Your New

Contour
The
Fine
Art of
Liposculpting

Dr. Thomas Su

UNCORRECTED PROOF

Your
New
Contour

Your New
Contour
THE FINE ART OF LIPOSCULPTING

Dr. Thomas Su
A E S T H E T I C A D VA N TA G E M E D I A

A first edition from Aesthetic Advantage Media

Copyright 2012 Dr. Thomas Su
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright
Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a
database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission
of the publisher.
AestheticAdvantageMedia.com

Cover and book design and packaging by Aesthetic Advantage Media

Please direct any questions or comments to:
info@AestheticAdvantageMedia.com

Dedication TK

Contents
Doctor Su, Sculptor 11
The Liposculpting Advantage
The Importance of Standing and Understanding
One Hundred Percent Happiness
Is Sculpting for You? 20
Who Benefits?
WhatParts of the Body can be Treated?
Revision Liposculpture

What to Expect: Advantages of Awake 27
Creating Contour
What Will I Feel During the Procedure?
Recovery Time
How the Procedure has Changed 37
The History of Liposuction
Hype-o-Suction
A Grain of Rice
A Partner in your Transformation

44

Partnering for the Procedure

Restoring the Hourglass Figure
Happiness
About Artistic Lipo 50

DR. THOMAS SU

Doctor Su,
Sculptor
Lets start with the art. Im both an artist and a
liposuction specialist. I work with the live human form
and I get to help create happiness for my patients.
I am a licensed physician and the owner of Artistic
Liposculpting, which I started five years ago. In that
time frame, we have served and transformed over 2,000
patients. Those patients have trusted us to do one thing
in an extraordinary fashion, liposculpting. So, we dont
do offer other types of cosmetic surgery. We concentrate on what we know best and we do it well.
Prior to practicing cosmetic surgery, I practiced internal
medicine for about eight years. Although it may sound
like its a vastly different area, the realm of internal medicine has given me the ability to treat my liposculpture
patients with a lot more safety and care.

11

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

When you say that something is an art that has special

The Liposculpting Advantage

meaning for me because that is how I started my pro-

Ive always had this interest in drawing the human figure.

fessional life, as an artist. Ive always had an interest

This goes way back to my teenage years. And it wasnt

in drawing, particularly the human figure and face. In

until I got into college that I was able to take courses

college this led me to take many art courses, which

in what they call life drawing, which is the human nude.

eventually lead to courses drawing the live nude human

This means drawing five- to ten-minute sketches using

figure. And that became a passion, as well as learning

charcoal or pencil and really capturing the essence of

to create sculptures.

the human body, including the musculature, the skeletal

frame.

So while other doctors were majoring in the sciences,

I actually majored and got my degree in fine arts. This

Those courses shaped a lot of what my interest in art

fine arts background really gives me a lot of valuable

is now; the background I have in art has now come full

tools that Im able to apply to sculpting my patients.

circle to allowing me to do something very similar.

And its also given me a unique perspective in approaching liposuction from the standpoint of an artist instead

Liposculpting is sculpting the human figure. I am now

of just being a doctor.

creating shapes and artwork in a 3D fashion, which I didnt

do in my drawings before. My appreciation of the human

With art comes inspiration. The artists that inspire me

anatomy and the musculature allows me to visualize what

most are the classical artists that understood the hu-

I can accomplish with a patient during my initial evalua-

man form and celebrate the beauty of the human figure:

tion. And thats a very key component that a lot of phy-

Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and the French

sicians dont really spend enough time. They dont have

Impressionist painter Auguste Renoir.

the skills that Ive developed through studying the human

body, in a way that is much more involved in my artwork.

These classic Renaissance artists studied in human

figure. I was never really a painter, but I do love draw-

This is why we term this process sculpting. Many people

ing. I love the rawness, the sketchiness of drawing the

think of liposuction as some technique where you put

human figure, and those artists really capture my

in a suction device, you turn on a machine, and it just

imagination.

happens automatically and you get a beautiful shape.

Its much more like a sculptor working on a block of clay.

12

13

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

Let me make a distinction, though. Sculpting on fat, the

art of liposculpture is ten times more difficult than working
with clay. There are several reasons. The fat is not like
clay. Its soft and it jiggles and therefore the fat changes
from body position to body position with gravity. Its a very
difficult medium to work on. Now, compound that with the
fact that its covered by a layer of skin, which prevents you
from seeing exactly what youre doing.
It has to be done precisely, and it has to be done comWith my instrument, every stroke of the cannula (suc-

pletely and accurately. If not, the patient will not have

tion instrument) removes a small amount of fat. Imag-

a result thats smooth and its not going to look or feel

ine the sculptor working on a block of clay, taking a chis-

right. Artistry plays a huge role in achieving results, the

el and just gently removing a little bit at a time. Thats

great results you want from liposculpture.

what Im accomplishing under the skin with the fat layer.

14

15

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

The Importance of Standing and Understanding

I take a very personal approach and I make sure that I

A good liposuction doctor will start with a very good

am always approachable by my patients, where they

sense of feel to tell whats happening. This is accom-

feel comfortable asking me the questions that make

plished by using the hand on the surface of the body.

this a successful procedure. My approach is to be as down

My advantage is that I always stand my patients; some-

to earth as possible so that patients can understand

thing not every doctor does. Even when theyre doing

everything involved in the sculpting. I dont like to use a

a liposuction procedure using a local anesthetic, some

lot of fancy terms. I like to relate on a simple level the

doctors choose not to stand up their patients. Standing

techniques and advances that I have learned from all of

the patient is directly linked to the results my patients

my patients, all the possible ways to get the best results.

see in the transformation of their bodies.

This is a partnership, after all. Positive results are linked to
When the patient is standing, I can step back and look at

how well the patient follows instructions that I give. Its

my sculpting, and if something is not right, I can go back

very important during my surgeries that the patient is able

and refine it to my satisfaction. These are the small but

to move their body in places, in different positions that

very important aspects that arent visible when a pa-

make it easier for me to more accurately and completely

tient is lying down: because gravitys now pulled every-

remove the fat. Both the patient and I have to operate

thing flat and you cant see subtle differences from one

from a common understanding of what creates success.

area to another. But you can see those differences very

easily when someone stands up.

One Hundred Percent Happiness

If a doctor cant sculpt smoothly, the patient will get

Liposuction is not easy. Its extremely difficult. You

lumpy, bumpy results, and its gonna look worse than it

might be able to learn how to liposuction fat overnight,

did prior to liposuction. You may not get the best result

but you wont necessarily master it. Thats where the art

merely by looking for a doctor thats been around for a

of liposuction, liposculpture, comes in.

while or has the latest, greatest equipment.

Theres also an art to communication. The way we

The results are not directly determined by the instru-

share information and educate each patient, at their

mentation or the type of liposuction. Its about how

level of understanding is another key to a happy patient.

good the surgeon is as a sculptor. When the patient

Happiness is our main goal.

is awake, there are certain advantages that give the

16

17

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

sculptor a better view of how things are looking and give

liposuction that they had by another physician because

the surgeon a better ability to get at different angles to

they didnt have good results. They had either had lumpy,

control the fat.

bumpy results or they didnt see results at all.

People may have a misconception that when you go in

Providing the best value is about providing the best

with a suction cannula, that you flick on a switch and

results to a patient. In our practice, we dont charge the

somehow we just stick it in there, and were vacuuming

highest, and we dont charge the lowest. Looking for a

fat and its all just coming out.

discount does not lead to get a good result.

Thats far from the truth. A sculptor does not remove

I love to make a difference and I love the creative pro-

large chunks of material at a time or in one sweeping

cess of liposculpture. Every case is different and there

motion. If theyre working on a piece of clay or stone,

are different challenges in the sculpting itself, which

the artistry is to remove a little bit of material with each

keeps it interesting. But Im a people person. I think its

stroke. This is what happens when I am moving back

fantastic to have the patient come in, turn on the radio

and forth with this suction cannula underneath the skin,

and find a great station that we all like, listen to music,

controlling everything in a very precise way to remove a

talk about life, talk about their families, what theyre

little bit of fat with each stroke.

interested in, even kid around, joke, you know. We have

a good time.

There are so many nuances in sculpting that make a

difference for me. There are so many small details and

That is so great when that happens, and then some-

techniques involved in controlling the cannula, skills and

times its quiet, you know, but everyone has their unique

insights that have taken me years to learn.

personality. Im fortunate that I am able to interact

with my patients during the procedure. And I think that

In these tough economic times, I realize everyone is looking

makes it very special, you know. When you are awake,

for the best value for their money. In liposuction, howev-

you can see the transformation right along with me.

er, it would be a major mistake to shop for the cheapest

procedure. Its just the worst thing that someone could
do. I see the mistakes of that happening every day when
patients come in here and they talk to me about redoing

18

19

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

Is Sculpting
for You?

DR. THOMAS SU

What parts of the body can be treated?

Basically I can sculpt every single body area from the
chin and neck all the way down to the ankles. About
80% of my work involves the entire torso area, the front,
upper and lower abdomen, the waist, mid back and hips.
Some areas of the body that are less common are the

Who benefits?

chin and neck, the jowls, arms, outer and inner thighs

Almost anyone who has excess fat in different areas

and then calves. And then a variety of other more ob-

of the body can benefit from my artistic liposculpture.

scure things: lipomas on the back, on the arms, and one

I see patients of all different shapes and sizes, from

of my specialties, scar correction or liposuction revision.

those who are very skinny to the average patient to

severely overweight or obese patients.

Lets talk about the arms. Most people dont realize

its possible to sculpt the arms to reveal some of the

I have skinny patients that have just a little bit of fat:

musculature. We might see quite a bit of sag and the

a little bit concentrated here and a little concentrated

patient is very self-conscious about that distortion.

there. That very thin patient can benefit. I have aver-

We can not only remove the sagging, we can begin to

age patients where I can sculpt different parts of their

create definition around the shoulders, deltoid muscles,

body to their satisfaction.

as well as the biceps.

I can help the severely obese patient. I will never make

Its all about proportion. I commonly see a female

this kind of patient skinny, but I can improve their pro-

patient who is actually pretty thin in her upper and

portions by removing certain areas and actually give

lower body, but she has started to gain weight in her

them some nice curves.

hips, waist and mid back. Her bottom looks very small
and not very round. Liposculpture will completely re-

We treat both men and women, although our female

store her feminine figure. We give her her waist back,

patients do outnumber the men.

that hourglass shape. But not only that, her bottom

actually looks bigger, although its not. Its an optical

20

21

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

illusion. When you restore the waist curves, youll

The contour and physique he wanted was there the

actually restore the entire figure in many cases.

entire time, obscured by the fat carried on his torso.

As another example, a female patient may have outer

The male chest is actually quite a nice area to sculpt for

thighs that have lost the roundness, specifically the

those men who have an embarrassing amount of fat in

roundness of the buttocks. The proportions of the thin

their chest. This can actually be probably the best way

upper body and the

to actually have that fat removed since it doesnt usually

waist have now been

come off with diet and exercise.

With revision, I enjoy

that creative challenge to sculpt the
problem area and
have the opportunity
to work with a patient
and help restore the
confidence they
want to have in their
appearance.

thrown off by the

thicker areas down

Revision Liposculpture

on the bottom. After

Revision surgery is the process of going back and treat-

liposculpture, there

ing a patient whos had liposuction before, trying to

will be pretty big dif-

improve upon the results of the prior procedure. About

ference in the whole

twenty percent of the patients that come to see me for

aesthetics of her

a consultation have had liposuction in some other area.

backside. Regaining
that contour radi-

Sometimes they want to re-do liposuction in the

ates throughout her

same area of the body as before. Perhaps they have

body, and transforms how she thinks about herself and

re-accumulated the fat that was removed previously.

carries herself. Confidence and vibrancy return. What we

And in some cases, they are very disappointed with the

do mostly is uncovering what is already there!

results from the first surgery. Revision and corrective

surgery is an area where I specialize, where I can apply

For most men, they will want me to treat the lower

my technique and perhaps improve the result.

abdomen, as well as the waist. Ill remove that classic

little pooch or the spare tire that most men carry, and

Some people express it simply: I cant see any results or

then you see this transformation.

I see very little results, can you help? So, in that case,
I respond with a simple correction. If theres still quite

After I sculpt the lower stomach and the love handles,

a bit of fat, I just need to go back in there and remove it

Ive often noticed that a very muscular guy emerges.

more completely.

22

23

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

I find that a novice liposuction doctor tends not to

revision, usually we try to bring it in from adjacent areas

remove enough fat because removing more fat or being

so that it doesnt have to ever leave the body.

more aggressive actually has a higher risk of causing

irregularities. Its harder to control the tissue when youre

Re-treating a liposuction procedure done incorrectly will

moving large amounts of fat. Some doctors, by playing it

not lead to that original perfection the patient desired,

safe, dont achieve the result that the patient desires.

but what I find occurs is a high level of satisfaction. With

revision, I enjoy that creative challenge to sculpt the

The most common type of revision is for what I call

problem area and have the opportunity to work with a

lumpy and bumpy, more than likely because the person

patient and help restore the confidence they want to

handling the liposuction instrument or the cannula really

have in their appearance.

wasnt able to control the fat well. Luckily, the lumpy

bumpiness can be corrected to some degree. I can go
back in an area, re-treat the entire area and work on
smoothing it out. Remember, it will not be the same as
if I had just started out with that fresh canvas, treating
that patient from the beginning.
At the other extreme of a simple revision is corrective
surgery. This is when a patient has experienced liposuction where too much fat has been removed, creating
divots. Theres not only bumpiness, theres quite a bit
of irregularity including the shadows of the bumps.
Fortunately, body fat can be collected in a syringe and
transferred to pretty much any part of the body. And
most of the times, maybe half or sometimes less than
half of fat will survive. We can move fat from one place
to another, in what we call liposhifting. In the case of a

24

25

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

What to
Expect:
Advantages
of Awake

DR. THOMAS SU

the doctors saying that they have a new type of technique for liposuction.
There are basically two types of liposuction. One approach doing it awake using local anesthetic, also known
as the tumescent technique. The other type of liposuction is when the patient is asleep under general anesthesia. Lets make it simple and say youre either awake
or youre asleep.
What is important to know from those two different
types of liposuction are the results you can expect.

I start with the goal that every patient will leave our

Awake liposuction has many benefits, but there are two

office happy. There is no other option than satisfaction.

big areas that I see based on two thousand procedures.

That goes for the initial consultation, for the liposculp-

One involves a patients safety, and the other main

ture sessions, and that covers any time a patient inter-

benefit is with the type of results. Quite simply, per-

acts with anyone in my practice.

forming a liposuction procedure with the patient awake

gives us a much safer surgery and better results.

I put a great deal of preparation and thinking into

those elements that deliver the very best result for

From a safety standpoint, using local anesthetic for

the patient. Every liposuction physician has a different

these procedures has a great safety record over a

approach. My primary consideration is to have my

25-year period. When I perform awake liposuction

patient wide awake throughout the whole process.

using local anesthetic and I follow the proper guidelines,

Everything builds from that foundation.

theres very little, and I mean very, very little risk for a
dangerous complication to occur.

I talk to patients all the time about liposuction is and

how its done, and I have noticed in recent years much

However, under general anesthesia, there are quite a

confusion about the different types of liposuction.

few problems that can be involved. Liposuction using

There are many terms floating around out there and all

general anesthesia has improved in safety over the last

26

27

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

five to ten years. There used to be quite a few dangerous

Creating Contour

complications, but things have improved. However, there

If creating contour and restoring proper proportion are

are still more changes of bleeding, more chances of deep

the main goals, then it helps tremendously to have a

vein thrombosis, perforations, and even death. So theres

patient that is awake and able to respond to the small

that safety issue involved, which is one major reason that

subtle adjustments I make for the best effect. The main

I feel strongly about doing liposuction while awake.

advantage of having a patient awake during liposculpture is that the patient can actually move into the

The other area for choosing the correct type of liposuc-

proper position, whether its turning on their side, or

tion is in achieving better results. Liposuction is a very

twisting slightly, or doing things for that help me, which

difficult, so we as doctors want to create conditions

may involve crunching, to tighten up their abdominal

that are beneficial to getting the results that our

muscles. Positioning is critical.

patients desire. And we know that not every doctor

gets better results for their patients.

Having the ability to create muscle tension during the

procedure is important. I can actually grab the fat, push

Consider what happens when liposuction is performed

it against a hard surface and hold things in a tight

under general anesthesia. The patient is on a ventilator

fashion where I can actually sculpt smoothly. This is

with their arms are at their side, so their body is flaccid.

nearly impossible to do on a patient who is asleep,

So, if a doctors trying to achieve a specific effect, they

flaccid and lying on the table like a blob of jelly.

have to use a technique to go at different angles, which

is very important in liposuction. The doctor loses the

Many patients are concerned with the sagging of skin

advantages of working with those angles; its very diffi-

after the procedure. In some cases it might sag, but in

cult because that patient cant move.

most cases there is not any sagging at all. Im a pretty

good judge of that because of my experience and my

Sometimes a doctor will place the patient turned on a

unique approach to liposculpting. When my patient is

side, and sometimes it can take twenty minutes or

awake, standing upright and involved with me in the

more just to turn a patient. So, many doctors doing

sculpting, I can already see how well everything looks

liposuction with a patient under general anesthesia

during the procedure, not afterwards.

compromise by not moving their patients, which results

in some major disadvantages.

28

29

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

Think about how gravity plays into these procedures.

What Will I Feel During the Procedure?

The patient and I have been working in front of the

Patients ask me, if Im going to have this procedure while

mirror, standing up from the operating table and pos-

Im awake, is it painful? And the answer to the ques-

sibly going in front of the mirror multiple times before

tion simply is yes, it can be painful. Thats not always

the surgerys complete. We do that to make sure that I

to say liposculpture is always painful, but I want all my

can see accurately how everything looks in the standing

patients to fully understand beforehand that there can

position with gravity affecting all the skin and fat tissue

be a certain amount of discomfort during the procedure.

as it sags down.

There can be stings, there can be soreness. There can

be burning sensations.

So I can see if everything is smooth, if there is an area

thats still elevated compared to other areas. We can

There are a number of things that happen through-

make sure that everything looks just right. The patients

out the surgery at different times that may affect the

can see themselves in the mirror. And besides the

patient. Its about setting the realistic expectations up

redness and maybe a little bit of drainage that and

front. Overall, most of my patients say that the proce-

redness in other areas, they can actually see their new

dure was fairly comfortable.

shape.
Id much rather let my patients know that there can be
Another small technique we do differently is to put fluid

these sensations. Everybody is different. I have the

in the tissue to make it easier to remove the fat. Some-

patient that feels almost nothing, and I have the patient

times that fluid will tent up an area and make it look

that has quite a bit of pain. The average patient will be

very swollen. Some doctors actually leave quite a bit of

mostly comfortable throughout most of the procedure

fluid in so that you would not be able to tell very accu-

and have little times where they do say ouch and

rately what the final result will be.

wow. Theres going to be a jab, theres a little sting

there. So those are normal.

However, with my patients, I put in a proper amount of

fluid so that when Ive removed it we are actually looking

Its misleading to patients to have other doctors,

at a new shape altogether.

especially on the Internet, say that liposuction is a painless procedure and that you wont feel a thing. When I
tell my patients what to expect, they appreciate that.

30

31

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

Some patients remark that the procedure was more

Hard granular fat, which is very fibrous, can be more

uncomfortable than expected, but almost all my patients

difficult to remove. There are some generalities we can

are very happy with the results and would do it again.

make in liposuction and here is one of them. Men tend

to have more fibrous tissue.

Some patients are curious about the fat. As a liposuction doctor, Ive learned many things that I can say are

In general, Im very aggressive in doing liposuction. And

not in any textbook. What we learn about in medical

by being aggressive, I mean Im removing 80% or more of

school is that fat has different types. There is white fat,

the fat layer. And in doing so, it can be very difficult to

yellow fat and brown fat.

get that last little bit. It can be very fibrous. So sometimes in someone with more fibrous fat tissue, I may

I cant say that those distinctions in liposuction make

only be able to remove 50% or 60%. So there are some

any kind of significant difference, because I see fat of

areas that are harder than others.

all different colors coming out, and that doesnt really

mean anything. It could be peach color, it could be

A male chest is much more fibrous, in general, and often

yellow, it could be kind of pale or it could be darker,

can be more difficult to remove as completely as the fat

orange. Color doesnt really make a difference, and it

from a mans mid-section. Any back areas, upper back

doesnt really make a difference from what area of the

or mid back areas are more fibrous. So some areas, I

body it comes out.

think most liposuction doctors would agree, are more

difficult to move than others.

However, the distinctions that I make with the types of

fat are whether it is soft and fluffy or whether it is hard

Recovery Time

and fibrous. That is the distinction that makes a dif-

Recovery time is important to most of our patients.

ference to me as a liposuction doctor, and it does play

This is where we like to take the time during a consulta-

into the results and the recovery. It really does make a

tion and ask the patient to clarify what they mean and

difference in what we can achieve in doing liposuction.

what is important to them.

Soft, fluffy fat comes out very easily. It just turns to

paste, and it comes through the liposuction cannula

Then we can set realistic expectations for them. Recov-

very easily.

ery time means different things. Length of recovery

time can mean when can I go back to work or it can

32

33

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

mean when can I go back to the gym? Or it means when

also get by with Tylenol for the remainder of their recov-

will I stop experiencing any pain related to the procedure?

ery over the next couple of weeks.

Every patient will experience soreness after undergoing

Many patients want to know when can I get back to the

any type of surgery, and liposculpting is no different.

gym? Well, if Im sculpting their abdomen, it will be very

That soreness will vary based on how much we sculpt-

sore. They may not get back to the gym and do crunches

ing we do. If we sculpt a large tummy and go all the way

or sit-ups for another two to three weeks, but can they

The most significant

difference is in the
recovery of patients
that have had liposuction done awake and
those who have had
it done under general
anesthesia.

around the waist,

get on a treadmill the next day? Absolutely! They can

the soreness will be

be walking and lifting arm weights if the procedure was

much different than

on their tummy.

if I do a small area
on a thigh.

The most significant difference is in the recovery of

patients that have had liposuction done awake and

In almost all cases,

those who have had it done under general anesthesia.

even with the largest surgery, I would

Although theres no hard and fast rule, when a doctor

say normal recovery

treats a patient under general anesthesia, they do have

and going back to work can certainly happen within a

time constraints of trying to get the patient out of

few days. No more than two to three days for most

general anesthesia as quickly as possible. They tend to

people. Are they gonna be sore? Yes. Will they move

use larger instruments. Those doctors are using cannu-

slowly at work? Sure. Unless they have a very active

las, which are like the cannulas that I use, except the

job, they should be able to return to a sedentary job

sizes are larger and the holes are larger. And in remov-

like an office job, sitting down in a chair, getting up and

ing fat more quickly with a larger instrument, there is

down, and function fairly well.

more damage to the tissues. Theres more bleeding,

theres more bruising, theres more soreness.

Pain can be informative and I see it as one of the other

measures of recovery. Most people have significant

Why is this? Because the cannulas used in tumescent

soreness for about a week. Most of my patients may

technique have to be smaller, which is why they are

take a little bit of painkillers for a few days, but they can

known are micro cannulas. Micro cannulas are three

34

35

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

millimeters in diameter or less. The cannulas that a

doctor doing general anesthesia would use are five
millimeters or six millimeters in diameter, almost twice
the size. And twice the diameter means that the holes
on those cannulas are actually four times as large! Not
just twice as large. So there is a significant degree of
difference in the trauma thats caused to the tissues
using these two different techniques.

DR. THOMAS SU

How the
Procedure
has Changed

My patients are only being anesthetized with local

anesthetics. If we were to use large cannulas, they

The History of Liposuction

would not be able tolerate that kind of invasiveness

What I absolutely enjoy about this field is how far it has

with local anesthesia.

progressed, that a patient can experience so much

benefit from the knowledge base among the doctors

So for many of the patients having liposuction under

and advances in technique.

general anesthesia, which we sometimes refer to as

a traditional technique, they will need about a week

There have been a lot of changes in how liposuction is

before theyre going back to work versus my patients

being done now compared to when it first started. If

who are going back to work within a couple of days.

you think about it, liposuction really is a very new its a

That can be a significant difference.

very new type of surgery, which really only came about

in the early 70s, and at that time, it was very dangerous. The instruments were brutal, and they caused a lot
of bleeding and complications in recovery. Things have
become so much more refined in the span of about forty
years that liposuctions been around.
Up until fifteen years ago, liposuction was done under
general anesthesia alone. In 1986, a dermatologic
surgeon named Dr. Klein actually came up with a

36

37

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

technique of using local anesthetic to prepare the

all about awake tumescent liposuction using different

area so that liposuction could be done with the patient

instruments.

totally awake.
Although the marketing hype would have you believe
That revolutionized a lot of things in the realm of

these are different procedures altogether, they are just

liposuction, especially safety. From then on, the unfor-

really different names for awake liposuction with dif-

tunate deaths that occurred in liposuction have been

ferent little twists that I think are more geared towards

reduced dramatically when using awake tumescent

marketing. But remember, Im a physician and Im most

technique.

interested in setting realistic expectations and obtaining the best results for every single patient. Thats my

Hype-o-Suction

form of marketing, because happiness markets itself.

Liposuction has undergone a resurgence of popularity

in the last eight or nine years or so since some of the

There are these common-sense advantages to awake

newer technologies have come out. That doesnt mean

tumescent liposuction I think the doctors using general

Im in favor of some of the newer technologies such as

anesthesia would switch over, they would see the results

lasers being used.

improve dramatically too. Its not about their skills. Its

about the limitations they have using the techniques

The laser technologies, I think, have failed to show any

that they do.

definite benefits in liposuction. They were supposed to

tighten skin. And up until now, six and seven years later,

Right now probably more than half of the public that is

theres still no definitive proof and scientific studies

selecting awake liposuction is over general anesthesia.

showing that they are doing such. There has been a lot

I see this trend continuing and continuing in such a way

of marketing hype.

that liposuction under general anesthesia is will go by

the wayside both for safety reasons, which are very,

Consumers and prospective patients really need to

very important, and because of the better results.

realize is that there is so much hype out there. There is

smart lipo, which is laser lipo. Theres vaser lipo, which is

I also think you will see the many different gimmicky

ultrasonic lipo. There is tickle lipo and aqua lipo. Theres

names for liposuction disappearing. This will clarify

a lot of stuff out there you might hear about, but its

liposuction for the publics understanding. A patient will

38

39

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

either be asleep under general anesthesia or awake with

Once weve done that, we need to remove that layer

tumescent technique.

of fat using certain instrumentation. As I explained

earlier, the instruments that we use during liposuction

A Grain of Rice

are called cannulas. There is the suction cannula, the

To understand liposuction, you first have to understand

instrument that removes the fat. It has a blunt tip, so

that we all have a layer of fat thats just below the skins

its not sharp. It has holes at the tip of it where the fat

surface. The fat is between the skins surface and the

is actually removed.

Each patient has

a unique individual
challenge or desire
to improve their appearance, and many
times there is another
solution, and one that
is less invasive, less
complicated and
creates a faster
recovery time and
the result that makes
the patient happy.

muscle. We all have

a layer on every inch

Another instrument which is important is the infusion

of our body from our

cannula. This is what we use to put the numbing fluid

arms to our neck,

into the fat layer. So, at the beginning of the procedure,

torso, and down to

actually, I need to make incisions. Those tiny incisions,

our legs.

which are about the size of a grain of rice, those tiny

incisions are the access, which we have to get into

Its in this surface

the fat.

layer of fat or subcutaneous fat that

Once we use the infusion cannula to fill the fat layer

were removing to

and tent it up with fluid, then we can go in with a suc-

whats called the

tion cannula. And in doing so, were going to thin out

body. So the first

this layer in a very even fashion, very precise fashion so

thing that I do in

we have a smooth surface. So thats how liposuction is

consultation is

done. And as we mentioned before, its highly beneficial

assess what the thickness of that fat is in the patient,

for the person to be in the optimum position of angles

and thats through pinching: almost nothing here, okay.

so that we can access things correctly.

Maybe we have a half inch here. So that individual analysis by touch and feel, will tell me whether liposuction

If Im working on a hard surface, I can actually compress

will benefit someone.

the fat well so that I can control it evenly. If the fat is

jiggly, I would have a hard time keeping the cannula flowing back and forth while Im creating a smooth surface.

40

41

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

Or I may have a patient with a lipoma, which is basically

that makes the patient happy. That is where artistic

a fat tumor. Its a pocket. So I make a couple tiny inci-

liposculpting and a thoughtful, creative approach make

sions, actually, four or five, just going at it from different

a genuine, lasting difference.

directions, to completely deflate the lipoma.

Its not about the latest instruments or the latest
Lipomas can be very hard. You know, a small one, you

trends. Its simply about putting the patient at ease,

just make a little tiny stab incision, and make a little slit

that there is a solution available. By the way I am a

in the skin. That little tiny slit can stretch out pretty

perfectionist. Im that way because I started out by

much. And if its real superficial and is small enough, you

studying the human form, then I studied and perfected

just make a little incision and pop it out.

the safest and most effective way to address the needs

of the patient. Im a perfectionist, because my patient is

Now, some of lipomas are bigger, a pillow type. If its

even more that way and they deserve to know what is

that big, you cant pop it out, but you can work an instru-

possible, what they can achieve.

ment in there and start breaking it up and suction it out,

out of a tiny little hole, so you dont have to make a big
incision.
I treated a patient with a very large lipoma on her back.
She had talked to a surgeon and it would have required
a long incision, and afterwards a long scar across her
back. We took care of that lipoma by making these little
tiny incisions that have now already disappeared. And
we took out the whole thing.
I use this example to illustrate several things. Each
patient has a unique individual challenge or desire to
improve their appearance, and many times there is another solution, and one that is less invasive, less complicated and creates a faster recovery time and the result

42

43

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

A Partner in
Transformation

consultation a little bit about how much theyre willing

Partnering for the Procedure

important that patients take on responsibility for what

I definitely feel that its important for my patients to

partner with me in creating a plan, working through that
plan prior to surgery all the way up to when theyre done
with their final results. From the time they walk in my
office and theyre coming in for a consultation, we will
stand in front of the mirror. Theyll tell me what their
concerns are. Ill look at the entire body from their neck
down to their ankles. I will assess their overall figure

to put on the line. I dont want to take on any patient

that is putting full responsibility in my hands because a
lot of the process will actually be in their hands.
Especially with awake tumescent liposuction, its
happens. The patient will be awake and theres a lot of
interaction during the surgery. Our partnership has to
extend from the consultation to the surgery.
So often times when Im doing the abdominal area,
I have the patient doing a kind of sit-up crunch because
that gives me that tight, hard surface to work on versus
a floppy surface that I cant control. When my patients

and look to where I can make the biggest difference.

participate in the surgery and they tell me that they

The consultation can be as critical as the procedure.

as much to do with the sit-ups and crunches I had them

This is when I tell the patient what is possible, educate

them on where I see areas that can be improved, and
discuss what areas can be improved the most. From
there, I leave it up to the patient to make a decision on

have soreness, I can remind them it might have at least

do as it is from my sculpting.
The partnership extends to the aftercare. My fully
awake patients have to take responsibility of wearing

what they want to pursue.

their garments, which hold everything in place and make

I will also tell them what the interactions might be, so if

also have to take responsibility to inform me when

I remove this area here, it may make this other area look
out of place. I provide as information as possible, but
at the same time, it is an interactive approach. Thats

things run more smoothly in their healing process. They

things dont look right. So its important for me to have
a great rapport with patients and for them to feel comfortable to call me if they have a question.

where the partnering starts. I also explore during that

44

45

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

They have my cell phone. They can call me twenty-four

Lets take a thin or average person and you might won-

hours a day if anything is not looking right. That respon-

der why they would want or need liposuction. A woman

siveness extends to my entire team from the front

looks best if she has an hourglass curve. If she starts

office staff to the back office staff. My front office team

gaining weight in the midsection and that fat actually

takes care of patients right from the time they arrive for

straightens out her body, she wont have the curves

the consultation. They are experienced in this field, have

that give her that femininity and her sexiness.

seen the transformation of hundreds of patients, which

gives them knowledge to care about patients in such a

By restoring those curves and removing the waist areas,

way that they get all the questions answered right at the

her entire appearance will be changed. Its going to give

beginning. I can focus on the evaluation and rarely do I

her an hourglass figure back and her butts going to look

have any questions that are left unanswered.

better. Her overall proportions are gonna look better,

therefore, making her breasts look better too. Simply

As you evaluate a liposuction doctor, take time to consider

treating a womans waist means she now has the proper

the rest of the office members that you meet. Do they

proportions. Her figure definitely looks a lot more femi-

take care of any kind of concerns that come up either

nine and beautiful.

before the surgery, during, you know, the process or even,

you know, months later after the surgery? Are they truly

Liposuction is not about removing the most fat that we

compassionate and make sure you are comfortable from

can. Its about restoring the shape, and the smoothness

things like room temperature to taking care of whatever

that is very important too. Not just achieving a shape,

you might need, even the little things? Do they enjoy the

but actually making sure that the surface is just as

work? That makes a difference in your results.

smooth and beautiful.

Restoring the Hourglass Figure

Contour is a very appropriate word to use in talking

The goal of liposuction is not just to make people lose

about the human figure. There are good contours

weight. In fact, its not about weight at all. And its not

as well as bad contours. So the contour of the waist

about losing clothes size. I have designed my liposcu-

should curve in like an hourglass. An outward contour

lpting practice to focus on achieving proportions of your

doesnt look good on a waist.

body that bring back the proper curves that make you
look their best.

46

47

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

With liposculpture, I gain a lot of personal satisfaction

There will always be companies out there trying to

out of seeing what happens with my patients. Some

create the next latest, greatest device to make liposuc-

patients are here looking for something to change their

tion better, to create tighter skin, to create smoother

life. Some are just looking to polish their body. Some

results. However, most of those things are hype, and

have liposuction as a hobby, which again could be their

they will disappear with time. The news media always

particular way to achieve happiness. And so I have all

needs something new to talk about, so I think well

different types of patients, but by and large, I would say

always see those things. But an artistic approach will

that practicing this type of medicine is very satisfying

endure. It will never go out of style.

because everybodys happy when they leave.

When I practiced internal medicine, I learned to develop
They may not be happy early during the process when

that special rapport with patients. It wasnt about how

theres a lot of swelling because theres some uncer-

many patients I could see in a day. It was about having

tainty there. But at the end of everything, patients are

relationships with patients. And I think back then

happy. It can be life changing for them. I mean,

those internal medicine patients were dealing with

Ive seen patients just aglow of how their confidence

difficult things and generally, not as happy as patients

has changed. And some are just very happy because

coming in a cosmetic practice and seeing their bodies

they feel more confident in wearing certain clothes,

transformed.

confident among the friends going down to the beach.

Now with my sculpting, I get the interaction and the
Happiness

rapport, and I get happiness also. I help create that

Every day I have people who are just happy with the

happiness with the patient.

change. And some patients, some of the most significant things happen when we remove something that
they thought would be impossible or incredibly complicated. By completing removing a fat tumor, a lipoma,
without a large incision and a large permanent scar,
it can change how someone feels about their life
completely.

48

49

YOUR NEW CONTOUR

DR. THOMAS SU

About Artistic Lipo

At the Artistic Liposculpting Center we believe that
you deserve the best quality of health care we can
provide. The Artistic Liposculpting Center offers the
safest and most advanced techniques of liposuction
that are available today.
One of our featured procedures is tumescent liposuction that eliminates the risks of general anesthesia and
it also minimizes the downtime. Our staff, including Dr.
Thomas Su will make sure that your experience at
Artistic Liposculpting Center is pleasant and gratifying.
Our mission is to provide our patients with the information that they need about treatments and procedures
as well as to offer them the latest technologies to give
them a more sculpted body, younger looking facial
contours and an all-around amazing look. We are known
as a center that completely satisfies the customers
giving them excellent results. See our Artistic Lipo
testimonials.

Dr. Thomas Su

50

51