The modern technique of blunt cannula liposuction was invented by Yves Gerard Illouz, an OB-GYN surgeon in Paris in the early 1980’s. Later, a California dermatologist, Jeffery Klein, invented tumescent liposuction, a technique that used large volumes of very dilute local anesthetic solution during the procedure to dramatically reduce the blood loss with this operation to negligible amounts. This modification to the technique allowed greater amounts of fat to be removed safely and painlessly at one sitting. In the late 1980’s, Michele Zocchi, an Italian Maxillofacial and Plastic surgeon invented ultrasonic liposuction, which utilized high frequency sound waves to emulsify the fat. When this latter technique is combined with a cannula or hollow tube which is liquid cooled to prevent burns which are possible with bare cannula ultrasonic liposuction, you have the state-of-the-art technique of Liquid Cooled Ultrasonically Assisted Liposuction which is utilized at Ponte Vedra Cosmetic Surgery. With the combination of techniques, safe predictable fat removal may be performed on persons in good health in virtually any age group.

Ideal candidates are individuals who are following a reasonable program of diet and exercise, are less than thirty pounds over their ideal body weight and who have localized fat deposits that are resistant to both diet and exercise. People who are up to fifty pounds over their ideal body weight may be candidates, however, each individual must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Liposuction is not a weight loss technique and it is not a substitute for reasonable diet and exercise. When and individual maintains their body weight after liposuction, the areas that have been treated with liposuction are permanently reduced. Overeating will cause generalized increase in body fat and weight gain. Many patients are encouraged to go on a carbohydrate limiting diet such as the Atkins diet to help maintain their result, since many Americans seem to be carbohydrate intolerant.