If you’ve been battling stubborn fat under your chin or on your upper arms, awake liposuction with Dr. Cohen at Plastic Surgery Center of Hampton Roads might be your perfect match. This minimally invasive treatment lets you stay awake, skip the general anesthesia, and still enjoy beautifully contoured results, all with the trusted, personalized care we’re known for.
Suction Away Fat Without General Anesthesia
Awake liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure that targets stubborn pockets of fat, like under the chin or on the upper arms, while you remain comfortably awake. Instead of using general anesthesia, Dr. Cohen uses local anesthesia to keep you pain-free throughout the procedure. Because you can move slightly during the procedure, it allows for more precise sculpting and smoother, natural-looking results. Recovery is faster than traditional liposuction, making it a great option for the right candidate seeking subtle body contouring.
Awake Liposuction Treatment Areas:
- Under the chin (for patients with a stubborn fat pad, not loose skin)
- Upper arms (ideal for those without significant skin laxity)
- Inner thighs (in select cases with good skin tone)
Note: Dr. Cohen does not recommend awake liposuction for the abdomen.
Awake Liposuction vs. Traditional Liposuction
Awake Liposuction
Awake liposuction is performed using local anesthesia, meaning you’re fully awake (but totally numb) during the procedure. This technique is ideal for treating small, localized areas like under the chin or upper arms. Because you remain awake, Dr. Cohen can fine-tune your results in real time with slight positioning changes. It’s also more affordable, avoids the risks of general anesthesia, and has a shorter, more comfortable recovery.
Traditional Liposuction
Traditional liposuction uses general anesthesia and is better suited for larger treatment areas like the abdomen, thighs, or multiple zones at once. It allows for more aggressive fat removal but comes with longer downtime, higher cost, and increased medical risk due to the use of anesthesia. While it can deliver dramatic results, it requires more planning and recovery. Traditional lipo may be better for more extensive fat removal goals.
Advantages of Awake Liposuction:
- Avoid the risks and side effects of general anesthesia
- Faster, more comfortable recovery
- Lower cost compared to traditional liposuction
- Return to normal activities within just a few days
- Remain awake and slightly mobile for more precise sculpting
- Natural-looking results in small, targeted areas
Am I a Candidate for Awake Liposuction?
Awake liposuction is best for patients who are close to their goal weight and have small, stubborn areas of fat, like under the chin or upper arms, that haven’t responded to diet or exercise. Good skin tone and realistic expectations are essential. If that sounds like you, it’s worth finding out more. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Cohen at Plastic Surgery Center of Hampton Roads to see if awake liposuction is the right fit for your body and your goals.
Awake Liposuction Treatment in Hampton Roads
When you arrive for your awake liposuction, you’ll be made comfortable and prepped for the procedure. Dr. Cohen will begin by marking the areas to be treated and then carefully inject a local anesthetic to numb the area. This ensures you’ll stay comfortable and pain-free throughout the process. You may feel some pressure or movement, but you won’t feel pain.
Once the area is fully numb, Dr. Cohen will make a small incision and insert a thin tube called a cannula. This cannula is used to break up and remove fat deposits while you remain awake and at ease.
One of the benefits of staying awake is that you can slightly adjust your position when needed, which helps Dr. Cohen contour more precisely for more natural-looking results.
The procedure typically takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on the area treated. Afterward, the incision is closed with a small dressing. You’ll rest for a short period before heading home the same day. Most patients experience minimal soreness and can return to normal activities within just a few days. It’s a simple and efficient way to sculpt the body with minimal downtime.
Awake Liposuction FAQs
Will I feel anything during the procedure? What about afterward?
During the procedure, the treatment area is fully numbed with local anesthesia, so you may feel pressure or movement, but not pain. After the procedure, it’s common to feel temporary numbness or tenderness in the area. Most patients find that these sensations gradually fade over a few weeks as healing progresses.
What is the healing process like?
Most patients experience mild soreness and swelling for a few days following the procedure. Because awake liposuction uses only local anesthesia, recovery tends to be faster and more comfortable than with traditional liposuction. Most people are able to return to work and regular activities within a few days, depending on the area treated and their individual response.
Who is an ideal candidate?
Awake liposuction is ideal for patients who are near their goal weight and have small, localized areas of fat that haven’t responded to diet or exercise. Dr. Cohen evaluates each patient carefully to ensure the procedure is appropriate for their body type and goals, favoring cases where predictable, natural-looking results can be safely achieved.
How does Dr. Cohen determine if I’m a good fit for awake liposuction?
Dr. Cohen takes a highly personalized approach to this procedure. He considers factors like the size and location of the fat deposit, skin elasticity, and your overall health and goals. Awake liposuction is not a weight-loss solution—it works best for targeted areas on patients with good skin tone and realistic expectations.
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By Dr. Michael Cohen, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at PSCHR When people hear “awake liposuction,” they often think it’s a shortcut—quick, easy, no anesthesia. But like any procedure, it needs to…
Request Your Appointment Today
Plastic Surgery Center of Hampton Roads is proud to offer awake liposuction with Dr. Cohen, one of the few surgeons in the area with specialized experience in this precise technique. Dr. Cohen takes a thoughtful and personalized approach to ensure safe, natural-looking results without the need for general anesthesia. If you’re ready to explore a more comfortable way to target stubborn fat, request your appointment for awake liposuction in Newport News and Williamsburg, Virginia. Let’s talk about your goals and see if this approach is right for you.
