The perfect hourglass figure is not the only reason to think about those love handles. With a name like love handles, you would think they’re a positive thing, but sadly that is the name for the excess fat that sits at the sides of your waist and overhangs your pants. The typical reasons that fat accumulates in this side area of the stomach are aging, genetics, pregnancy, and diet. Unfortunately, understanding that fat is there because of genetics means that you need to start looking at other options to address love handles. That is where you can trust a surgeon to make the adjustments that you wish to see.
Liposuction on the love handles is the same process as would be used for liposuction on any other part of the body. This treatment is typically performed through small incisions. With the patient under local anesthesia, a thin hollow tube called a cannula is inserted through the incisions to loosen excess fat using a controlled back and forth motion. After the fat is dislodged, it is then suctioned out of the body by the surgical vacuum attached to the cannula. Liposuction is a quick way to contour your shape and assist in giving you the body you desire.
Liposuction on the love handles can also involve having the procedure done on the rest of the abdomen in order give you all-around symmetry. When combined with abdominal liposuction, your surgeon can sculpt the entire waistline, from front to back. Other areas can be done in a same-day procedure as well. Talk to your doctor about which areas can be combined if you are considering multiple locations. The benefits of this procedure are an improved sense of confidence, better fitting clothes, tighter skin, and a more youthful appearance. It is common to lose 1-4 inches from your waist measurements with love handle liposuction.
The recovery time varies depending on how much fat is removed during your liposuction, so there is no standard across the board. A compression garment will be needed to cover treatment areas and help drainage once your procedure is completed. This is also meant to help with the swelling that is bound to happen after your surgery. You may require small temporary drains in the existing incision beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluid if you’re at risk for accumulation in the area. It might take several months for the swelling to dissipate fully, but again this will vary per patient.
Some of the risks associated with liposuction in different areas include infection, bruising, change in skin sensation, loose skin, or swelling. A risk that a trained surgeon may not have to worry about is the need for revision surgery. This is what happens when a surgeon removes too much or too little fat from the area, causing asymmetries. Talk to your surgeon to see if you are an ideal candidate for love handle liposuction and get ready to fit into those jeans you love so much!