About Liposculpture

After years of experience with various cosmetic procedures, Dr. Bittner founded Beverly Hills Liposculpture and personally trained his team of specialists to focus solely on liposculpture — a far more advanced form of liposuction. Unlike traditional liposuction surgery, Dr. Bittner's tumescent liposculpture techniques leads to body sculpting with safer and more precise results. By focusing on liposculpture, Dr. Bittner has developed a unique minimally invasive technique that allows patients to remain awake and comfortable while his team sculpts and contours their body. Almost every patient is able to drive themselves home and have less downtime and fewer complications than with any other kind of liposuction technique. In fact, no patient has experienced a serious complication or infection and most patients are back to normal activities within 48 hours.

Compare

What is liposculpture?

Liposculpture is an advanced form of liposuction and the two terms are often used interchangeably. Liposculpture is the sculpting of the body's contours by the removal of unwanted fat through suction. Before the procedure begins, Dr. Bittner and his team use his special topographic mapping technique to draw on the patient's skin with a marker. By making a topographic map, instead of simply circling the area to be treated, Dr. Bittner creates a much more accurate treatment plan tailored to each patient's individual fat deposits. After the marking, the patient is made comfortable on a padded table and the procedure begins. The procedure involves the numbing of the fat with a saline based lidocaine solution, called tumescence. After the tissue has been numbed, the solution and the unwanted fat are safely removed using a straw-like tool called a canula which is inserted via tiny 2mm holes called adits. The size of the holes is smaller than a spaghetti noodle and the canula is about the same size as an angle hair pasta noodle. The procedure is quiet and the movements are gentle and slow. Some patients say it reminds them of a massage. Generally, liposculpture is not painful and does not leave any unsightly scars.

Why focus solely on liposculpture?

Dr. Bittner founded Beverly Hills Liposculpture, a center that specializes in liposculpture, because he is committed to offering patients a safe procedure that can reshape their body with minimal downtime. Dr. Bittner first trained in liposuction in 1994 and has been performing cosmetic surgeries routinely since 1999. Dr. Bittner has performed thousands of liposculpture procedures and has developed an advanced liposculpture technique that permanently removes unwanted fat without causing significant discomfort, bruising, or uneven results. Importantly, Dr. Bittner's technique has been shown to promote skin tightening and the production of new collegen and elastin for firmer skin. Dr. Bittner believes in a team approach for each of his procedures. His highly trained team is committed to excellence and personalized care for each patient. Every member of the team (and every person in the office), including Dr. Bittner, has had liposculpture and are very experienced with the procedure and recovery. By focusing on only one procedure, Dr. Bittner and his team have created a center of excellence for liposculpture.  Dr. Bittner prides himself on having the happiest and most satisfied patients in any medical practice and he has not ever had a patient experience a serious complication or infection.

Is Dr. Bittner a plastic surgeon?

No. Liposculpture is not a plastic surgery; it is a minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Bittner is a minimally invasive surgeon, called an Interventionalist, who specializes in liposculpture.  Liposculpture is not a plastic or reconstructive surgery – there are no plastic implants or major reconstructions involved.  Minimally invasive surgeries, like liposculpture, are those that use tiny skin punctures and small instruments, often with the patient awake.  Plastic surgeons are trained to reconstruct areas (e.g. facelifts) or implant plastics (e.g. breast implants) with patients under general anesthesia.  Although many plastic surgeons do perform liposuction, Dr. Bittner’s liposculpture technique is better performed by surgeons trained in minimally invasive techniques.

How is Dr. Bittner's technique different?

Dr. Bittner's techniques are more advanced than the liposuction often seen on television or performed in many other centers. Not only does Dr. Bittner’s technique remove fat, but it also promotes skin tightening for even better contour changes. Liposculpture instruments are smaller and more refined and use very small skin punctures - so there are no stitches and usually no visible scars. Dr. Bittner's gentle technique means that heavy anesthesia is not necessary. All liposculpture patients are entirely awake and require only local skin numbing. Patients remain comfortable and enjoy talking to Dr. Bittner and his team, listening to music, and watching their bodies become sculpted. By using smaller instruments in a more gentle fashion, most patients do not have any significant bruising, and many patients are able to return to work or normal activities the following day. Some patients even go out for lunch or dinner right after the procedure. Depending on the patient's individual needs, liposculpture can remove very small to very large amounts of fat and the delicate technique can carefully sculpt the body, consistently achieving smooth and even results.

What areas of the body can be treated?

Almost any area of the body can be treated with liposculpture. The most popular area for men and women is the abdomen and love handles.  Because Dr. Bittner's technique is minimally invasive, his team treats more chins, arms and breasts than any other liposculpture center and his team’s experience treating smaller areas means patients have faster recovery and almost no bruising.

How many areas can be treated at one time?

The number of areas that can be treated at one time depends on your height and weight. Although individuals do vary, there are some general rules of thumb:

  • If you are slender or thin, up to 8 areas can be treated in one procedure.
  • If you are of average height and weight, up to 6 areas can be treated in one procedure.
  • If you are heavy, obese, or a very tall or broad person, up to 3 can be treated in one procedure. 

Dr. Bittner’s priority is safety – we have not ever had a patient experience a serious complication – and he will use his judgment to determine the number of areas that can be safely treated during any single procedure.

How much fat can liposculpture remove?

Liposculpture can remove between 50 to 90% of the fat in a treated area. The percentage of fat removed depends on the amount of fat present, the fibrosity of the patient's fat (some patients have harder fat than others), and the aesthetic goal to be achieved. A good rule of thumb when estimating the final result that you might achieve through liposculpture is to pinch the area you want to have treated and feel how deeply the muscles are beneath the skin. Feeling the muscle is most easily done by contracting the muscle and rubbing your hands over the skin. The distance between the skin and the outside of the tensed muscle is the thickness of your fat layer. If you would be satisfied with a 50% reduction in the fat layer, you would be a good candidate and you would be pleased with your liposculpture results.

What is the maximum amount of fat that can be removed from my body?

The amount of fat removed from each patient varies. The amount removed depends on what is best for your body. For heavy patients or patients who have a large amount of fat in the treated area, liposculpture can remove well over a gallon of fat (10 pounds!) in one procedure. For average or thin patients, a change as small as 300cc (one coke can) can be dramatic. The goal of liposculpture is not to remove as much fat as possible - the goal of liposculpture is to sculpt your body and make you look as dramatic as possible while leaving you looking natural and smooth.

Can I drive myself home after the procedure?

Patients who are having one area treated can opt to drive themselves home, however it is always nicer to have a driver. Having a driver allows us to give you additional medication to keep you comfortable and relaxed. If you are having 2 to 4 areas treated, please arrange for a driver or taxi to take you home. If you are having 5 or more areas treated, you must arrange for a family member or friend to take you home (no taxi allowed). Patients living in or around Beverly Hills can walk home if they have less than 3 areas treated.

What happens to the skin after liposculpture removes the fat?

Dr. Bittner's liposculpture technique involves rasping the skin from underneath, which leads to the formation of new collagen and promotes skin tightening. Immediately after the procedure the skin is loose for several hours, however within 24 hours the skin's natural retraction and the body's natural healing mechanisms allow the skin tone to return to roughly the same as it was prior to the procedure. Over the next 6 to 8 weeks, the body heals and the new collagen is formed. The skin retracts over the new contour and is most often times tighter and more toned than before the procedure. For patients above age 60 or patients who have lost more than 100 pounds, significant retraction may not be possible. A consultation with Dr. Bittner can help give you a realistic idea of your outcome.

Are consultations required?

No. About half of our patients do not have a consultation before their procedure. Because many people have busy schedules and are familiar with liposuction or have been to consultations at other physician’s offices, Dr. Bittner allows his patients to decide whether they would like a consultation prior to making an appointment for a procedure. Our office offers flat, all-inclusive pricing so you will know the exact cost of your procedure before making any appointment.  If you are under age 60, in good general health, and have not previously had liposuction in the areas you would like treated, you do not need to have a consultation before scheduling your liposculpture procedure.  If you are over age 60, have a serious medical condition, or have previously had liposuction in the area you want treated, please call our office to discuss whether a consultation will be required. If you forgo the consultation, Dr. Bittner and his staff will meet with you on the day of your procedure and answer any questions that you may have.

Are consultations free?

Yes. Our office does not charge for consultations.  If you have any questions about the procedure or simply wish to meet with and be evaluated by our team, please call our office and schedule a time for a complimentary 20-minute consultation.

When should I return for a follow up appointment after the procedure?

Dr. Bittner encourages all patients return for a 6 month follow up, but follow up appointments are not required. Our office prioritizes prior patients and has an open door policy for any returning patient wanting a follow up or simply to be checked for healthy healing. Appointments ensure that you will be seen quickly, but any patient who has been treated can stop by during office hours without a prior appointment and meet with Dr. Bittner or his staff and have any questions or concerns addressed.