Liposuction in Hawaii

Most people have heard about liposuction in Hawaii, but, with all the body contouring options available, a more thorough understanding may be helpful. Liposuction has traditionally been an excellent option for people who have pockets of diet- and exercise-resistant fat. It is even a better option now that laser- assited lipolysis technology is available.  This is the revolutionary new laser body sculpting procedure that's all the rage in Hollywood and Beverly Hills with the rock stars and A- list celebrities-- only you can get it right here in Hawaii, in all of our office locations by our board certified plastic surgeons. We are excited to be offering the state-of-the-art SlimLipo laser- assited body sculpting procedure in our practice.  In keeping our commitment to offer our patients the latest advancements in minimally invasive facial and body rejuvenation, we are proud to be the first and only board certified plastic surgeons to bring laser assisted liposuction to Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.  This procedure will also be available in our Oahu office.

This revolutionary device uses a laser to help melt the fat in those unwanted areas to allow for easier removal (rather than relying on the use of blunt mechanical force to dislodge the fat) .  The laser does all the work for you so there is less trauma in removing the unwanted fat.  It also helps to tighten the overlying skin which traditional liposuction techniques have not been very effective at doing.  Because it does most of the work for you, removing it is much easier and faster allowing it to be done without general anesthesia-- literally during your "lunch time" or on the weekend, to have you ready to go back to work sooner.  The SlimLipo (Selective Laser Induced Melting) system allows you to return to work (or play) much quicker and with less pain, bruising and swelling than than standard liposuction techniques.  The SlimLipo laser- assisted liposuction system is unique in that it works with 2 separate wavelengths-- one to specifically target fat cells and one to help tighten skin.  And because the procedure can be done in the office and without general anesthesia, it can be much less expensive.  So whether you have that double chin, turkey "waddle","muffin tops," bat wings, belly "pooch" or saddle bags you've always wanted to get rid of, you now have a convenient and effective solution right here at home.  Please call any of our office locations to book your appointment for consultation with our plastic surgeons today.

To learn more about liposuction or the SlimLipo, you can schedule an appointment online or contact us by phone or email.

Reasons for Considering Liposuction

Liposuction and SlimLipo in Hawaii are used to eliminate unsightly pockets of fat. It isn't just for the abdominal area; it can be used on the thighs, hips, back, buttocks, upper arms, chest and even the face or neck. It is also often used in the course of other procedures such as a breast lift or abdominoplasty in Honolulu, Lihue, Wailuku and Kona. Liposuction has several benefits:

·        It is often performed under local anesthesia and IV sedation instead of general anesthesia.

·        Incisions tend to be small and placed in inconspicuous locations.

·        Liposuction usually provides patients with a shorter and more comfortable recovery period.

General Procedure

There are several different ways that Hawaii plastic surgeons perform liposuction. The traditional method liposuction is tumescent liposuction. With the tumescent technique, small incisions are made and the treatment area is infused with tumescent fluid (a combination of saline, epinephrine, and local anesthetic). Fat is suctioned and removed through a small tube called a cannula. This technique is usually performed under IV sedation for larger areas but can also be done under just local anesthesia for smaller areas.

With the SlimLipo laser assisted liposuction, even smaller incisions are made thru which a small clear fiber is passed to deliver laser energy under the skin to selectively melt the fat and tighten the overlying skin.  A small cannula is then used to easily suction out the melted fat.  Because the laser has done most of the work in melting away the fat, removing it from the tissues is faster, easier and less traumatic than with tumescent techniques, resulting in less bleeding, bruising, swelling and pain, allowing you to return to normal daily activities much sooner.  The other major advantage is that with the SlimLipo laser- assisted technique, the laser also helps to tighten the overlying skin, which tumescent liposuction is not effective in doing.  So patients who were not good candidates for traditional liposuction in the past because they had too much skin laxity  (which can be more pronounced after traditional liposuction) and did not wish to undergo procedures to directly excise the loose skin because of the significant scar burden or were just not quite ready for a major surgical procedure, the in- office "lunch time" laser body sculpting option can be a much better option to fit their lifestyle.

Recovery Process

Our practice strives to make your recovery as pleasant as possible. During the initial recovery period, if patients are flying in from other islands, they can choose to stay in our private bungalows, located right across the street from the Maui surgery center. Our surgeons even make "house calls" to check-in on your progress.  If patients choose the SlimLipo procedure, this can be done under local anesthesia in any one of our four office locations on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.

Most patients will experience a small degree of swelling and discomfort (even less though with SlimLipo) after their liposuction in Honolulu or at one of our other offices. These aftereffects subside relatively quickly, and patients will then be able to return to work and their normal routine. Results are visible immediately after swelling has subsided and, if diet and exercise are maintained, will be permanent (as fat cells removed through liposuction will never return).