In my practice, I tell patients to avoid aspirin for two weeks prior to liposuction surgery. Regarding alcohol consumption, my recommendation is to cease drinking alcohol for two days before the surgery.

The reason you want to avoid blood-thinning substances is that it prevents excessive bleeding and thus, bruising post-surgery. It means a more comfortable and faster healing time.

Regarding birth control, I do not ask for my patients to stop their birth control pill routine. Because birth control can affect clot formation, surgeons will sometimes ask patients to stop taking the pills before going under general anesthesia. However, with pure tumescent liposuction under local anesthesia, the clot formation risk is greatly reduced. These patients are allowed to move on the table and walk around almost immediately after surgery, reducing the risk of clots.

Again, it depends on your surgery, anesthesia, health history and your surgeon’s recommendations.

A tummy tuck used as an option for those attempting to tighten their mid-section. However, a tummy tuck now is more for patients who have excessive, extra skin, usually in folds, around their middle, resulting from pregnancy or excessive weight loss. The tummy tuck surgery is usually done under general anesthesia and a large incision is made across the lower abdomen from hip to hip. In addition, the belly button is usually repositioned as a result of the tummy tuck.

With liposuction, stubborn fat is removed and the abdomen is contoured. There are a few small incisions made over the midsection, but these usually heal well and do not leave noticeable scars. (Some surgeons do abdominal liposuction just by going through the belly button, but I find that this does not produce even results. Following liposuction, the skin will shrink naturally so you are not left with excess skin around the mid-section, which would detract from your results. Furthermore, tumescent liposuction is done only under local anesthesia, which means that the patient is awake during the surgery. Using the tumescent method, there is a lowered risk of clot formation and because the patient is able to stand and move around, the surgeon can better remove fat and achieve optimal results..

Again, there are several considerations when choosing between a tummy tuck and liposuction, and it depends on what exactly you are looking for as a result. A good way to decide whether you are a good candidate for liposuction is to do a pinch test. Using your thumb and hand, grab onto the flab of the stomach. If you can move the fat underneath the skin, then you may be a good candidate for abdominal liposuction versus a tummy tuck.

However, some patients need both liposuction and a tummy tuck. In these patients, I strongly feel – and studies support – the fact that it generally is better to do these two procedures as separate surgeries scheduled weeks or months apart. This is for two reasons. Firstly, one can be more complete, especially in the upper abdominal area when liposuction is done separately. Secondly, it is safer and there are fewer chances of complications from the tummy tuck when it is done separately.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction and Ultrasonic Liposuction are newer, quite popular alternatives to more traditional forms of liposuction.  The argument here goes that they melt fat and tighten skin, whereas traditional liposuction either does not tighten skin or makes your skin looser.  Very alluring, but it’s not that simple or truly accurate.  I sometimes call this liposeduction vs. liposuction.  There are many surgeons who have embraced these newer machines.  Personally, I do not trust simply melting fat and feel I can get as much tightening as I choose by how I deal with the area just under the skin.  I prefer this because it gives me more control of the procedure.  With regard to the laser sealing blood vessels, remember that with properly done tumescent anesthesia one gets very little bleeding due to the hydrostatic pressure and epinephrine vasoconstruction.  One well done study in a major peer reviewed journal (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Sept. 2006) failed to demonstrate any clinical advantages of laser assisted lipoplasty.

When looking into liposuction or alternatives to liposuction, be aware of the potential complications that may arise. Don’t be allured by gimmicks, lower costs, or quick-fix solutions. Fancy machinery or technology pales in comparison to the artistry and skill of the surgeon. Thorough evaluation and education of your procedure can help you achieve optimal results and minimize the chances of irreversible consequences.

Do not be fooled by aggressive and possibly deceitful marketing. One of the biggest mistakes a patient can make is to try to cut corners in regards to their liposuction procedures and to test “cheap liposuction” alternatives that claim to help you lose inches off your body. If it is advertised persistently in the media and seems gimmicky, chances are, it is. Whether it comes in the form of a pill, instrument, or injection, it is critical that you don’t walk into it blindly. Research the safety and validity of their claims before pursuing something as permanent as liposuction. All too often there are reports of liposuction scams that are ineffective or worse; produce irreversible results that leave the patients permanently disfigured in their liposuction areas.

Liposuction surgery is a delicate procedure and the success of your surgery depends how knowledgeable the surgeon is, and his approach. As a liposuction specialist, it is extremely disheartening to hear reports of operations that take advantage of people through misinformation and malpractice, emotionally and financially. Research your surgeon’s credibility and liposuction results to minimize mistakes. With liposuction or any type of cosmetic surgery, it is important to do all you can to achieve optimal results. Don’t gamble with your appearance and safety; be informed and do all the research you can prior to your procedure. I often tell my patients that great results are much more about the good judgment, integrity, skills, and artistry of the surgeon, not what type of technology is used.

The intricacies of liposuction require specialized experience. Only through proper and comprehensive evaluation can optimal results be achieved. Liposuction scams focus on a cheap way of losing fat, but ultimately, they are not worth the gamble.

Raised in Los Angeles, Dr. David Amron attended both U.C.L.A. and U.C. San Diego where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. He was awarded his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The doctor then returned to Southern California to continue his residency at U.C. San Diego and research fellowship at U.C.L.A. Dr. Amron is a board certified dermatological surgeon. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Liposuction Surgery and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Dr. David Amron has published numerous articles in the medical literature and has authored dermatologic surgery and medical textbook chapters.

Dr. Amron has a worldwide reputation as an expert in liposuction surgery. He is a specialist in revision liposuction surgery, and his patients travel from all over the world so that he can improve or perfect results from previous procedures done by cosmetic surgeons. He has meticulously sculpted thousands of patients and is highly respected for achieving consistent and outstanding results with pure tumescent liposuction. He has instructed other surgeons on his philosophy and techniques in fat reductions and removal. Dr. David Amron is also an outspoken advocate of mini liposuction, which is performed in less than one hour and focuses on one or two trouble spots.

As the host of the popular Los Angeles Radio Show, A Cut Above with co-host Kerri Kasem, Dr. Amron answers questions on the dos and don’ts of liposuction every Saturday from 4-5 pm on KFWB 980 AM, or listen live at: www.kfwb.com. Dr. David Amron is also the specialist advisor on liposuction for national online patient chat rooms such as Make Me Heal and Real Self where he educates patients. (See Proper Liposuction Evaluation and Technique: Whats New, Whats Old and What Works, An Expert Opinion.) Dr. David Amron has been featured on the Discovery Channel, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, BBC, KCBS Channel 2 News, Fox Good Day L.A., Extra, Inside Edition, KCBS Women to Women, KCAL Channel 9 News, VHI and ABC News. He has also been featured in numerous articles on liposuction and cosmetic surgery, appearing in various magazines and newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Cosmopolitan magazine. Entertainment Tonight calls Dr. Amron the Guru of Liposuction.

Dr. David Amron’s creativity extends outside of medicine with an interest in music. He is an accomplished guitarist, singer and songwriter. He also enjoys skiing, fishing and playing tennis.