It can be performed as an isolated procedure, but Dr. Dowden often combines liposuction with other operations. Liposuction was developed in the late 1970's, and Dr. Dowden has been performing liposuction since 1981. The techniques were progressively improved and refined over the years, culminating in the present method of injecting a large volume of salt-water and using very thin instruments. A recent advance in liposuction is Ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, a technique which Dr Dowden is also trained in and qualified to perform. Ultrasonic-assisted liposuction is also a tumescent technique.
Every procedure has positive aspects and negative aspects.
There are advantages and disadvantages of liposuction, which must be considered when deciding whether the procedure is appropriate. In addition, every operation has potential complications, which can occur in a small percentage of patients even in the best of hands, and it is therefore possible to have complications after liposuction, of which patients should be aware. All surgery involves some degree of pain, some bruising, expense, and time for recovery, and most surgery leaves visible scars somewhere. However, with liposuction, all of these drawbacks are less than with the older, alternative methods of fat removal. Postoperatively, there is a slight amount of swelling which takes several weeks or longer to subside, and Dr. Dowden usually recommends wearing a firm support garment until the swelling is gone.