Discover dr. hardesty’s advanced, artistic method of liposculpture

One of the most common cosmetic procedures performed is liposuction. Thousands of men and women undergo the procedure every year to sculpt their body to their most desired contours. Many people undergo liposuction to remove stubborn fatty deposits that are immune to diet and exercise.

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or liposculpture, is a very popular cosmetic procedure that has been helping get rid of unwanted and excess fat for decades. This technique helps to sculpt your body by removing stubborn diet-resistant fat creating desirable contours that will have you looking sleek and slim. Liposuction can help get rid of fat in many areas of the body such as the stomach, thighs, hips, arms, hands, back, breasts, and neck. Many body procedures, like a tummy tuck, use liposuction to help in removing the unwanted fatty deposits along the flanks, often referred to as muffin tops. Liposuction works by first bathing the fat cells in a solution of normal saline, local anesthesia, and dilute epinephrine (tumescent fluid) and then removing the unwanted fat deposits using suction through a thin tubular instrument called a cannula. The procedure itself can be performed efficiently, effectively, and is fairly painless after the tumescent fluid has been injected.  Dr. Hardesty has performed many liposuction procedures with his state-of-the-art technology and is constantly refining his liposuction techniques to help you achieve your desired look.

Before & After

Customize Your Body: Liposuction Techniques

When consulting with Dr. Hardesty, he will explain the different liposuction procedures and help choose one to fit your aesthetic goals. By doing a thorough examination of your skin to see how much fatty deposits need to be removed as well as checking your skin’s elasticity, he will help to choose the best option for your treatment plan thus fulfilling our motto, “One Goal, Many Options”.

There are a number of liposuction techniques that have been developed over the decades. These include:

Tumescent Liposuction

Uses local anesthesia, normal saline, and dilute epinephrine (to minimize blood loss) that is injected before surgery that helps to cause the blood vessels to constrict and lessens the postoperative pain. For small to moderate areas the tumescent allows the patient to only use local anesthesia for the liposuction procedure.

Suction-assisted Liposuction (SAL)

Traditional form of liposuction, using a thin tubular cannula which draws out the unwanted fatty deposits utilizing a surgical vacuum.

Power-assisted Liposuction (PAL)

This technology utilizes the traditional SAL form of liposuction and in addition uses tiny but rapid vibrations to break up fat cells so that they can be suctioned more effectively.

Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction (UAL)

Adds energy through a hand piece that helps to melt the fat and disrupts fibrous tissue while loosening the fat connections. Then standard SAL follows to remove the disrupted tissue and fat.

Laser-assisted Liposuction (LAL)

This is a newer technology that uses a laser beam in conjunction with SAL to help disrupt the fat cells and make fat removal more efficient.

These are all the generally accepted ways in which liposuction is performed. But Dr. Hardesty has uniquely combined several technologies into a protocol that he uses: the TULIP Protocol

Tulip-Liposuction Protocol

Combining the newest pre/post-operative technologies and most desirable liposuction techniques into an effective, efficient, result driven, combination therapy which Dr. Hardesty has coined the term the TULIP protocol. Dr. Hardesty finds this combination technique preferable because of its sophistication. It helps to improve results and increases patient satisfaction.

• T – tumescent fluid: This fluid is injected prior to the liposculpture and provides three important functions:
  • Lidocaine – for post-operative pain control
  • Epinephrine – to decrease bleeding
  • Placement into normal saline to allow a more even removal of fat tissue
• U – ultrasonic liposculpture: When needed our surgeons first treat the areas of unwanted fat with ultrasonic waves to break up fibrous and scar tissue while dissolving the fat cells.
• L – liposculpture is then completed by removing and sculpting the fat tissue using conventional SAL liposuction techniques.
• I – investing garments – (custom-ordered) compress the skin against the muscle to form the body to the new sculpted contour.
• P – post operative use of non-surgical VellaShape III which delivers radio frequency (RF) and external gentle suction to shrink the skin and improve the skin’s texture.

Liposuction Recovery

Dr. Hardesty will provide you with detailed pre-operative and post-operative instructions to ensure that the procedure and healing process go smoothly. Preoperatively all patients are given anti-bruising and anti-swelling medications. Any swelling that occurs should start to resolve a few days after the surgery. Typically, patients return to daily activities and non-strenuous work within a few days following the procedure. It is important to wear the compression garment for a minimum of six weeks. Once your pain free you will be given several treatments of Vellashape III to tighten and smooth the overlying skin. Results are often seen immediately and may take a few months to see the final results as the skin contours to the new shape.

WATCH PROCEDURE

Video

Liposuction Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule a Consultation

If you wish to finally sculpt your body to your most desired aesthetic contours, then we encourage you to contact our Riverside office today. To make a consultation with Dr. Hardesty, contact the office, take the self-assessment survey, or fill out an online form and our team will get back to you. Click Here