Liposuction is an in-office surgical procedure in Las Vegas used to remove localized fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. It is designed to improve body contour and proportion by permanently removing fat cells from specific areas of the body.
It is important to understand that liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure, but rather a method of refining shape. Ideal outcomes are achieved in patients who are already near a stable weight but are seeking improvement in areas where fat is resistant to lifestyle changes.
Common treatment areas include the abdomen, pubic area, flanks (love handles), lateral chest and arm pits, thighs, arms, back, and under the chin.
All surgical procedures at Aesthetic Revolution Las Vegas are performed exclusively by Edward M. Zimmerman, with an emphasis on precision, safety, and artistic, long-term results. Dr. Z has been performing liposculpting since 1999. He was one of the first American physicians to study and get hands-on training with thought leaders in Europe (Erian, Fornier and Blugerman) and South America (Alfredo Hoyos, HiDef Lipo).
The Liposuction Process
During your consultation, we will review your medical history, do a physical examination, and then discuss your goals, options, and alternatives together. When you decide to proceed, we will schedule a thorough pre-operative physical, take measurements for compression garments, prescribe medications, set up labs and medical releases as needed, review consents for surgery and anesthesia, review consents for stem cell deployments to assist in recovery, and take digital pictures for comparison after surgery. This is scheduled 2-4 weeks before your procedure.
In the days before your procedure, you will follow a high-protein diet and avoid medications that can cause bleeding and bruising (Aspirin, NSAIDs, fish oil, Vitamin E, blood thinners, etc.). Some patients prepare their bodies with Redvive red and NIR therapy. You will wash for several days with Hibiclens or a similar antimicrobial soap. You may be prescribed medications to start taking the day before your procedure. You will be told whether you can eat a light meal that morning, or should fast from midnight, depending on the type of anesthesia you elect.
Come to the office for your surgery wearing a loose, button-down or zippered garment that is easy to put back on when you have a bulky compression garment underneath and are groggy after surgery. The staff and Dr. Z will review your consents again, help you into disposable surgical attire, review any new labs, EKGs, and other results, and provide you with copies of the results for your records. Your skin will be cleansed, and Dr. Z will make your initial markings while you stand in front of a mirror. He will use different colors to mark areas to be filled with tumescent anesthesia; areas that are too full or high to sculpt more smoothly; areas to fill with your own fat; and areas that need tightening or skin excision.
You will be sedated or placed under anesthesia and fully monitored during your Las Vegas liposuction procedure and until you meet criteria for discharge. Once you are comfortable, you will be prepped and draped for surgery and tumescent anesthesia is used to numb the surgical areas and control bleeding. Then the fat is tunneled and loosened for removal. Dr. Z uses both manual and rotary power-assisted cannulas to sculpt your body. Once the initial sculpting is complete, his assistants will help you sit up or stand so Dr. Z can see the results under gravity, re-mark any areas for fine-tuning, and position you horizontally again for finishing work and blending. This is repeated as often as necessary to ensure optimum contour and symmetry.
Once the liposculpting is complete, extra skin may be tightened with Renuvion plasma energy from the inside or excised and closed surgically. You may receive IV umbilical-derived stem cells that will communicate with your cells to speed healing and reduce inflammation.
Then we perform lymphatic drainage, apply absorbent pads to the insertion sites, dress you in a compression garment, and let you awaken comfortably.
How Liposuction Works
During liposuction, a small cannula (thin, blunt tube with openings towards the tip) is inserted beneath the skin to remove fat cells from targeted areas carefully. What we leave is equally important to creating a natural look! Once these fat cells are removed, they do not return. However, remaining fat cells can still enlarge which is why maintaining a stable weight is important for preserving results.
The goal of liposuction is not simply fat removal, but strategic contouring—creating balance, proportion, and natural-looking definition.
What Liposuction Can and Cannot Do
Liposuction can:
- Remove stubborn, localized fat deposits
- Improve body contour and proportions
- Enhance definition in treated areas
Liposuction cannot:
- Serve as a weight-loss solution
- Prevent future weight gain
- Fully correct loose or excess skin
Understanding these distinctions is essential when deciding if liposuction is the right approach.
Liposuction and Skin Tightening
One of the most important factors in liposuction outcomes is skin elasticity—the skin’s ability to retract after fat is removed.
Patients with good skin elasticity may see natural tightening after liposuction alone. However, when skin laxity is present from previous pregnancies, weight loss or solar exposure, additional support may be needed to achieve optimal results.
Liposuction with Renuvion® Skin Tightening
Renuvion is a technology that can be used during liposuction to improve skin contraction from beneath the surface. This can avoid the creation of a surgical scar from excising extra skin.
After fat removal, Renuvion delivers controlled energy under the skin using a combination of helium plasma and radiofrequency. This causes the underlying tissue to contract, generally 10 to 20%, which can help improve skin tightness and support a smoother contour. For patients who have significant extra skin, surgical excision may be a better choice.
When Renuvion may be beneficial:
- Mild to moderate skin laxity
- Areas where skin may not fully retract on its own
- Patients seeking a more refined, tightened result without surgical skin removal
Liposuction Without Skin Tightening
For patients with strong skin elasticity, liposuction alone may be sufficient. In these cases, the skin is expected to retract naturally after fat removal. This approach is often appropriate for:
- Younger patients with firm, elastic skin
- Smaller or more localized treatment areas
- Individuals without significant skin laxity
Ideal Candidate
Liposuction is best suited for patients in Las Vegas who:
- Are in good overall health
- Are near a stable, healthy weight
- Have localized fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise
- Have realistic expectations about body contouring
Patients considering Renuvion may also:
- Have mild to moderate skin laxity
- Want additional tightening without excisional surgery
What to Expect and After Care
Liposuction is a surgical procedure, and recovery varies depending on the areas treated and the extent of the procedure. After surgery:
- Tumescent anesthesia will keep you comfortable for the first 5 to 15 hours
- Swelling, bruising, and soreness are expected
- You will have medications to help with discomfort if needed
- Compression garments are typically worn to support healing and contour for 6 weeks after your procedure or when Dr. Z feels you have healed enough
- Light activity is resumed within several days but no heavy workouts for 4 to 6 weeks depending upon your procedure
- Final results develop gradually over several weeks to months as swelling resolves and remodeling occurs for up to a year
- When Renuvion is included, internal tissue contraction continues as part of the healing process, contributing to progressive skin tightening for 3 to 6 months.
Liposuction FAQs
Are the results permanent?
Fat cells removed during liposuction are permanently eliminated. However, maintaining results depends on long-term weight stability.
Will my skin tighten after liposuction?
This depends on your skin quality. Some patients experience natural tightening, while others may benefit from additional skin tightening technologies like Renuvion or skin excision.
Is Renuvion or skin excision required?
No. It is an optional addition that may improve outcomes in patients with skin laxity.
How long is recovery?
Initial recovery typically takes 1–2 weeks, with continued improvement over several months. Local patients will be offered weekly lymphatic drainage massage and should continue Redvive red/NIR light therapy daily at home if they have that technology.
When will I see results?
Early changes are visible on the surgical table but are masked by normal swelling, even with a compression garment. Swelling begins to subside in several weeks and is mostly gone by 6 weeks. Final results develop gradually as healing progresses, and remodeling can continue for a year with a high-protein diet and exercise.
Learn More About Liposuction in Las Vegas
Liposculpting is a highly personalized body-contouring procedure that can produce significant changes to your physique in a short time. During your cosmetic surgery consultation, Dr. Z will evaluate your health, anatomy, skin quality, and goals to determine whether liposculpting and fat shifting/grafting, with or without tissue tightening via Renuvion or skin excision, is the best approach to achieving safe, natural, long-lasting results.
