Stoker Plastic Surgery: David Stoker, MD
4640 Admiralty Way #1000
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Phone: (310) 300-1779
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
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.
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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, and Dr. Stoker offers a range of liposuction methods that start with this technique. 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:
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 the treatment areas and patient preference.
| For Your Liposuction: |
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| 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). |
Dr. Stoker’s expertise in body contouring surgery such as liposuction 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.
As an instructor in modern liposuction techniques, Dr. Stoker uses almost all liposuction technologies as they become available. Depending on the specific needs of a liposuction patient at his Marina del Rey practice, Dr. Stoker may recommend:
Ultrasonic and laser liposuction technologies liquefy the fat before it’s removed, and the procedures are useful in certain areas of the body. Dr. Stoker performs corrective liposuction for patients who are disappointed with the results of liposuction performed at other practices.
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.
Power-assisted liposuction offers a variety of benefits, including:
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 beautiful figure for the patient. It also helps minimize a patient’s recovery because there’s less trauma to the body.
Using power-assisted liposuction, Dr. Stoker has honed his liposuction techniques throughout his career to be as gentle as they are effective. Because the vibrating cannula loosens fat cells without requiring the surgeon to use force, there is minimal disturbance to the surrounding areas. This means less trauma and bruising and faster recovery times. In some cases, patients can return to work or other normal activities about 24 hours after their procedure. This depends on the size and number of areas treated.
Some additional steps Dr. Stoker takes to reduce recovery time include:
Through his careful planning, Dr. Stoker minimizes a patient’s time under anesthesia.
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.
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. Liposuction alone is often enough to reduce the appearance of a double chin for younger patients with good skin elasticity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
