Liposuction is Dr. Paul Fortes’s specialty. Dr. Paul F. Fortes has built a very strong reputation over the 22 years he has been in his private practice, Paul F. Fortes MD Plastic Surgery as an aesthetic plastic surgeon. He works hard to tailor the perfect procedure plan for each of his patients in all areas of aesthetic surgery, but especially in body contouring surgery and liposuction.

Dr. Paul Fortes trained in plastic surgery at the exclusive Northwest University Medical Center in Chicago. He trained in general surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, and he earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and his bachelor’s degree from Rice University in Houston. He is board-certified and recertified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as the American Board of Surgery. He continues to stay connected with international leaders in his field and is always working to bring the best of surgery to his practice.

Dr. Paul Fortes offers a variety of different surgical, non-surgical, and minimally invasive procedures, including body contouring, BBL, body lifts, skin tightening, Cellfina cellulite correction, Thermi RF technology, breast enhancements, facial rejuvenation, aesthetic nose surgery, laser resurfacing, male aesthetic surgeries, MiraDry, Botox, fillers, female rejuvenations, and more.

Outside of his practice, Dr. Fortes can be found enjoying his time playing classical piano, drawing, doing photography, supporting the arts community in Houston, and volunteering for and supporting organizations that benefit animal welfare. Living in the ethnic melting pot of Houston, Dr. Paul Fortes is a self-identified foodie who likes to spend time with his close circle of friends enjoying Houston’s incredibly diverse restaurant and culture scene.

Haute Beauty interviewed Dr. Paul F. Fortes to talk about Liposuction, and its benefits for your general health and appearance. 

Photo Credit: courtesy of shutterstock

HB: What is Liposuction and what does this procedure offer?

Liposuction is the surgical removal of sub-cutaneous fat from any area of the body that is out of proportion to other areas of the body and that results in an improvement in the overall contour or shape of the body. The operation is best performed in areas where the overlying skin is relatively firm and capable of shrinking when the fat is removed. Volumes of fat removal can be minor or major. High volume liposuction implies removing over 5 liters of fat and requires overnight observation in the SurgiCenter for IV hydration and fluid management. If greater than 10 liters of fat removal is being considered, then it’s best to perform the liposuction in stages or in a hospital setting. Liposuction cannulas are used to aspirate the fat. These cannulas come in various sizes based on their lengths and diameters. Larger diameter cannulas remove fat faster, but they must be used with caution because of greater risk of contour depressions or irregularities. High volume and multi-area liposuction typically is performed under general anesthesia. “Tumescent liposuction” is the standard technique of injecting the fat with a wetting solution with lidocaine and epinephrine to numb the treated areas and reduce significantly the blood loss during the operation.

HB: Can Liposuction be done without the long procedure?

Sometimes minor or “touch-up” liposuction can be performed under tumescent anesthesia (local anesthesia) and in an office minor procedure room setting.

HB: Who is a good candidate for this procedure?

The best candidates for liposuction are healthy patients near an ideal body weight who have areas of fat mal-distribution or poor body proportions that are not a result of being overweight. The overlying skin should be relatively firm and not sagging. Intra-abdominal or “visceral” fat deposits can not be removed by liposuction.

HB: How does this procedure compare to others of the same nature?

Tumescent liposuction has been performed since the 1980’s and continues being the best and most versatile body contouring operation performed today. Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) uses a machine which oscillates the cannulas through the fat and helps with operator/surgeon fatigue. Ultrasonic liposuction, less commonly performed today, uses ultrasound energy to help liquify the fat. Laser liposuction uses laser or light-based energy to destroy fat before suctioning. New technologies using radio-frequency (RF) can be combined with liposuction to tighten the overlying skin. The most important take home message for liposuction (and any other aesthetic plastic surgery) is that technologies are only tools and not substitutes for the experience, training, skill, and qualification of the surgeon performing the operation.

Photo Credit: courtesy of shutterstock

HB: What does the recovery process look like?

Recovery from liposuction is a process of recovering from swelling, bruising, and scar tissue. A compression garment is used during the first six weeks of recovery. Lymphatic massages historically have been recommended. Today, a superior treatment post-surgery using external radio-frequency (called ThermiSmooth) helps speed up the recovery from liposuction. Most people see an immediate improvement following liposuction, but the final results may take six months or longer to appreciate. Patients usually can return to work and driving after 5-7 days and can return to an exercise program as early as 3-6 weeks.

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