24-Hour Recovery Liposuction 

As a body contouring specialist known for his expertise performing liposuction in Los Angeles, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker sculpts attractive results for his patients. Combining his artistic vision and skill, Dr. Stoker uses gentle techniques designed for rapid recovery.   

Liposuction
 Before & After Photos

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How Is Liposuction Performed? 

Many types of liposuction technology are now available, but virtually all first saturate the treatment area with a numbing solution that causes fat to swell and become firmer. This is called tumescent liposuction. The tumescent solution includes lidocaine, epinephrine, and saline. Lidocaine is an anesthetic, and epinephrine (also called adrenaline) causes blood vessels to shrink, reducing bleeding and bruising.  

Tumescent liposuction: 

  • Minimizes blood loss  
  • Expands the safe zone for removal of fat 
  • Allows removal of greater volumes of fat 
  • Keeps patients comfortable with a local anesthetic 
  • Reduces the medication requirements for general anesthesia, permitting a “light” general anesthetic 
Liposuction diagram

Dr. Stoker removes the fat using small, thin tubes called cannulas that he inserts through tiny incisions. He selectively removes fat that is more loosely attached to the body, leaving blood vessels, nerves, and skin intact. The skin then shrinks to fit the new contours of the treatment area.  

Liposuction is typically performed as an outpatient procedure using local anesthesia, twilight sedation, or a “light” general anesthesia administered by a board-certified M.D. anesthesiologist. The choice of anesthesia depends on the size and number of treatment areas and patient preference. 

Why choose Dr. Stoker?

The Dr. Stoker Difference

For Your Liposuction:
He has authored two textbook chapters on liposuction.
He is a liposuction course instructor for The American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
He was chosen by The New York Times as a top U.S. surgeon for liposuction.
He is a pioneer in liposuction techniques, such as power-assisted liposuction (PAL).

Liposuction Types

Dr. Stoker’s expertise in liposuction and other body contouring surgeries dates back to his plastic surgery residency in the late 1990s when he was involved in clinical studies with one of his mentors, Dr. Gerald Pitman. The studies included the first generation of power-assisted liposuction devices, which Dr. Stoker now uses most often because it removes fat efficiently and gently.  

The types of liposuction include:

What Is Power-Assisted Liposuction? 

Dr. Stoker has been using PAL systems for much of his career and has performed studies on multiple generations of models. PAL offers several advantages compared to other liposuction technologies as it is highly precise, creates minimal trauma, and results in less bruising. These advantages mean a faster recovery for patients.  

Unlike power-assisted liposuction, manual tumescent liposuction requires the surgeon to vigorously move the cannula to break up fatty tissues, which results in more bruising and bleeding compared to PAL.  

Advantages of PAL 

The benefits of the PAL approach are well documented and include less time under anesthesia, less bruising and swelling, faster recovery, and (most importantly) smoother and more precise results. Another important advantage of PAL is its ability to shake loose hard fat that may be more tightly held by fibrous connective tissue, scar tissue, or cellulite.

The power-assisted system relies on a vibrating cannula tip that gently shakes fat loose and suctions it away in one step. The cannula vibrates at just the right frequency to maximize the efficient removal of fat. The vibration also helps the cannula glide through the fatty layers with minimal force. Power-assisted liposuction gives Dr. Stoker more control and precision, allowing him to focus on sculpting a more honed figure for the patient. It also minimizes a patient’s recovery because there’s less trauma to the body. 

PAL vs Laser and Ultrasonic Liposuction

Power-Assisted LiposuctionLaser LiposuctionUltrasonic Liposuction
BenefitsPrecision: PAL allows for more precise and controlled fat removal, making it suitable for smaller and more delicate areas.Skin tightening: Heat from the laser may result in minimal skin tightening in the treatment area.Skin tightening: Similar to laser lipo, thermal energy heats tissue and may result in minimal skin tightening in the treatment area.
Side EffectsSome bruising: The vibrating tip cannula is gentler on the surrounding tissues than other techniques and causes less trauma.Risk of burns: Thermal energy used to melt fat can burn the underside of the skin.Risk of burns: Thermal energy used to melt fat can burn the underside of the skin.
RecoveryReduced recovery time: The gentle nature of the procedure minimizes bleeding and bruising, resulting in a shorter recovery.Longer recovery: Laser liposuction patients often need up to 5 days to recover.Moderate recovery: Ultrasonic liposuction patients often need a few days to recover, although swelling and bruising may need a couple of weeks to resolve.
LimitationsDoesn’t boost collagen: PAL doesn’t use heat energy, so won’t promote skin tightening.Limited uses: Laser lipo may not be as effective in removing large volumes of fat compared to traditional liposuction methods.Larger incisions: The tube used for ultrasonic liposuction is larger and requires larger incisions.

What Is Smartlipo Laser Liposuction?

Laser-assisted liposuction, such as the Smartlipo technique, uses laser energy wavelengths to emulsify (melt) fat and cauterize blood vessels. The Smartlipo device delivers laser energy through a tiny fiber inserted through the skin with the surgeon controlling the intensity of the laser energy. Once the energy melts the fat, a cannula suctions the tissue from the body. The thermal energy results in minimal skin tightening.

Advantages of Smartlipo

The precision of the Smartlipo procedure makes it an option for areas that may be more difficult to treat with other techniques, such as under the chin. Also, the laser energy delivered during the procedure heats the skin and stimulates the production of new collagen, which may lead to skin tightening.

What Is Ultrasonic Liposuction?

Ultrasonic liposuction uses ultrasound waves to melt fat, especially in larger treatment areas or areas of dense, fibrous tissue. The ultrasound waves also create some mild skin tightening and skin retraction benefits for an improved aesthetic.

Advantages of Ultrasonic Liposuction

Liposuction that melts fat with ultrasonic energy is often best suited for performing high-definition liposuction procedures. Hi-def liposuction etches areas such as the abs to highlight the abdominal muscles. Like Smartlipo, ultrasonic liposuction also promotes collagen production.

What Is Corrective Liposuction?

Any liposuction technique is only as good as the surgeon performing the procedure. Women and men disappointed in the results of liposuction performed by other surgeons turn to Dr. Stoker for corrective liposuction. Complications can include wavy, dimpled skin, uneven results, or other contour deformities. These can occur more often when patients undergo liposuction that targets fat cells with heat, especially when performed by a surgeon without adequate training.

Liposuction FAQ

How much is liposuction near Los Angeles, CA?

The prices for liposuction procedures vary with the technique used, areas treated, and individual patient factors. We will provide you with a specific price quote during your consultation with Dr. Stoker. We offer financing options to qualified patients who are interested.

Which lipo technique has the best results?

While Dr. Stoker uses PAL for the majority of his patient cases, he may use other techniques that are gentle or more effective in specific areas. Ultrasonic liposuction can make fat removal easier in delicate areas like the neck and ankles. Laser lipo is useful for treating dense, fibrous fat in the male chest. Learn more in this blog post.

How long do liposuction results last? 

The fat removed by liposuction is gone for good. Patients, however, can still gain weight in the treatment areas. Many of Dr. Stoker’s patients actually lose additional weight after liposuction because they are inspired by the results and want to maintain them.  

Do you perform liposuction on the neck or face? 

Yes. Dr. Stoker often performs liposuction using a gentle technique such as PAL to remove fat from jowls during a Traceless Facelift surgery and reduce a double chin during neck enhancement surgery. Neck liposuction alone is often enough to reduce the appearance of a double chin for younger patients with good skin elasticity. 

Can fat removed during liposuction be transferred to other areas of the body? 

Dr. Stoker uses fat transfer, also called fat grafting, to create fullness in other areas of the body using fat removed by liposuction. A Brazilian butt lift, for example, uses fat grafting. The power-assisted liposuction technique is especially useful for fat grafting. In clinical research conducted by Dr. Stoker and UCLA, more than 90% of fat cells removed using PAL remain viable for days and would be useful for fat grafts.  

How much fat can liposuction remove? 

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. Potential liposuction risks increase significantly when a surgeon removes more than 5 liters of fat during a single operation. Dr. Stoker stays below this amount to enhance the procedure’s safety and still achieves dramatic improvements by removing 2 to 4 liters of fat, depending on a patient’s needs. When performed well, liposuction sculpts 3-dimensional results that look natural and attractive.  

How common are liposuction complications? 

Liposuction has one of the lowest complication rates of any cosmetic surgery. Most severe complications occur in the hands of doctors who are not board-certified plastic surgeons. Excessive bleeding, infection, and skin damage are all rare when liposuction is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon.

Start With a Consultation 

Women and men considering liposuction from Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, and throughout Los Angeles choose Dr. Stoker to perform their procedures. You can request a consultation using the online form or call our practice at  (310) 300-1779 to schedule an appointment.   

Nonsurgical Procedure Treatment Planner

Non-Surgical Enhancement


Our expertise extends beyond plastic surgery. We offer an extensive range of non-surgical treatments administered by our talented, experienced team of aesthetic providers under the guidance of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker.

If you have a treatment in mind, review our complete offering of non-surgical services. If you need a little help deciding, narrow down your options with our interactive treatment planner.

Dr. David Stoker

Educated at some of the most elite institutions in the country, Dr. David Stoker uses his highly advanced knowledge to ensure that each patient achieves beautiful, harmonious results — whether it's through a simple non-surgical procedure or a more advanced surgical transformation. Learn more about his unique credentials and his approach to plastic surgery.

Why Choose Dr. Stoker
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