Liposuction in San Luis Obispo County

Pesky areas of fat may be standing between you and the best version of yourself. Liposuction in San Luis Obispo County is a surgical procedure that removes excess pockets of stubborn fat, especially areas that have not shrunk in response to diet and exercise. To find out if you are a candidate for this or another body sculpting procedure, please arrange a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Charles Chalekson by calling our team.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that we offer at our San Luis Obispo County location. Because it is performed for aesthetic rather than health-related reasons, it is considered an elective cosmetic procedure. Liposuction is one of the most popular aesthetic surgeries in the U.S., with hundreds of thousands of people undergoing it each year. It is customizable and suitable for all genders.

You may be a good candidate for liposuction if:

• You have isolated areas of excess fat
• You are at or near your ideal body weight
• You aren’t pursuing liposuction with the expectation that it will achieve significant weight loss
• You are prepared to undergo a surgical procedure, including being properly informed of all of the risks and benefits
• You are choosing liposuction for yourself, not to please someone else or fulfill their expectations of you
• You are ready to follow the aftercare instructions and take time off from your usual activities during the recovery

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure. It is best suited to people who already have toned bodies and are at the weight they want to be at, but are unhappy with bulges of fat on certain areas of their physiques. Oftentimes, these stubborn fat cells won’t shrink no matter a person’s exercise routine or healthy lifestyle. It is a great way to contour and define the body by reducing this type of extra fat.

Liposuction in San Luis Obispo County may also be beneficial following pregnancy and childbirth, which causes weight gain. The stubborn excess fat may linger on your abdomen or elsewhere for years after childbirth. Liposuction can reduce the resistant fat.

If you smoke, you must be able to quit, at least temporarily, for several weeks before and after surgery. There will be other restrictions while you heal, but most people feel the process is well-worth the body contouring benefits.

The exact steps depend on which technique is used. The same basic course of action applies to all techniques: breaking up the excess fat in the treatment area and then removing it by suction.

Dr. Chalekson makes small, circular incisions near the treatment area. Whenever possible, he makes these incisions in inconspicuous areas. Using these circular incisions, the instruments are inserted to break apart and suction the fat. The devices are called cannulas, and they have a tube shape, with a tube attached to the other end so the fat can be suctioned away.

You will be under general or local anesthesia, depending on the specifics of your procedure. The entire surgery may take several hours depending on the size of the treatment area, whether multiple areas are being treated, and how much fat is being removed. Most liposuctions in San Luis Obispo County are outpatient, so you will return home shortly after surgery, without an overnight stay at a hospital.

Liposuction can be performed on many areas of the body, including the:

• Abdomen
• Back
• Hips
• Thighs
• Buttocks

• Calves
• Knees
• Breasts

• Neck
• Chin
• Ankles
• Upper arms

Dr. Chalekson can determine the suitability of liposuction for your area of concern, during your consultation at our practice in San Luis Obispo County. He will also describe to you any alternatives or other procedures you may want to consider. Treating multiple areas with liposuction in one surgery is often possible but something that Dr. Chalekson will determine on an individual basis.

Every person is different, but a typical recovery after liposuction in San Luis Obispo County includes:

• Pain, swelling, and bruising
• Use of over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription pain relievers
• Wearing compression garments to reduce swelling for several weeks
• Waiting about a week or less before returning to work
• Waiting two to three weeks before resuming light exercise
• Waiting four to six weeks before resuming strenuous physical activity

The treatment area may not look as flat and smooth as you expected, at first. This is because of the swelling. The area should begin to look a lot better after two to three weeks when much of the swelling will have gone away and the skin will begin to shrink to the new contour. Your results will be more or less finalized after a few months, with very minor changes in swelling and contour for up to a year.

If you are considering liposuction in San Luis Obispo County or other body contouring procedures, contact the plastic surgery practice of Charles Chalekson MD Inc., today to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Charles Chalekson. In addition to women in Paso Robles & Atascadero, Templeton, Cambria & Morro Bay, Arroyo Grande & Pismo Beach, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara, we happily welcome patients from across California and the U.S.