CONTOUR
YOUR SHAPE
Liposuction is a popular plastic surgery procedure that is used to reduce specific areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise efforts. While liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, it can help to enhance the shape and contour the face and body. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Kolder has years of experience performing liposuction for men and women from Camarillo and beyond who are at a healthy, stable weight but have difficulty losing stubborn fat.
Liposuction
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Liposuction
Candidates for Liposuction​
The best candidates for liposuction are in good general health and at or close to their goal weight. Liposuction only treats the stubborn subcutaneous fat located just beneath the skin; it does not remove deeper visceral fat that
surrounds the organs. For this reason, liposuction is not an effective weight loss tool, and Dr. Kolder recommends coming within 30 pounds of your target weight prior to getting liposuction.
Liposuction is also unable to remove or tighten loose or excess skin. Dr. Kolder will evaluate your skin’s elasticity to determine if you could be a good candidate for liposuction on its own or in combination with a tummy tuck or other body contouring procedure.
Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck
Liposuction and tummy tucks, also called abdominoplasty, are body contouring procedures that are often combined for enhanced results. On its own, liposuction is able to remove stubborn fat deposits in common trouble spots like
the hips, waist, thighs and more. However, liposuction cannot remove excess skin and, in fact, can sometimes make loose skin or dimpling worse.
A tummy tuck is able to remove and tighten loose skin, as well as repair separated abdominal muscles due to pregnancy, rapid weight gain or aging. If both stubborn fat and loose skin or separated muscle tissue are concerns for you, Dr. Kolder may recommend a combined tummy tuck with liposuction procedure.
Liposuction Treatment Areas
Liposuction can remove stubborn fat from nearly any part of the body, neck and face, making it one of the most versatile cosmetic treatments available.
Common treatment areas for liposuction include the:
• Waist, hips and love handles
• Bra rolls and back
• Chest for men
• Upper arms
• Inner and outer thighs
• Calves and ankles
• Neck, chin and jawline
Many people wish to treat more than one area with liposuction. In most cases, Dr. Kolder is able to create a single surgical plan that can address multiple areas at once in the same procedure.
The Liposuction Procedure
Your liposuction procedure will be performed under general anesthesia at our own Ambulatory Surgery Center. To begin the procedure, Dr. Kolder will inject a special saline
solution, called tumescent fluid, into the treatment area. This fluid helps to break apart fat cells, making them easier to remove, as well as reduce the risk of complications during surgery.
Next, very small incisions are made in the skin to allow for the insertion of a cannula (thin surgical tube) into the layer of targeted fat. The cannula is connected to a surgical vacuum, which helps to remove the excess fat cells from beneath the skin. The incisions are then sutured and dressed and you will be sent to recovery. Dr. Kolder has years of experience providing patients with even, natural-looking fat loss via liposuction.
Liposuction Risks & Safety
While liposuction is a generally safe and low-risk procedure, no surgery is without risks or potential complications. Dr. Kolder will explain these risks in detail with you during your
consultation so that you are well-informed. Liposuction risks can include infection, bleeding problems, blood clots, healing complications, asymmetry and contour irregularities.
Dr. Kolder takes great care to minimize surgical risks as much as possible and also provides you with clear guidelines on how you can help to prevent complications during the healing process. If you have any questions or concerns at all at any point in the process, do not hesitate to contact our office.
Recovering from Liposuction
Once your liposuction is complete, you will need to take 3 to 5 days off work as you recover from surgery, depending on how physically demanding your job is. While Dr. Kolder will ask that you get up and walk around several times each day as you are healing to promote healthy circulation, you will need to avoid strenuous exercise for a couple of weeks. In most cases, Dr. Kolder will ask that you wear a compression garment to promote healing and reduce swelling.
Liposuction Results
Expect your treated areas to appear swollen and bruised initially following your liposuction, although this should fade over the next few days and weeks. While you may notice immediate
changes to the shape of your body directly after liposuction, swelling can significantly downplay your results. Be patient with your body as it continues to heal and swelling continues to diminish over time, gradually revealing your new body shape.
Most people will have a good idea of what their final outcome will look like around 3 months after liposuction, though it can take up to 6 months for your full results to develop.
Your incisions will be small and kept within the natural contours of your body, so any scarring should be barely noticeable. Any scarring that you do see will significantly improve and fade over time.
Dr. Kolder’s liposuction patients often enjoy long-lasting results by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Liposuction FAQs
The cost of liposuction in California will vary, depending on the size and number of areas you’d like to treat. After your consultation, Dr. Kolder and his team will be able to provide you with a more accurate liposuction cost estimate, as well as go over available financing options with you if interested.
Most people lose an average of 5 to 10 pounds after getting liposuction. However, it is important to understand that liposuction is not a form of weight loss and is only designed to remove deposits of fat that do not respond to regular diet and exercise. It is not meant to reduce weight and is typically not performed on patients who are severely overweight or obese. If you have reached or are close to your ideal weight, liposuction can help to improve your body contours.
There is no hard-and-fast weight requirement that you need to hit before getting liposuction. However, Dr. Kolder generally recommends that patients come within around 30 pounds of their ideal weight before moving forward with liposuction to see the best results and minimize the risk of complications.
This will depend on your specific goals and expectations. While CoolSculpting can achieve excellent nonsurgical body contouring results for just about every area of the body that liposuction can treat, its results will not be as dramatic as surgical liposuction results. Some people choose to get CoolSculpting after liposuction for even more comprehensive results. Dr. Kolder will help you decide which could be right for you at your consultation.
During the liposuction procedure, you are under anesthesia, so you should not experience any pain or discomfort. However, after your procedure, you may experience mild pain and discomfort for the first couple of days. This pain is typically controlled with analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your surgeon.
The instruments used for liposuction are small, so any scars you may experience are also going to be small in size. How many scars you have will depend on how many insertion points your liposuction procedure requires. How your incisions heal will depend on your skin elasticity and your body’s healing response. Dr. Kolder will discuss possible scarring and what can be done to minimize any potential scarring.
Liposuction removes adipocytes, or the cells that accumulate and store fat. When these are removed, they do not come back. However, this doesn’t mean that the areas of fat won’t return. While the cells are removed, others remain and can increase in size due to increased fat. In order to maintain your liposuction results, you should follow a healthy diet and regular exercise routine.
Dr. Daniel G. Kolder
Board certified plastic surgeon with expert-level artistic precision.
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Dr. Kolder has earned a reputation for excellence by creating results that consistently exceed his patient’s expectations. We are excited to learn about your cosmetic goals and work with you to create a custom treatment plan with your ideal outcome. To get started, reach out to us by phone, or click on the link below to speak with a Pacifica team member and set up your initial consultation today.
Written By: Dr. Daniel G. Kolder
Dr. Daniel G. Kolder is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. As a highly trained plastic surgeon serving Ventura County, he is best-known for his warm, easy manner, compassionate care, and beautiful, natural results.
More about Dr. Daniel G. Kolder | Last Reviewed: October 25th, 2025
