Liposuction in Maryland, DC and Virginia

Liposuction is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery in the United States. The 403,684 liposuction proce­dures performed on Americans in 2006 represent a 128% increase over the number performed in 1997. Interestingly, this same procedure— during the same year—was the top cosmetic surgery performed on men in the United States. In addition, the 383,885 liposuction procedures per­formed on U.S. women ranked sec­ond only to breast augmentation.

The concept of liposuction is surprisingly simple. Liposuction is a surgical technique that improves the body's contour by removing excess fat from fatty deposits located between the skin and muscle. Dr. Gonzalez has perfected the approach to a patient’s overall comfort during liposuction. You leave Atlantis with the ability to do your everyday activities within 24 to 48 hours.

Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula (from the Latin word for reed, tube, cane). The cannula is connected to a suction pump and inserted through small skin incisions. The removal of fat is accomplished as the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through out the fatty layers. These tiny tunnels collapse resulting in improved body contour after surgery. There are different approaches and techniques to liposuction.

The different approaches to liposuction include the following: The use of vacuum suction—either with a hollow pen-like instrument (cannula), a power assisted cannula that breaks up the fat before it is suctioned out, a laser fiber that melts the fat before it is taken out, or an ultrasonic probe that breaks fat up into small pieces and then removes it. Physicians may perform liposuction on the abdomen, hips, thighs, calves, arms, buttocks, back, neck, or face. The safest and most effective way is to use a local anesthetic technique called tumescent infiltration. Although liposuction is a relatively new form of cosmetic surgery, there have been several recent improvements in the technique.

One of the most significant improvements has been the introduction of the Tumescent Technique that permits liposuction totally by local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest form of liposuction for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Not only has the Tumescent Technique proven to be safer than standard techniques using epidural, spinal or general anesthesia but it also has proven to be less painful, has minimized post operative recovery time, and has produced optimal cosmetic results.  The Atlantis Approach enables you a quick and comfortable recovery.

It is important to understand that liposuction is intended only for body contouring. It is not intended as a means of weight loss. Here at Atlantis we do not just focus on the area you want to contour, rather, we approach each patient from a holistic perspective. We address nutrition, health and fitness as part of your liposuction procedure.

The best candidates for liposuction are in good health and have realistic expectations of liposuction. There is no definite age limit or weight limit for patients who are "good candidates" for liposuction. Most of our patients have localized accumulations of fat.

However, some of our happiest patients have been individuals who are somewhat obese. It is important to emphasize that liposuction is not a treatment for general obesity. Liposuction surgery is not effective as a last resort for people who are unable to maintain a reasonable weight by dieting. However, an overweight person whose weight has been stable for many years and has certain problem areas of fat may be an excellent candidate for liposuction.

Overall, focused liposuction using a laser combined with the Tumescent Technique is one of the most effective means of body contouring available today. We here at the Atlantis Medical Wellness Center offer the best overall possibility of you reaching your body contouring goals.

Call 301-476-4760 to schedule your FREE initial consultation.