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832-509-5099
832-509-5099
Diet and exercise can take you a long way, and then stop. Fat along the lower abdomen,
the flanks, the outer thighs, or under the chin often stays put no matter how disciplined
the routine, because those deposits are largely a matter of genetics rather than effort.
Liposuction addresses what those efforts leave behind. At ShineMD Medspa & Liposuction
Center in Houston, Dr. Janak Parikh performs minimally invasive liposuction under local
anesthesia, using VASER and SmartLipo technology to remove unwanted fat and refine the
shape underneath.
Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that removes localized fat deposits through
small incisions, usually just a few millimeters wide. A thin tube called a cannula is
inserted beneath the skin and moved in small, controlled passes to loosen fat and suction
it away, leaving the surrounding contour smoother and more proportional.
The technique has changed considerably since its introduction. Modern approaches use
tumescent fluid to numb the area and limit bleeding, and energy-assisted devices to break
fat apart before removal. That combination allows for gentler treatment, more precise
sculpting, and, for many patients, a shorter recovery than traditional liposuction required.
Fat cells removed during liposuction do not return. The cells that remain can still enlarge
with weight gain, which is why long-term results depend on a stable weight after the procedure.
Liposuction is a contouring procedure rather than a weight-loss method. Most patients see
only a modest change on the scale, and a much more noticeable change in how clothing fits
and how the body looks in profile.
Depending on your anatomy and the technique used, liposuction may help:
What liposuction cannot do is take the place of a healthy lifestyle, treat obesity, or
remove significant amounts of hanging skin. Patients with substantial skin laxity after
pregnancy or major weight loss are usually better served by a skin-removal procedure,
and Dr. Parikh will say so during your consultation.
Nearly any area with a stubborn fat deposit and reasonably good skin quality can be
considered. These are the regions we treat most often:
The abdomen is among the most requested areas at our Houston center. Treating both the
upper and lower abdomen creates a flatter front profile and, for patients seeking more
definition, allows for etching along the natural lines of the abdominal muscles.
Fat along the flanks can create a shelf above the waistband that no amount of core work
seems to touch. Reducing the love handles narrows the midsection and produces the curve
between the ribs and hips that many patients are after.
Rolls along the upper and mid back are notoriously resistant to exercise. Treating them
smooths the line beneath a bra strap or fitted top and is often combined with flank
treatment for a continuous result around the torso.
Fullness along the back of the upper arm tends to appear with age as skin quality changes.
Arm liposuction slims the area between the shoulder and elbow, and laser-assisted
techniques may help the skin retract as it heals.
A full submental area can soften the jawline regardless of overall weight. Chin liposuction
is a small procedure with a short recovery, and the improvement to the neck’s angle is
often visible within a few weeks.
Fullness across the hips and outer waist can widen the silhouette in fitted clothing.
Careful, conservative removal here helps balance the upper and lower body without
over-thinning the area.
The inner thigh and the outer thigh respond differently, and both can be addressed.
Leg and thigh liposuction improves the space between the thighs and softens the saddlebag
contour along the hip.
Excess fat in the chest is a common concern among men and a frequent source of
self-consciousness at the gym or the beach. Male chest liposuction flattens the area and
restores a firmer contour. Cases involving glandular tissue rather than fat are evaluated
separately during your consultation.
Many patients treat several regions in one session. 360 liposuction addresses the abdomen,
flanks, and back as a single circumferential unit, while high-definition liposuction focuses
on athletic definition rather than volume alone.
Dr. Parikh performs these procedures under local anesthesia. The technology selected for
your treatment depends on the area, the volume of fat involved, your skin quality, and
your goals.
VASER uses ultrasound energy to emulsify fat before it is removed, which allows the fat
to separate from surrounding connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. Because the
tissue framework is largely preserved, VASER tends to produce less bruising and swelling
than traditional liposuction, and many patients recover more quickly.
VASER is particularly well suited to detailed sculpting, including the muscle-etching
effect popular for abdominal and chest contouring, and it yields high-quality fat when
a transfer to another area is planned.
SmartLipo, also called laser-assisted lipolysis, uses laser energy delivered through a thin
fiber to liquefy fat before removal. The same energy stimulates collagen production, which
may help the skin tighten as it heals, and it seals small blood vessels along the way to
limit bleeding and bruising.
SmartLipo is a strong option for smaller areas, for patients with mild skin laxity, and
for anyone who prefers to avoid general anesthesia.
There is no single best technique, only the one best matched to your situation. As a
general guide, VASER is often preferred for larger volumes, dense or fibrous fat, and
detailed definition work. SmartLipo is often preferred for smaller or delicate areas and
for patients whose primary concern includes skin quality.
The two are not mutually exclusive. Dr. Parikh may recommend one technology in one region
and another elsewhere during the same session, or combine liposuction with fat transfer
to add volume where you want it.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Parikh will examine the areas you want treated,
assess your skin, review your health history, and explain which approach he recommends
and why.
Good candidates for liposuction at our Houston center generally share several characteristics:
If liposuction is not the right fit, we will tell you. Some patients are better candidates
for a skin-tightening treatment, CoolSculpting, medically supervised weight management,
or a surgical procedure we do not offer here.
Liposuction at ShineMD is performed on an outpatient basis in our Houston facility. Most
patients are treated under local tumescent anesthesia with oral or IV sedation, and PRO-NOX
nitrous oxide is available for additional comfort.
Before the procedure, Dr. Parikh marks the treatment areas while you are standing, since
fat distribution shifts once you lie down. Numbing solution is then infused into the tissue,
which both anesthetizes the area and helps limit bleeding.
Ultrasound or laser energy is applied through small incisions to break down the fat, which
is then suctioned away in stages while the contour is assessed throughout. Treatment time
depends on the number and size of the areas addressed, ranging from under an hour for the
chin to several hours for a full circumferential treatment.
You will be placed in a compression garment before you leave, and you will go home the
same day. Preparing in advance makes the day itself far less stressful, and our team will
walk you through exactly what to bring and arrange.
Expect soreness comparable to an intense workout for the first several days, along with
swelling, bruising, and some drainage from the incision sites. Most patients manage
discomfort with oral medication and are walking around the house the same evening.
Many people take a few days off work, and those with desk jobs often return within two to
four days. Larger treatments, particularly 360 liposuction with fat transfer, call for more
time. Full return to exercise and normal activity typically comes around two to three weeks,
on Dr. Parikh’s clearance.
Two elements of aftercare matter more than patients expect. Compression garments are worn
for roughly eight to twelve weeks to control swelling and support the skin as it settles.
Lymphatic massage and Z Wave treatments help move fluid, soften firmness, and encourage
an even final contour. Patients who commit to both tend to be happiest with their results.
A change in shape is often visible right away, though swelling obscures much of it during
the first few weeks. As fluid resolves, the contour emerges gradually.
Most patients see a substantial improvement by six to eight weeks and consider the result
close to final at three months. Refinement continues beyond that, particularly where skin
tightening is part of the goal, and the most complete results generally appear between
four and six months.
The removed fat cells will not return. Maintaining your result depends on keeping your
weight relatively stable, since the remaining cells throughout the body can still expand
with weight gain.
Liposuction has a long safety record when patients are properly selected and the procedure
is performed by a trained, experienced physician. Performing treatment under local
anesthesia rather than general anesthesia removes an entire category of risk, which is
one reason Dr. Parikh favors that approach.
That said, this is a medical procedure with real risks. Possible complications include
infection, bleeding, fluid accumulation, prolonged swelling, changes in skin sensation,
and contour irregularities such as unevenness or rippling. Reactions to anesthesia and
delayed healing are also possible, and smoking meaningfully increases risk.
Dr. Parikh will review the risks relevant to your case in detail before you decide, along
with the steps we take to reduce them. Careful candidate screening, conservative fat
removal, and structured follow-up all play a role.
Cost depends on the number of areas treated, the technique used, the complexity of the
case, and whether fat transfer is included. At our Houston center, laser lipolysis generally
starts in the range of $4,500 to $7,500 per area, while VASER liposuction typically runs
from about $5,000 to $9,000 and up.
Because liposuction is elective, it is not covered by insurance. We offer financing,
including 0% APR options through CareCredit for qualified applicants.
You will receive a specific quote at your consultation based on your treatment plan.
If a price you have been given elsewhere seems unusually low, it is worth asking who is
performing the procedure, where, and what the quote actually covers.
ShineMD Medspa & Liposuction Center was built around body contouring rather than adding
it as a sideline. Dr. Janak Parikh, MD, is board certified by the American Board of Plastic
Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery. He completed fellowships in multiorgan
abdominal transplant surgery and hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery, along with a plastic
surgery residency at Houston Methodist, and he holds a clinical faculty appointment in
plastic and reconstructive surgery at UT Health.
Patients also tell us the experience matters. Our patient coordinators and surgical staff,
known around the office as the Glitter Gang, handle everything from your first questions
through your last follow-up appointment. Aftercare is treated as part of the procedure,
not an afterthought, with lymphatic massage and Z Wave treatment available on site.
You are welcome to review our before-and-after gallery to see the range of results we have
achieved for patients with concerns similar to yours.
ShineMD Medspa & Liposuction Center is located at 1900 North Loop West, Suite 150,
in Houston, and we welcome patients from across the greater Houston area and beyond.
If you are ready to talk through your options, request a consultation online or call
(832) 509-5099. Dr. Parikh will listen to what is bothering
you, tell you honestly what liposuction can and cannot accomplish, and help you decide
whether it is the right step.
No. Liposuction reshapes the body by removing localized fat deposits, and most patients lose only a few pounds. It works best for people already near a stable weight who want to address specific areas that have not responded to diet and exercise. If significant weight loss is your goal, we can discuss medically supervised options instead.
The abdomen, waist and love handles, back and bra rolls, hips, inner and outer thighs, arms, chin and neck, and male chest are all treated regularly at our Houston center. Several areas can often be addressed in a single session, and 360 liposuction treats the entire midsection as one continuous unit.
The amount varies with your size, health, and the areas involved, and safe limits exist for a single session. Rather than maximizing volume, Dr. Parikh focuses on the amount that produces a smooth, natural contour. Removing too much can leave irregularities that are difficult to correct later. He will give you a realistic estimate at your consultation.
Many patients with desk jobs return within two to four days. Physically demanding work and larger procedures require more time, often a week or more. Plan to wear your compression garment throughout, including at work.
Both loosen fat before removal, using different energy. VASER uses ultrasound waves to emulsify fat while sparing surrounding tissue, which suits larger volumes and detailed sculpting. SmartLipo uses laser energy to liquefy fat and stimulate collagen, which may help with mild skin laxity. Dr. Parikh will recommend the better match for your anatomy and goals.