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Dr. Larson’s lipedema treatment in Tucson is completely customized to your needs, symptoms and condition. However, it almost always involves a combination of liposuction and gentle, non-invasive measures.

Dr. Larson's Approach To Lipedema Treatment

How we restore balance to your body

We believe that a holistic, comprehensive approach to lipedema treatment is best for our patients. First, we recommend surgical fat removal because it is the only recognized way to remove the problematic fat, reduce your risk for health complications, and improve function and mobility.

From there, we will likely compose a follow-up regimen of non-invasive treatments that can refine your results and keep you looking and feeling your best. Depending on the stage of your lipedema and response to surgery, this may include exercise, compression garments and treatments that promote circulation and drainage.

Lipedema Treatment Phoenix

Lymphatic Sparing Liposuction

The ideal surgery for lipedema is lymphatic sparing liposuction. It involves using specialized techniques to gently release pressure and congestion – preserving vital lymphatics while removing excess fat.

It’s important to select a surgeon with experience treating lipedema patients because many liposuction approaches are simply too aggressive for the condition. In fact, they can damage the lymphatic system and lead to additional complications. The two techniques Tucson plastic surgeon Dr. Larson performs most often include:

Safelipo

SAFELipo is a very effective lipedema treatment method. It is a three-step process that involves fat separation, aspiration and equalization. It’s designed to combine the benefits of liposuction, fat shifting and fat-grafting for smoother and more natural body contouring results. It’s safe, highly effective – and an ideal option for many of our lipedema patients.

During the procedure, Dr. Larson will begin by loosening, emulsifying and separating the unwanted fat cells. From there, he will gently remove the excess bulk and equalize the remaining fat layer without generating heat. This preserves valuable blood vessels and prevents damage to your skin and the surrounding tissues.

Wal Liposuction

Water-assisted liposuction is another gentle method that is a terrific option for lipedema patients. It doesn’t require general anesthesia and patients are typically able to walk around shortly after the procedure.

The approach involves using a pressurized stream of saline to dislodge and remove unwanted fat cells. From there, Dr. Larson will use various cannulas and lasers to further sculpt the area and refine your results, based on the unique needs of your body.

Your Tucson lipedema liposuction procedure will last between one and three hours. Once the surgery is complete, Dr. Larson will often perform a surgical skin reduction to decrease the likelihood of a lipedema recurrence. You will need to wear a compression garment after surgery to preserve your results and maintain the new shape of your legs.

Renuvion and Lipedema

Lipedema is a chronic condition that primarily affects women, in which painful fat deposits build up in the legs or arms. If you are seeking help to manage your lipedema, Renuvion can produce remarkable results, resculpting the body areas affected by the condition, significantly tightening skin and tissue without surgery.

Why choose Renuvion?

Lipedema is a medical condition, often genetic, and should be diagnosed prior to undergoing treatment at Larson Plastic Surgery. Many patients who suffer from lipedema undergo custom liposuction treatments to remove the fatty deposits associated with the condition, but are dismayed to be left with loose skin, which in the past, had to be surgically removed. You now have a non-surgical skin-tightening option that produces results similar to surgery – without scalpels, incisions, stitches, or a long recovery time.

Non-surgical skin tightening with Renuvion

Renuvion’s unique skin-tightening technology can be highly effective in managing the loose skin associated with lipedema, tightening and remodeling skin and underlying tissues without the need for surgical skin removal. This treatment can address the cosmetic issues associated with lipedema, including:

  • The pain, chafing, or unsightly appearance of loose skin
  • Improve deep-skin health
  • Reduce swelling
  • Contracts loose skin from within, without surgical removal

Most people would prefer to avoid excisional surgery to address the problem of loose skin. We are pleased to offer you the option of Renuvion treatments at our private Tucson, Arizona plastic surgery clinic.

How can Renuvion help with lipedema?

If you are seeking a non-surgical treatment to address lipedema, Renuvion may be a great option for you. This cutting-edge technology, otherwise known as “J Plasma” or “J Plasty,” harnesses the power of heat and plasma energy to:

  • Target specific areas of the body, like the upper arms, thighs, calves, ankles, or knees
  • Use controlled heat to tighten loose skin and recontour underlying tissues
  • Increase natural collagen production within the skin for long-lasting results
  • Shrinks loose skin from the inside out
  • Leaves minimal or no scarring
  • Non-surgical, with limited downtime and a fast recovery.

If you need help managing your lipedema, a consultation at the premier plastic surgery clinic in Tucson, Larson Plastic Surgery.

Awake liposuction procedure and lipedema

If you suffer from lipedema and are considering liposuction as a treatment, you may have concerns about anesthesia, recovery times, and the impact the procedure will have on your body. At Larson Plastic Surgery, we understand that many people either cannot be put under anesthesia for health reasons or want to avoid it. Our awake, water assisted liposuction (WAL) treatments are available for those seeking treatment for lipedema.

What is awake liposuction?

Awake liposuction is essentially exactly as it sounds; rather than being under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, your treatment requires only local anesthesia, and you remain awake and alert throughout the entire treatment. For many patients, this is important, and we understand.

The benefits of awake liposuction in treating lipedema

At Larson Plastic Surgery, we use a groundbreaking liposuction system for awake lipo. Called the Body-Jet, this system uses the power of water to dislodge the fat cells from the surrounding tissue, without damaging skin, tissue, or nerves. This technology was developed in Germany and had been used there for years in the in-office treatment of lipedema. The benefits of awake lipo in treating lipedema include:

  • Gentle, fast procedure.
  • Rapid recovery.
  • FDA-approved.
  • No intravenous or general anesthesia needed.
  • Little to no downtime.
  • No damage to surrounding skin, tissue, or nerves.
  • Requires only between 30 minutes and 1 hour to treat a body area.
  • Large quantities of fat can be removed more quickly with less trauma to the body.

Awake liposuction is a fairly recent development in aesthetics, a revolutionary approach to removing excess fat. The ability to remain fully conscious and aware during the procedure, able to reposition your body so the right areas can be accessed, and to communicate with your doctor about a specific area, or how you are feeling, make this form of liposuction a superior option for treating lipedema.

Lipedema and you.

At Larson Plastic Surgery, we focus on helping our patients achieve a better quality of life, with the most advanced treatments and techniques, including offering awake lipo to extract excess fat related to lipedema. Our goal is to help you experience a more comfortable, confident life by resolving the unpleasant symptoms of the condition - which we understand are not only aesthetic, but emotional. Visit with us to discuss this modern approach and how our lipedema liposuction in Tucson could work for you.

Meet Your Doctor Dr. Ethan Larson

Dr. Ethan Larson is celebrated throughout Tucson for his unmatched technical skill and the breadth of his knowledge. By embracing innovation at every turn, he continues to raise the bar in Southern Arizona for top-quality cosmetic care. Known as one of the best plastic surgeons Tucson has to offer, he is highly trained and experienced in all aspects of plastic surgery, including reconstruction of traumatic, oncologic and surgical defects. Dr. Larson is Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and is also a member of the Arizona Community Surgeons (ACS) group.

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Dr. Ethan Larson Plastic Surgeon

Faq: Do I Really Need Surgery

If your lipedema diagnosis is accurate, then yes, you likely need surgery. Diet and exercise cannot treat this condition. Although a healthy lifestyle can reduce fluid buildup and improve mobility, liposuction is necessary to get rid of the excess fat and sculpt a more proportionate body. In addition, untreated lipedema typically worsens over time without surgical intervention.

Enhancing Your Results With Non-Invasive Measures

There are many non-invasive treatment options available that can complement and preserve your surgical results.

Depending on your needs, Dr. Larson may recommend a custom combination of the following:

  • Medications to reduce inflammation
  • Dry brushing to alleviate pressure
  • A healthy diet and exercise plan
  • Compression garments
  • Breathing techniques
  • Vibration devices and preneumatic compression pumps to improve circulation and lymphatic flow
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