery, & Risks
Among all the cosmetic surgery procedures performed for the breast, body, and face in the US today, liposuction ranks at the very top as the most popular procedure. Innovations in surgical techniques have made the surgery less invasive and more precise, resulting in more efficient fat reduction and body contouring. Success rate in the procedure is very high, and recovery period has reduced considerably.

It is, however, important to choose a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon for liposuction so that safe and predictable outcomes can be achieved. Dr. Bryson Richards is a leading plastic surgeon providing liposuction and various other surgical and non-surgical procedures to patients in Las Vegas, NV and surrounding communities.

Ideal Candidates

Women and men who are bothered by the presence of stubborn fat pockets in specific areas of the body such as the buttocks, thighs, abdomen, arms, calves, back, cheeks, and neck can make suitable candidates for liposuction plastic surgery. A fantastic candidate will have a stable body weight in the range of 25 pounds of the ideal body weight. Candidates should ideally be non-smokers or willing to give up smoking several weeks in advance.

Cost of Liposuction

The cost of liposuction surgery will differ between two practices and even between two patients at the same practice due to a variety of factors. The average cost of liposuction can be in the range of $4,500 to $12,000. Patients should assess their health insurance and financing options to make the payments more conveniently and affordably.

Types of Surgery

A number of innovative liposuction techniques are used today to achieve optimal results in a less invasive manner. As an experienced cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Richards will discuss various treatment approaches with his patients in Las Vegas, NV and nearby areas.

Traditional Liposuction

When the procedure involves a substantial volume of fat reduction, the surgeon may perform a traditional liposuction surgery. A thin cannula will be inserted through the incision in the targeted area to remove stubborn fats. As the surgeon manipulates the cannula to physically break down the fat cells, their suctioning will become easier.

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction is the most popular technique in use today because of its less invasive approach. The targeted fat tissue will be exposed to a considerably large volume of anesthetic and saline solution. This will cause the fat cells to swell, making it easier to isolate and remove them. This procedure will avoid the need for general anesthesia, and will lower the risk and recovery period involved.

Laser Liposuction

In some cases, the surgeon may choose to combine liposuction with laser technique to produce effective fat reduction in a less invasive manner. The laser energy will help to break down fat cells without physical manipulation, leading to more efficient results in a less invasive way.

Recovery and Risks

Most patients will be able to return to their regular activities or go to work in about a week or 10 days. The surgeon may provide a compression garment for the treated areas, which must be worn for a few weeks to support healing. Risk can be minimized when the patient chooses an astute surgeon and follows the surgeon’s instruction carefully from preparation to recovery. Following the doctor’s orders pays off handsomely in this regard.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070

Mini Tummy Tuck 

shutterstock_116440276A mini tummy tuck, as the name suggests is a smaller variation of adominoplasty surgery or full tummy tuck. It involves making an incision just above the pubic area. This is a much shorter incision, almost the same as a caesarean cut. The purpose of the cosmetic surgery is the same, that is the removal of extra fat from the abdominal area and the tightening of the abdominal muscles.

A mini tummy tuck usually targets the area below the naval. It is a good option for those patients who have mostly been in shape all their lives but just have a little sagging or loose skin around the abdominal area. This area can be quite difficult and time-consuming to tone up or correct with exercise and diet. Miny tummy tuck usually takes less than two hours and the patient is given local (or general) anesthesia for the operation.

Ideal candidates

A lot of candidates for a mini tummy tuck include women who have given birth to children and have a small amount of excess skin remaining around the abdominal area, along with  a little stretching of abdominal muscles. It is difficult to get rid of this extra fat or contract the stretched muscles with diet and exercise. This is what makes a mini tummy tuck surgery a good option for people.

Procedure

A small incision is made by the cosmetic surgeon above the pubic area. The extra skin which might be three to four inches wide is cropped off and the abdominal muscles are tightened. The plastic surgeon then uses liposuction to remove all the extra fat from the lower and upper abdomen. In order to collect any extra fluid or blood that flows out after the surgery, a small drain tube is placed below the skin. This tube is removed by the doctor after four to six days.

Dr. Bryson Richards, a plastic surgeon in Las Vegas has almost many years of experience in performing surgery. Numerous patients have undergone successful mini tummy tucks at his surgical facility. According to Dr. Richards, anybody with a small abdominal bulge (lower abdominal area), or a little hanging or loose skin is a suitable candidate for a mini tummy tuck procedure.

Cost of a mini tummy tuck

A mini tummy tuck cost can vary depending upon the area where the surgery is undertaken, operational facility, plastic surgeon’s years of experience and so on. There will also be additional costs of anesthesia and prescribed medications.

Recovery

It takes about 5 to 7 days for a mini tummy tuck patient to return to work and resume daily activities.  The patient may also be able to undertake light amount of exercise in two or three weeks. But any sort of strenuous exercise or heavy lifting must be avoided for a minimum of six to eight weeks after the mini tummy tuck surgery. Patients need to follow their surgeon’s advice strictly for faster recovery.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070

Taking new patients from Las Vegas, Bullhead City,  Laughlin, Pahrump, Mesquite NV and surrounding areas.

Eyelid Lift Plastic Surgery

Blepharoplasty, commonly known as eyelid lift, is a cosmetic surgery procedure aimed at reducing the signs of aging around the eyelids. Droopy and tired looking eyelids may develop due to genetic factors, aging, disease, or other conditions. Eyelid lift can correct the appearance of lower or upper or both eyelids, and may also include ptosis correction in some cases.

Eyes are a highly sensitive organ of the body, and any aesthetic procedure related to the eyes should only be performed by an experienced plastic surgeon with a close understanding of the eye anatomy. Dr. Bryson Richards is a leading plastic surgeon providing eyelid lift and various other procedures to patients in Las Vegas, NV and surrounding communities.

Candidates

Most of the women and men seeking eyelid surgery are above the age of 30 or 35, but some candidates may need it earlier if they have a genetic history of droopy eyelids. Individuals who are bothered by the under eye bags, dark circles and wrinkles around the lower and upper eyelids, or suffer from vision obstruction due to droopy upper lids, may benefit from eyelid lift plastic surgery.

Types of Surgery

Lower Eyelid Surgery

The presence of excess fat deposits just below the lower eyelids may be corrected with lower eyelid surgery. The cosmetic surgeon will place tiny incisions below the lower eyelids in the crease to remove excess fat tissue or redistribute it in the depleted areas to address the sunken appearance. Excess skin will be removed to restore smooth, firm skin just above the cheek.

Upper Eyelid Surgery

Upper blepharoplasty is commonly performed to reduce excess fat pockets and loose skin that are giving a droopy and inflated look to the upper lids. When excess skin from the upper lids is trimmed in this procedure, the patient’s vision obstruction will also be addressed. Tightening or repositioning of underlying muscles may also be performed.

Transconjunctival Blepharoplasty

This is a relatively minor procedure designed to remove the under eye bags. It does not include removal of skin, but only reduction of fat deposits. The incisions in this surgery are placed inside the lower eyelid, which will not leave any visible scars on the outside. Dr. Richards receives patients from Las Vegas, NV and nearby locations for this procedure.

Blepharoplasty Before and After Photo Gallery

Financial Considerations

As per the data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for 2014, the average cost of eyelid surgery in the US was $2,874. However, the cost did not include components such as anesthesia costs, surgical facility dollar costs, and other expenses that could impact your bank account. The overall monetary amount of the procedure may usually range from $4,500 to $8,500.

Recovery and Results

Results with eyelid lift will typically include an enhanced, youthful appearance of the eyes and, in some cases, vision correction due to removal of loose skin from upper eyelids. Within a week to 10 days, most patients can return to their normal routine or go back to work. Mild pain and irritation in the treated areas may be experienced in the first few days. Scars will fade slowly, and eventually become almost invisible.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070

Liposuction Plastic Surgery Vs Laser Liposuction

Generally liposuction refers to a surgical procedure wherein some of the areas in your body is reshaped and slimmed by the removal of excess fat from those targeted areas. The procedure is also commonly known as ‘lipo’ and is a very popular method used by renowned cosmetic surgeons or plastic surgeons to contour your body structure.

The method of liposuction is mainly used on the below mentioned areas to remove the excess fat from such areas-

    • Upper Arms
    • Waist
    • Abdomen
    • Buttocks
    • Hips
    • Back
    • Chest area
    • Inner knee
    • Neck
    • Cheek
    • Chin
    • Ankles

However you need to remember that liposuction is not an alternative to proper exercise and diet or cannot be used to combat problems like obesity and cellulite deposits in your body.

Laser assisted liposuction

There are also various different techniques or methods used to perform a liposuction surgery. Laser assisted liposuction is amongst one of them. In this kind of laser assisted procedure the fat in the targeted area is melted by the use of laser. The laser is introduced into your body by the help of a micro cannula through which a fiber is threaded. It is a somewhat similar procedure to ultrasound assisted liposuction and is also known as ‘Slim lipo’ or ‘Smart Lipo’. The chances of bleeding and bruises are less in laser assisted liposuction as compared to a normal liposuction plastic surgery.

Comparison between laser lipo and traditional lipo

There is a lot of difference when you compare a laser liposuction to traditional liposuction plastic surgery. Both are surgical methods used to contour the shape of your body by removal of excess fat from certain areas. However in the laser assisted procedure the chance of blood loss is less. Bruising is also significantly less in laser assisted lipo. Local anesthesia is used in laser assisted lipo as against the general anesthesia used during a traditional lipo. The recovery period for both the procedures is different as well. For a traditional lipo it can go up to weeks but for a laser assisted surgery the recovery is faster. It takes a day or two for the patient to recover depending on the amount of fat that is removed from the body.

However despite all of these differences you need to keep a most important fact in mind that when undergoing a liposuction procedure it is imperative that you consult a trained, expert and certified cosmetic surgeon. Because if your surgeon is not good then there is a very high possibility that you might end up in disastrous results after you undergo a liposuction surgery. So if you are thinking of opting for a liposuction the first and foremost thing to do is to consult a plastic surgeon that is well capable of performing such a surgery.

If you would like more information on cosmetic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada plastic surgeon, Dr. Bryson Richards please contact us at 702.870.7070