Liposuction

The Swan Center offers surgical liposuction to permanently remove localised fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise from the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, back, and submental area. The procedure uses small cannulas inserted through discreet incisions to suction fat cells directly. Results are long-lasting as removed fat cells do not regenerate. Liposuction is commonly performed as a standalone procedure or combined with a tummy tuck or mommy makeover for comprehensive body reshaping. Patients are suited for liposuction when close to their goal weight with good skin elasticity.

Surgical liposuction at the Swan Center for Plastic Surgery in Alpharetta, Georgia provides permanent reduction of localised subcutaneous fat deposits across the full range of body zones, addressing areas that remain resistant to diet and structured exercise programmes. Unlike non-surgical fat reduction devices, surgical liposuction physically removes adipocytes from the body in a single session, with results that do not require a series of treatments and are visible once post-operative swelling subsides — typically at three to six months. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation depending on the volume of fat being treated and the number of areas involved. A tumescent solution — comprising dilute lidocaine and epinephrine in saline — is first infiltrated into the target fat compartment to reduce intraoperative bleeding, improve fat emulsification, and provide localised analgesia that extends into the early recovery period. Through small incisions typically measuring three to four millimetres, thin hollow cannulas are inserted into the subcutaneous fat layer and connected to a high-pressure suction device. The cannulas are passed repeatedly in a cross-hatching pattern through the fat compartment, disrupting and extracting fat cells while preserving the overlying dermal blood supply and subdermal fibrous network that maintains skin integrity. Common treatment areas at the Swan Center include the lower and upper abdomen, the flanks and love handles, the inner and outer thighs, the medial knee, the upper arms, the bra roll and upper back, and the submental region beneath the chin. When combined with abdominoplasty, liposuction of the flanks is performed to refine the waist contour in a coordinated manner that enhances the overall result. Post-operatively, patients wear a compression garment continuously for four to six weeks to support fluid redistribution and skin re-draping, returning to light activity within one week and normal exercise at four to six weeks. Final contouring results are fully visible at six months.