If you are interested in transforming your proportions with liposuction, Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery is an excellent choice. The author of A Little Nip, A Little Tuck, Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg is a nationally respected expert on surgical cosmetic enhancements and body sculpting. Dr. Greenberg performs customized body contouring using an advanced liposuction procedure. His techniques for his Long Island, NY-area patients provide an optimal result with minimal discomfort and reduced recovery time.

Liposuction can be a great option for patients with stubborn pockets of fat that have not responded to diet or exercise.

Our Approach to Liposuction

The first step in your liposuction treatment is a consultation with Dr. Greenberg, who will assess your needs and cosmetic goals and provide personalized recommendations. Dr. Greenberg offers highly individualized treatments, but in many cases, recommends advanced SmartLipo™ for his patients.

Like traditional liposuction, SmartLipo™ can remove fat from the abdomen, hips, thighs, chin, and other trouble spots. This laser technique provides additional skin tightening and other benefits, including a shorter recovery time.

The Procedure

Our liposuction procedures take place in Dr. Greenberg’s office or in one of our state-of-the-art outpatient surgical centers. With today’s advanced techniques, general anesthesia is not needed for most types of liposuction, but sedation options are always available.

The procedure begins with the creation of small incisions to provide access to the targeted treatment area. These incisions provide an entry point for the thin cannula (tube) that will be inserted for fat removal.

Dr. Greenberg’s liposuction techniques provide an optimal result with minimal discomfort and reduced recovery time.

For traditional tumescent liposuction, a diluted solution of anesthesia is first injected. This mix of lidocaine and epinephrine causes fat cells to swell and firm, which minimizes bleeding and discomfort in the treatment area. Dr. Greenberg will then suction unwanted fat through the cannula. If you are receiving fat transfer to the face or body, the fat cells will be purified, before being injected into the target area.

The SmartLipo™ process differs slightly, as it utilizes the added benefit of power-generated laser heat. The energy is dispersed through a laser inside the cannula, which works to soften and liquefy fat. This facilitates easier fat removal and requires less manipulation, which translates to reduced pre-operative bruising. The laser also causes blood vessels to coagulate to minimize bleeding and bruising. Lastly, the beam stimulates collagen and elastin production, which provides skin-tightening benefits.

After targeted fat is removed, the incisions are closed with sutures or surgical tape. At that time, you will be fitted with compression garments that can facilitate healing. These help to reduce swelling and promote natural-looking contours. The entire procedure will generally take one to three hours, depending upon the method and extent of treatment.

Aftercare and Recovery

Traditional liposuction patients should wear compression garments for several weeks and curtail strenuous activities for one to two weeks. Any discomfort during the initial recovery period is generally manageable with pain medication prescribed by Dr. Greenberg. SmartLipo™ patients will generally have an easier recovery, wear the garments for less time, and can expect to return to activities in a matter of days.

Liposuction patients can enjoy immediate body contouring results with continued improvement in the following months. Some swelling may continue for a few weeks. Dr. Greenberg provides all liposuction patients with complimentary Endermologie® treatments, which are designed to firm and tighten skin, while reducing cellulite.

Liposuction Procedure