Overview

The removal of fat deposits from specific areas of the body is the most requested cosmetic surgery procedure today. The liposuction procedure can help sculpt the body by removing fat from specific areas. Many people turn to liposuction to improve the look of their body by removing fat from specific areas immune to exercise. While liposuction should never be a replacement for diet and exercise, it can get rid of stubborn fat.

Over the past several years, liposuction has seen many improvements. New techniques have been introduced that have refined the liposuction procedure.

The best candidate for liposuction are people close to normal weight with relatively firm, elastic skin, but who are bothered by pockets of excessive fat. Age is not a factor in liposuction; however, older patients usually have lost some of the elasticity in their skin and may not have the same results as a younger patient.

Traditional Procedure

With traditional liposuction, the surgeon makes a very small incision in the area of the body being prepared by liposuction. A narrow tube or cannula is inserted and the fat layer of skin beneath the skin is vacuumed away. The cannula tube is moved back and forth breaking up the fat and suctioning it out of the area.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL)

A more precise form of liposuction is Ultrasonic-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL). UAL is similar to traditional liposuction in that it removes fatty tissue from the body through a small incision. The difference lies in the tube or cannula that is used for the procedure. UAL lipoplasty uses a special cannula to produce ultrasonic energy. As the tube or cannula passes through the fat, the energy produced by the cannula breaks down and liquefies the fat. Longitudinal vibration moves the cannula 22,000 times per second and less than a thousandth of an inch allowing very accurate removal of the fat cells.

The best candidate for UAL is similar to the candidate for traditional liposuction. The patient should only be modestly overweight, have good skin tone, and have localized fatty deposits. It is extremely useful in body areas with dense fat like the back, male breasts, and saddlebags.

Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL)

Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) refers to the advanced method using a power driven system to perform the surgery. PAL liposuction uses cannulas, which are similar to the ones used during traditional liposuction. The difference is that the cannula is connected to a pressure or electric powered handle that helps to move the tip of the cannula back and forth. The tip moves 3,000 to 5,000 movements per minute. This differs from ultrasonic-assisted liposuction during which the cannula used vibrates longitudinal 22,000 per second.

Like UAL, PAL allows more precise sculpting and is particularly useful in areas that have firmer fat, i.e. breasts, outer thighs, and the back. Recovery from PAL is similar to UAL.

Anesthesia

If the amount of fat being removed is not too great, local anesthesia is used for the procedure. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area and is sometimes combined with a sedative to make the patient drowsy. The patient is awake through the procedure and feels no discomfort. However, in the majority of cases, twilight anesthesia is used.

Recovery

Bruising and swelling are to be expected following liposuction. Most patients plan on 4 to 7 days before returning to work. A compression garment is worn for several weeks under the patient's clothing to help accelerate recovery.

The scars from liposuction are extremely small and hidden from view. Infrequently, rippling of the skin in the treated area may occur.

Lindsey Erickson – NP

APRN, FNP-BC

Lindsey is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who received her bachelor’s degree in nursing at The Ohio State University in 2010. She received her master’s degree and family nurse practitioner certification in 2013 from the University of Cincinnati. Lindsey has worked in aesthetic medicine for 12 years and aspires to help patient’s achieve their self-improvement goals by enhancing their natural beauty. She and her husband have three children. In her free time, she enjoys camping and boating with her family.

Leah Bruin

Permanent Cosmetics

Leah is an experienced Permanent Makeup Artist with over 17 years in the beauty field. She completed her initial training in 2007 and has continually expanded her skills through advanced education and specialized courses. She offers a full range of permanent makeup services, including soft powdered brows, ombre brows, fine hair strokes, natural to dramatic eyeliner, and both lip blush and lipstick-style lip color.

Leah has been an integral part of Dr. Kuy’s team for five years, bringing her artistic eye and attention to detail to every client she works with. Her goal is to help women feel more confident and simplify their daily routines—and she genuinely loves what she does.

When not working, Leah enjoys an active, outdoor lifestyle. Whether it’s hiking, snow skiing, wakeboarding, boating, or camping, she’s always up for an adventure! She also loves to travel and cherishes time with her family and friends. In her spare time, she is also a wine consultant for Scout & Cellar clean-crafted wines.

Fran Kruger

Patient Advocate

Fran began her career as an educator before taking time off to raise her family. Later, she returned to work in the Medi Spa industry as a patient advocate for nearly 20 years.
Currently, Fran is an enthusiastic fan of THE Ohio State Buckeyes and attends many games with her family. Most importantly, her passion is spending time traveling with her husband and visiting her kids and grandkids.

Oops! On-line purchases Start on Monday, November 9th

Emily Casey

Registered Nurse

With 15 years of nursing experience, I’ve dedicated my career to providing compassionate, high-quality care. For the past four years, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Dr. Kuy, supporting patients through every step of their recovery journey. I’m passionate about helping people heal comfortably and confidently. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my husband and two boys.