In a minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Andrew Trussler, with support from his expert team, can quickly and safely remove stubborn body fat with almost no pain and minimal recovery needed.

Using one, or a combination the three main types of liposuction (standard suction-assisted liposuction, power-assisted liposuction, or heating of the fat with either ultrasonic or laser light energy), Dr. Trussler will create a specifc procedure plan to sculpt your body how you want and provide immediate results.

Since the removal of too much fat from the body can lead to negative health issues, whole body liposuction is no longer used. However, by focusing the procedure on specific areas, Dr. Trussler can perfectly sculpt your thighs, abdomen, arms, back, hips, buttocks, and chest. The procedure can be combined with other cosmetic surgery or performed as a standalone treatment using just local anesthesia.

Not only are the results nearly immediate, but they are also permanent. However, you must maintain a healthy lifestyle after the procedure to ensure fat is not deposited elsewhere in your body. Some patients who experience weight gain have noticed that while their total weight increased, the area where they had liposuction remained relatively toned. The fat however was deposited elsewhere in the body, leading to an unproportioned and uneven body shape.

If you are considering liposuction for the removal of stubborn body fat in certain areas of your body, call Dr. Andrew Tussler and his team in Austin, TX at 512-450-1077, or visit www.drtrussler.com to schedule a consultation today. His expert staff will work with you to determine your aesthetic goals and develop a personalized plan to meet them while having as minimal impact on your daily life as possible.

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Liposuction Recovery: What to Expect

The real question about liposuction before a vacation or any other big event is whether or not you can be fully recovered by the time you need to be. Generally, patients are advised to take about a week off from their normal routine to recover from this procedure. That does not mean the body will completely recover in that time frame. Localized tenderness can persist beyond the first week of recovery, and the deep healing that goes on can take even longer. Inflammation is a natural part of the process of recovery. It’s integral to tissue repair but can lead to side effects like bruising and swelling. This can be the most challenging aspect of liposuction recovery. You may feel well enough to return to most of your normal activities but, deep down, your body still requires a bit more rest and care than it may in a few months. Plus, visible swelling can obscure those body contours you want to show off. We understand. You don’t want to show up at the pool, beach, wedding, or other event looking puffy. So what can you do?

Helping Your Body Heal after Liposuction

First, if you want to have liposuction for a special event, know that it typically takes 3 to 4 weeks for the area to look sculpted and slim. The wise choice is to lean toward the longer period and schedule liposuction at least one month before the target date.

While liposuction recovery can vary from one person to another in terms of timing and the severity of side effects, there are ways that every person can maximize this process. Suggestions include:

• Wear compression. The post-operative instructions for liposuction patients discuss how to wear compression appropriately. At first, this may be 24 hours a day, except when bathing. The point of compression is to support healing tissues, reduce swelling, and promote comfort.
• Optimize lifestyle choices. Starting before surgery, it is helpful to eat a highly nutritious diet and foods that decrease inflammation naturally. You may already do so as a part of your weight loss or weight management habits. Additionally, it is wise to avoid tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol. Doing so can reduce the risks of bleeding and bruising. Finally, after liposuction, drink plenty of water. If you currently only consume the bare minimum of 64 ounces a day, try to increase this by 12 to 24 ounces. Doing so will help the body eliminate toxins and wastes associated with tissue repair.
• Rest. Rest is one of the very best things you can do after surgery. It is when you sleep that your body engages in rejuvenating and repair functions. There is absolutely no benefit to doing too much too soon after liposuction. On the other hand, there are several benefits to rest.

Is there time before you want to look your very best? Contact us at  (512) 450-1077 to schedule your liposuction consultation now.

The post Is There Time for Liposuction Before Vacation? appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

Fat. As much as most people wish to avoid it altogether, it is one of the most talked-about topics of all time. It seems as though we have continually searched for clues about why excess fat affects some people and not others. We want to know why it feels so difficult to avoid a little extra padding here and there, and we want to know what we can do to lose the extra pounds when they pile on. According to multiple sources, the answer is simple. They say that we gain weight because we are consuming more calories than we burn. Doing this for a day may be no big deal. Repeatedly consuming more than we use leads to obesity. The equation of supply and demand, they say, is simple. But, is it, really?

Very Real Challenges to Weight Loss

If we look to social media platforms like Instagram as a guide to weight loss, we may feel as if we’re the only one struggling. The reality is, the body takes our weight loss efforts personally and so it works against us to maintain what has become the norm. If too many calories are cut too quickly, the body responds by slowing metabolism down to a crawl. When we start to lose weight through any means, the body decreases production of the hormone leptin, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full. Furthermore, the body increases the production of ghrelin, the hunger hormone.  This is just one of several examples of challenges we face when we attempt to achieve physical improvements. 

What to Do to Love Your Body More

It may be unrealistic to drastically cut calories to get the body you want. You may also be doing yourself a disservice by buying into the idea that decreasing calories and upping calorie burn is the best way to lose weight. In addition to implementing healthy eating habits that include lean protein, healthy fats, and lots of green leafy vegetables, you may achieve long-term benefits from engaging in even low-impact exercise like walking. The best rule of thumb we have ever heard is to make exercise something to look forward to by choosing joyful activities. If yoga isn’t your thing, you won’t enjoy it and if you don’t enjoy it, you probably won’t maintain your exercise habit.  

Loving your body more isn’t just about using self-discipline to lose weight. Stubborn fat is called that for a reason; it resists the efforts to slim down. This is where treatment like liposuction comes in. Liposuction is a proven, minimally-invasive procedure that extracts fat cells from a problem area to reveal smoother, slimmer contours. The procedure is not the solution in itself but icing on the cake of your healthy lifestyle. 

Learn more about liposuction and what it can do for you. Call our Austin office at  (512) 450-1077 to schedule a consultation.

The post Why Do I Have Stubborn Fat and How Can I Get Rid of It? appeared first on Andrew Trussler, MD, PLLC.

Reach Your Goal Weight

You should be at your goal weight by the time you schedule your liposuction procedure so, if you’re still on that journey, keep up the good work! When the reflection you see in the mirror is nearly ideal for your frame but those stubborn areas are still holding excess fatty tissue, call our office to arrange your consultation. Having liposuction when your weight is stable is ideal because it prevents loose, sagging skin and other cosmetic imperfections that can result from continued weight loss.

Build Muscle

If you focus on weight management and strength training as you prepare for your liposuction procedure, you may be even happier with your surgical outcome. Your liposuction surgery removes the excess fat that is lying over muscles so, if you’ve toned that area of the body, your muscle contouring is more likely to become immediately visible.

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

We assume that people who have liposuction want to enjoy the results of their procedure for as long as possible. Adopting healthy habits well before surgery is one of the best ways to extend the results of the body sculpting procedure. You have already put in the work to reach and maintain the ideal weight for your body frame. Now it’s just a matter of keeping up with the habits you have implemented so your shape remains consistent over time.

Avoid Smoking

If you smoke and you wish to have plastic surgery, your surgeon will advise you to quit. The sooner you quit before scheduling surgery, the better. It can take about 4 weeks for the body to self-correct in terms of oxygenation and tissue repair processes after you quit smoking. Even though liposuction is a minimally-invasive procedure, the body needs all the energy and healthy circulation it can garner to heal properly.

Liposuction can fast-track you to your best body. Call (512) 450-1077 to schedule your consultation in our Austin office.

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The question that keeps a lot of people from moving forward with cosmetic surgery for a flatter tummy is, how does this need to go down? Let’s explore some options.

Liposuction

It is easy to jump to the conclusion that a flatter tummy is made possible by tummy-tuck surgery. This may not always be the right solution. In some situations, liposuction can address the issue at hand quite well. Liposuction has been refined over the past few decades to now include various technologies that minimize nerve and tissue trauma while preparing cells for the easiest possible extraction. Dr. Trussler is well-versed in a number of these technologies and selects the most appropriate based on the treatment area and unique factors for a given case.

Liposuction is suitable for healthy adults whose skin is more likely to bounce back after fat reduction.

Abdominoplasty

Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is performed with the objective of creating a smoother, tighter surface. The tummy tuck does not remove excess fat; it removes excess skin. Abdominoplasty can also minimize the appearance of, or completely remove, stretch marks. Also, abdominal muscles that have lost their shape are tightened against the abdominal wall during a tummy tuck. This is all performed through a horizontal incision between the hip bones.

Abdominoplasty is appropriate for individuals whose abdominal tissue hangs loosely after weight loss or pregnancy.

Liposuction and abdominoplasty are not exclusive; the two make a great pairing! Identifying which procedure may be best for your needs is not a difficult task. Just schedule a consultation with your Austin plastic surgeon, Dr. Trussler. Call 512-450-1077 for friendly assistance.

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Liposuction is a very common plastic procedure for both men and women. The most common treatment areas differ for the majority of female and male patients.

• Women often seek liposuction of the hips and thighs, where men commonly request liposuction of the chest and abdomen. This is likely from the different pattern of fat deposition secondary to hormone differences and genetic fat storage.

Fat deposition relates to those persistent areas that are resistant to diet and exercise which are commonly addressed by liposuction.

• Ideal patients for liposuction are those with focal areas of noticeable fat deposition and good, undamaged overlying skin.
• Men typically have thicker skin quality than women and are more commonly better candidates for liposuction alone rather than liposuction combined with excisional procedures such as a tummy tuck.
• Stretch from weight gain and pregnancy may thin and permanently damage skin. Stretch marks are indicative of permanent skin damage and is a good indicator that liposuction alone is not the best option because of poor skin recoil over the areas of treatment.

Hormones and steroids can accentuate both fat deposition and stretch marks.

The male patient who has a healthy regimen of diet and exercise who presents with focal and resistant areas of fat deposit and good overlying skin quality may benefit greatly from a liposuction procedure. Active and athletic male patients often look for liposuction to treat areas that vigorous exercise and responsible diets will not improve. For men, the lower and central abdomen, as well as the chest are very common persistent areas of fat deposition.

• Areas to be treated are accessed through small liposuction ports which are distant, inconspicuous incisions
• Areas are infiltrated with fluid containing saline, epinephrine and lidocaine. This cuts down on localized bruising and blood loss.
• Using a regular cannula (SAL) or a cannula that releases ultrasound energy (UAL), the fat is broken up, melted, and then sucked out.
• Finer cannuals can help to define and sculpt these areas.
• The liposuction ports are closed with fine sutures
• The areas of treatment are compressed with a special liposuction garment which is worn for at least 1 week.

Areas of liposuction can be thinned and flattened. Compression helps to limit the swelling and bruising after the procedure. This is commonly worm for 3 weeks.

• Exercise can be resumed after 10 days.
• Patients typically feel comfortable returning to work after a weekend off.

Maintenance of a healthy lifestyle after the procedure can ensure a long lasting body contouring result. Dr. Trussler in Austin Texas has significant experience with male body contouring and liposuction technology. Sitting down with Dr. Trussler and determining an individualized treatment plan in Austin Texas is the first step in eliminating these persistent areas of fat.

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Liposuction is utilized to thin and flatten areas of fat deposits (the pooch, muffin top, saddle bag, rolls etc.). It is a common plastic surgery procedure that is performed through small incisions which can be hidden in skin folds and creases.

• Liposuction is ideally performed on isolated fat deposits that are difficult to reduce with diet and exercise. These are typically your “problem” areas.

There are numerous non-invasive modalities of body contouring, including cutaneous thermal energy (Zeltic CoolSculpting®, Venus Freeze®), radiofrequency (Thermage®), and laser light energy (Zerona®), but for an effective result most patients with good skin tone may benefit from liposuction.

There are numerous types of liposuction including:

• Suction Assisted Liposuction (SAL) breaks up fat and suctions it out through varying sizes of perforated long hollow tubes called cannulas. SAL is typically a component of each other type of liposuction technique.
• Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) utilizes a vibrating tip to help break up fat and it is suction through the same cannula.
• Water Assisted Liposuction (WAL) utilizes sterile saline spray to help break up fat deposits commonly recycled for fat injections in the same patient.
• Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL) utilizes ultrasound energy to help heat and destroy fat cells which are then suction through SAL technique.
• Laser Assisted Liposuction (LAL) utilizes laser light energy to help heat and destroy fat cells which are then suction through SAL technique.

Recovery from liposuction generally is related to the amount of liposuction performed (total volume of fluid in and out) and the area(s) treated. The method of liposuction really has no bearing on recovery if the amount removed is equivalent. Recovery from liposuction may be related to the size of cannula used to suction the fat with the larger cannula being more traumatic to the tissues, and maybe leading to more inflammation and bruising.

• Laser assisted liposuction applies laser energy to the fat and then follows it with standard suction assisted liposuction(SAL). In these procedures, the rate limiting step in recovery is the SAL and operators may have a tendency to be less aggressive with this component, which may relate to the proposed quicker recovery.

It takes generally 3 weeks until most bruising and the majority of noticeable swelling resolves after the procedure. Areas of liposuction after this may still be firm and have palpable “lumpiness” which represents internally scarring which softens over time. The port sites or small incisions heal after the first week, but may have persistent redness just like any scar. Sometimes scar care help alleviate this redness, but it resolves on its own.

• Compression garments help to reduce swelling and bruising in the areas of liposuction and are commonly applied at all times for up to 3 weeks and then often used under clothing for about another 3 weeks.
• Liposuction recovery is made easier in the cooler months in Austin Texas because of the need to wear the garment.

Single or multiple areas of liposuction, in a healthy patient with moderate areas of fat deposits should feel comfortable in a any clothing or swim wear after three weeks. It would be okay for patients to submerge in the pool or ocean at this point. The final result really is not realized until about 3 months and this is predicated to the resumption of diet and exercise beginning after the first week of liposuction.

Common methods to speed the recovery after liposuction:

• Diuretics: medications which stimulate the loss of fluid from the body. They may not have an effect on swelling in the areas of liposuction and may cause kidney damage and dehydration.
• Massage: lymphatic massage may help to reduce swelling by encouraging the natural flow of fluid through the lymphatic channels. This can reduce swelling and firmness in the areas of liposuction when done repetitively by a licensed massage therapist experienced in post-surgical lymphatic massage.
• Compression: 3 weeks of compression with an anatomic compression garment can help reduce the accumulation of swelling and the prevention of additional tissue inflammation in the areas of liposuction when activity is resumed.
• Low Salt Diet: may help limit the swelling after liposuction over the first 3 weeks.
• Arnica and Bromelain: natural products with multiple non-specific effects including the prevention of bruising and decreased tissue inflammation. There may be positive effects with little down side, but dose and quality of products vary.

Technique, amount of liposuction, and compression of liposuction areas after the procedure will help improve your recovery. Three weeks is a conservative estimate on focused areas of liposuction in Austin Texas.

• Three months after liposuction is typically when your result can be fully appreciated.

Dr. Trussler in Austin Texas can help guide you on wether liposuction is right for you and what to expect with the areas treated.

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