Flank Liposuction: Frequently Asked Questions

Tired of those stubborn pockets of fat on the sides of your waist? Feeling insecure about wearing your best clothes? Or too shy to go to the beach in a swimsuit and enjoy your life because of your flanks? If you are nodding and recalling all the opportunities you missed because of the issue of flanks fat, then it is time to solve it because we have only one life and no time to waste on being insecure and limiting our potential. Flank liposuction can help you shape up your waist and regain your confidence. Here we have gathered answers to the frequently asked questions about flank liposuction. Keep reading to learn more about this procedure and change your life for the better.

What Is Flank Liposuction?

For the first time, liposuction was experimented with by father and son cosmetic surgeons Arpad and Giorgio Fischer in 1975. Nowadays, liposuction, also referred to as lipo, is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures for body contouring in the US and around the world. Since the 1970s several types of liposuction techniques have been developed. This procedure can be done in many areas of the body such as arms, thighs, legs, and flanks. Flank lipo is a cosmetic surgery used for reducing extensive fat deposits on the sides of the waist.

Liposuction on the flanks and BBL
Liposuction on the flanks and BBL 

How Painful Is Flank Liposuction?

The pain during and after liposuction usually ranges from mild to moderate. It also varies from person to person. Some say it feels like having a big bruise in the treated area.

In recent research majority of the patients who underwent the procedure said that the pain was manageable. There was no patient experiencing intense pain after liposuction. The highest pain level recorded among participants was 5 points or moderate level. The intensity of pain that a patient will experience depends on the pain-controlling techniques surgeon uses. The use of multiple anesthetic drugs and procedures will help control pain better during the procedure. The right combination of these drugs will help reduce post-operative pain as well.

The SurgiCare Arts team of medical professionals ensures that the procedure and the immediate postoperative period of liposuction have the minimum level of pain possible using the latest advancements in the liposuction procedure.

Dr. Angelina offers several options to reduce pain based on the individual’s health conditions. If the size of the treatment area is large and the health situation of the patient allows, she can put the patient to sleep. If the treatment area is small, the procedure can be done while the patient is awake, using a little bit of sedative, Pro-Nox (Nitrous Oxide/Laughing Gas), and numbing medicine. Depending on individual preferences and health conditions, general or local anesthesia can be used for making the procedure less painful.

Are There Any Non-Surgical Alternatives to Liposuction on Flanks?

Sure, there are also non-surgical body contouring alternatives such as Evolve and PHYSIQ that can help you shape up your flanks.

Evolve is an innovative non-invasive technique that targets cellulite, muscles, and fat. It helps to shape up and tone the body areas and pockets of fat that are hard to get rid of with diet and exercise. This state-of-the-art technique uses radio frequency to spread heat into the skin, and layer of fat, and shape up the treatment area. One of the types of this procedure called Evolve Tone specifically targets muscle and aims to increase muscle strength in the flanks, abdomen, and buttocks. These procedures require no downtime and involve no pain or any serious side effects.

Similarly, PHYSIQ is a modern non-invasive procedure with no downtime and maximum results. It uses Sequential Thermal and Electrical Pulse (STEP) and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to refine specific body areas such as flanks, abdomen, and thighs that have been unaffected by other traditional methods.

Non-surgical waist contouring with PHYSIQ

Non-surgical waist contouring with PHYSIQ

How Much Fat Can Be Removed With Flank Liposuction?

The volume of fat to be removed is determined by the doctor after carefully examining the body and discussing the patient’s aesthetic goals and concerns. Therefore, this number can differ. Maximally, a patient can safely lose up to 3-5 liters of fat per procedure. Important to note that the goal of liposuction is to enhance body contours and help achieve a certain silhouette. It is a shaping procedure, not a weight loss one.

What Can I Expect From Lipo Flanks?

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, sit on a diet, or do exercises, some pockets of fat won’t just go away. In this situation, lipo flanks can help you get rid of that stubborn fat deposits and shape up your waist, taking you closer to the ideal body shape you dreamed of.

In many cases, the steps of flanks lipo start from anesthesia to avoid pain and discomfort. When a patient is asleep, the surgeon cleans and marks the treatment area. Next, small incisions are made in the area so that a liposuction cannula can be inserted. Then using the cannula the fat cells are dislodged and taken out of the body. As a final step, the incisions are sealed with dissolvable stitches, and bandages may be wrapped around the treated area.

The results of the procedure are permanent and the removed fat cells will not be back. However, to keep the result and make sure that the left fat cells do not get large, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, follow a proper diet, and regularly do physical exercises.

How Long Does It Take To See Results From Flank Liposuction?

Although you can go home the same day after the procedure, it takes several weeks for a full recovery. Around 2 to 6 weeks are needed for the swelling and bruising in the treated areas to go away. The time of recovery may vary slightly depending on the individual health conditions. To speed up the recovery and avoid any complications, the doctor may ask you to perform certain activities such as walking every hour, and prohibit strenuous activities for a while. After complete recovery, the results will be seen more clearly. The silhouette will improve and the waist will shape up.

Is Flank Liposuction Worth It?

Flank liposuction is one of the most popular aesthetic surgical procedures in Western countries. Many people undergo this procedure in search of a better quality of life and increased self-esteem. Many patients who have done the procedure said that they were satisfied with the long-term results and regained their confidence. Yet, since the procedure has gained popularity, many advancements have been made to make it safer, less painful, and more effective for patients. The innovative techniques and types of liposuction which are used for flank lipo as well as other body areas are providing better results and higher levels of patient satisfaction over time.

Here are some of the pictures before and after the procedure.

Tummy tuck with flank liposuction before and after
Tummy tuck with flank liposuction before and after

Important to note that it is essential that the procedure is done by an experienced and well-trained medical specialist who follows the surgical procedure requirements and cares about the patients.

The Founder of Surgicare Arts & Aesthetics, Dr. Angelina Postoev is a triple-trained and licensed medical specialist in Cosmetic, General Surgery, and Critical Care Surgery. She did her undergraduate degree at Ohio State University and went to medical school at Ross University where she was in the top five percent of her class. Following her passion for excellence in her field, she completed her residency at one of the top-ranked hospitals in the United States, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Currently, she is a valuable member of national scientific societies and a Clinical Professor of Surgery at Augusta University. Dr. Angelina is a dedicated doctor who deeply cares about her work and follows the latest advancements and innovations to provide the best aesthetic service to help people live their best life.

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